SEVILLA - WILL VILLA MARAVILLA?

Sevilla fans have fond memories of their last visit to the Camp Nou last May as they beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 in the Spanish King's Cup Final. A tremendous atmosphere that day as the Camp Nou was divided in half and two of the best sets of fans in the country treated us to a Spanivision Song Contest.

The big game of week 9 of La Liga sees the Andalucians return to take on FC Barcelona.

FC Barcelona have 3 ex-Sevilla players in Alves, Keita and Adriano. Obviously the player Sevilla will fear most is Dani Alves who used to pretty much run the defence and midfield for them. This season he seems to be getting better and better - so much so that he tops the table of passes in the league.

Sevilla will look to their moody forwards Kanoute and Luis "O fabulous one" Fabiano plus Negredo to get the goals. Service being provided by Perotti and Jesus Navas - Diego Capel having decided to become the Andulcian Zohan and give up on football.

FC Barcelona should be raring to go having rested most of the first team in the easy Cup win in Ceuta on Tuesday. The big question buzzing around the city is whether Villa will return to Maravilla?

Prediction: FC Barcelona 3-1 Sevilla

Zaragoza the Spanish Portsmouth?

Zaragoza v FC Barcelona is the first match of week 8 of La Liga. On paper it should be a stroll for FCB as they visit Zaragoza, bottom of the league with just 3 draws to their name this season. Not too many star players in the Capital of Aragon's lineup with all eyes drawn to young Spanish U21 midfielder Ander Herrera. The elegant boy from Bilbao has possibly too much weight on his young shoulders to always be able to show us his full range of skills and there is little doubt he will be on the move next Summer - especially if the Maños go down.

Going down would be as massive a blow to Zaragoza as it has been to Portsmouth. Zaragoza overspent in the last Winter transfer window to stay up and stay up they did, but what next? They spent money they didn't have and in the Premier League we have seen where this normally leads. There is a lack of local boys willing to really fight for the right to be in the first division and if they go down players like Ander and Lafita are likely to stay in the first, but with another club.

FC Barceloan will be missing Xavi, who misses his 14th game in the Guardiola era and it will be interesting to see if Villa can get back on the goal trail against another one of his former clubs - Pique and Milito are also ex-Zaragoza players, but Milito is out through injury.

Prediction:

Zaragoza 1-3 FCB

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen?

Think Copenhagen and I think of Danny Kaye and Jonathan Richman (OK Jojo's song was called My Little Kookenhaken, but it's close enough). However, in the third round of Champions League matches its FCB v FC Copenhaguen that we turn our attention to.


The Danes come to the Camp Nou brimming with the confidence that comes with being 12 points clear at the top of the Danish Super League and having only lost one game in all competition this season (away to Rosenborg in the CL qualifiers). A 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan followed up with a 2-0 win in Athens against Panathinaikos means that a win this evening would mean the Danish table-toppers are almost certainly still in Europe after Christmas.


FC Barcelona must make sure their players don't look at the calendar because it was a year ago today that another unfancied rival, Rubin Kazan, shocked Barça with a 2-1 win. More worrying for Pep Guardiola is the late drop out of No.1 goalkeeper Victor Valdés. Which means José Pinto stepping up for his 6th CL appearance. However, his last appearance in the football world's No.1 club competition came almost 7 years ago in his Celta days.


The big question is whether we will see the Barça of the first half or, as the FCB fans are hoping, the second half of the match v Valencia.


Prediction: FC Barcelona 3 FC Copenhagen 1.

Saturday Night Live

FC BARCELONA v VALENCIA

So after the international match break back to La Liga this weekend and without doubt the Big Match is at the Camp Nou where FC Barcelona entertain league leaders Valencia.

Interesting to see the Valencia players talking up their chances of a win when their last 3 league visits have produced results of 3-0, 4-0 and 6-0. Valencia certainly have the attacking options with Soldado, Aduritz and Mata leading the line, but one feels their defence and Cesar Mr Smiley Sanchez will be tested more than they have been on their trips to Malaga, Alicante and Gijon. They will be without 3 players and Joaquin will be the one missed most as he has been in fine form.

FC Barcelona will be missing Xavi who is likely to be on the bench just in case and possibly will be more concerned about the effects of those internacional matches on the 13 Barça players who were representing their countries. Rather than the minutes played it will be the minutes travelled that might take the shine off their usual polished performance. Speaking of performances, wasn't Andres Happy Feet Iniesta absolutely Great Dane-ish against Scotland midweek?

Prediction: FC Barcelona 3 Valencia 1

A match to enjoy Saturday Night Live!

Here we go!

Hello there,

this is my very first entry in the blogging world and yes I know that hardly makes me Captain Kirk.

I thought my first photo could be one of me at one of my workplaces. I have to watch every single FC Barcelona game and although it would be fun to commentate from the ringside we actually work from the third tier of the stand. One reason why Nuria is getting me some new glasses before the next game which is against the league leaders Valencia.

That's all for now.

May the force be with you.

October in Barcelona

07.10.2010 - 17.10.2010 Sitges Film Festival 2010, Sitges
The full name of this festival is the rather wonderful "SITGES 10 - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia" This is one of Spains oldest film festivals which opened back in 1968. Today the SITGES Film Festival is considered the leading fantasy film festival in the world and the 2010 festival will be the 43. edition. The Grand Honorary Award is usually presented to a prominent actor or actress at the Sitges Film Festival opening gala. Visit the official Sitges Film Festival website for full programme of events including details of the immensely popular Sitges Zombie Walk, which invades the streets of Sitges every year. The Sitges Zombie Walk meeting place is usually at the "Edifici Miramar" (Mirimar Building) on street Carrer Davallada, 12, 08870 Sitges and takes place on Saturday 9th October 2010 at 20:30
http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng


10.10.2010 - 17.10.2010 Festes Tardor Sagrada Família
Annual Sagrada Familia autumn festival called "Festes Tardor Sagrada Família." Enjoy Sagrada Familia castellers (human tower buildings) and other local activities. 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of the Sagrada Familia association of neighbours - l'Associació de Veïns i Veïnes “Sagrada Família”. See the programme below: http://www.coordinadorasagradafamilia.org/sites/all/files/PROGRAMA_FESTES_DE_TARDOR_redef.pdf


15.10.2010 Aha concert Barcelona 2010, Sant Jordi Club Barcelona
A-ha from Norway blasted onto the the global charts in the 80ies with "Take on me" and have since enjoyed enormous success with many more hits songs. The band has taken some breaks along the way and in 2009 announced that 2010 would be the final year for the band with the final tour "Ending on a High Note," so don't miss this chance to see them live in Barcelona.
http://www.a-ha.com/


16.10.2010 FC Barcelona - Valencia, Camp Nou
2010/2011 Spanish Primera División La Liga round 7
www.fcbarcelona.cat



16.10.2010 - 17.10.2010 48H Open House BCN
Opening eyes, minds and doors to good design in Barcelona. 48 Hours Open House Barcelona is wonderful cultural event that lets the public inside130 buildings in Barcelona of all kinds, shape and size imaginable. This Open House event started in London in 1992,has since taken place in many other cities like New York, Dublin, Galway, Tel Aviv and now Barcelona. Admission is free. See links below for website and details of buildings. Organised by http://www.arquitecturareversible.org


17.10.2010 Diada de Castellers Sagrada Família
Diada del VIIIè Aniversari dels Castellers de la Sagrada Família. Day of human castle builiding at the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona. Organised by Castellers de la Sagrada Familia

20.10.2010 FC Barcelona vs Copenhagen, Camp Nou
2010/2011 Champions League qualification 2010
http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/


23.10.2010 Guns N' Roses concert Barcelona 2010, Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona
Axl Roses and the new line-up of Guns N' Roses bring their current world tour to Barcelona on Saturday 23 October. The new album, Chinese Democracy has14 brand new songs from Axl Rose, but you can expect many of the old classics too. Visit the official website for band and tour news and get tickets on links below. Invited artist: Sebastian Bach
http://www.gunsnroses.com/

28.10.2010 - 07.11.2010 Festival In-Edit - Barcelona 2010
8th edition of the Barcelona In-Edit Beefeater Festival. In-Edit is a unique festival of music documentaries that is organized by music fans for music fans, and which, since 2003, has brought the best music documentaries to Barcelona. The 2010 edition showcases top current music documentary production and revives great classics.
http://www.in-edit.beefeater.es/webapp/programacion10

29.10.2010 Sting concert Barcelona 2010, El Palau Sant Jordi arena
Legendary front man of The Police and pop/rock star in his own right Sting performs in Barcelona in October as part of his 'Symphonicity' tour accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra as conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio. Sting's greatest hits will be reinterpreted with brand new orchestrations created especially for this tour including fan-favorites such as 'Roxanne', 'Next To You', 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' and 'Every Breath You Take', to notable songs from Sting's enduring solo career - 'Englishman in New York', 'Fragile', 'Russians', 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You', 'Fields of Gold', and 'Desert Rose'.
http://www.sting.com/


29.10.2010 - 01.11.2010 Manga Fair Barcelona
The XVI Manga Fair 2010 will be in three event areas in the Barcelona suberb of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. The main event area is La Farga Max Center on Carrer de Barcelona, 2 This is an trade fair centre and the central location of the BCN Manga Fair with stands, videogames, conference hall, workshops, press-room and the restaurant area. El Poliesportiu del Centre on C/Riera de l’Escorxador, 15 will prepare its main court as the scene for the Manga Fair with activities, special guests, karaoke, musical events and different shows of Japanese culture. Manga films will be shown in the auditorium of El Centre Cultural Barradas on Rambla Just Oliveras, 56 The three locations above will be connected by a free bus service – Mangabus. The cost of the entrance is 6 Euros and covers the entrance to the three locations. The centre of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat will be marked with signs indicating how to get the Manga Fair. Apart from that, the employees of the FICOMIC will help the public to get to the right place. The three locations – La Farga, Centre Cultural Barradas and the Poliesportiu del Centre are not far away from each other.
http://manga-xv.ficomic.com/

31.10.2010 FC Barcelona - Sevilla, Camp Nou
2010/2011 Spanish Primera División La Liga round 9
http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/

For Barcelona Sport Tours and Camps visit SALBCN Sport and Leisure Barcelona.