JOE v JOE

spot the Joes

It's Monday night football at the Camp Nou and only the sexiest match in European football could fill the 98,000 seats, yes it's el clasico.

Week 13 and although we cannot really say this match will decide the league it does come at the best possible moment for all football fans (except the ones who want to boycott the match because they see it as more proof of the Spanish league resembling the Scottish one, but we can save that discussion for another day). FCB and the Men in White are well on course to repeat last season's 99 and 96 points with FC Barcelona just one point behind Real Madrid who have won all but 2 drawn games in the league so far.

There will be fascinating battles all over the field of play with Xavi v Xabi (Alonso) in midfield, CR7 v Piqué, Messi v everyone standing out. Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to score against FC Barcelona and Messi has yet to score against a Mourinho team so you feel something has to give. The tension was palpable in the recent so-called friendly between Portugal and Spain which was meant to be an advert for the Spain/Portugal World Cup bid, but instead served as an apéritif for the latest Match of the Century. If we are lucky tomorrow we wil get 90 minutes of pure football showcasing the ballet with balls of Barça and the speed and agression of Real Madrid.

The balance of the last 10 matches, in all competitions, in the Camp Nou is 3 wins for each and 4 draws.

All eyes initially will be on the two men in the technical areas, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourihno. They faced each other 4 times last season and although Pep won both home ties it was Jose who made Inter Milan European Champions. He prefers to remember it as the year "FC Barcelona never won the Champions in the Bernabeu". Although we all have a pretty good idea of the staring elevens what we really want to know is how the 2 Joes will motivate their teams because there is the key to this game. What song will Pep, or Piqué, put on the record deck? How will Jose convince his players that this is the most important match of their lives, until the next one that is? I can't wait to see which Joe's arm is raised in the first bout of what could be several fights this season.

Prediction (the same as Arthur Mas):

FCB 3-1 Real Madrid

(FCB goals - Xavi, Pedro and Messi)

Lazaros Christodoulopoulos & Co. v FCB

Week 5 of the Champions League and although most people are already licking their lips over next Monday's evening meal of FCB V Mourinho's Madrid, sealing first place in the group stages is first on the menu for Pep's pupils.

Panithinaikos are Greek Champions and leaders this season, but have only 2 points in the CL through 0-0 draws with Rubin Kazan. Disappointing for their fans who surely would have thought they had a chance of second place to FCB. Instead, they will have to get their joy from their basketball team who have been European Champions 4 times in the last decade. Gone are the days of worrying about the Greek yeams being carried to victory by their excitable fans. Quite simply the teams in the Greek league cannot compete alongside the "big" leagues for the signatures of players. So the possibility of a surprise Pana win is limited, indeed the possibilities of any surprises in the modern CL are severely limited. Yes, we know last season's final was "little" Inter Milan v "little" Bayern Munich, but surely our surprise at that being the final was the surprise if you know what I mean.

We now have a 3+1 league system of England, Spain & Italy + Germany which doesn't show any signs of abating.

FCB will go into this match already knowing whether Copenhagen have won at Rubin Kazan (k.o. 1830hrs Spanish time), therefore seriously threatening their first place and almost guaranteed easy knockout stage match. The Catalan club have no injuries apart from Milito so expect Guardiola to at least start the match with his strongest XI. Maybe the only question to be answered is whether Keita or Pedro starts.

Prediction:

Panithinaikos 1-3 FCB.

Yeah I know FCB won 0-8 at Almeria, but how may people saw that coming?

Come on you rambling boys of pleasure

Not ladies of easy leisure, but they do say some of the prettiest ladies come from Almeria. Not that Gerard and the boy will have much time to discover how true that is as FC Barcelona tend to travel as late as possible, get the job done and get out of there.

FC Barcelona go into the game with Almeria knowing a win would take them top of La LIga, albeit till not long after 2200hrs as Real Madrid shouldn't have too many problems with an injury hit Athletic. The big problem facing Pep Guardiola (named as best dressed sportsman by all but one of the leading candidates in next week's Catlan elections) is at centre half. No Milito and no Abidal means that he will be tempted to go with his PP partnership of Puyol and Pique. However, Pique is one booking away from a suspension which would mean him missing El Classico on the 29th of this month. What would you do? I think the majority of fans would vote for bringing in Fontás who although he has only 5 minutes experience in the league has always impressed in friendlies and cup matches as he did in Ceuta last month. He is a converted midfielder and many think a ready made replacement for Gerard Pique.

Almeria will be without one of their most exciting midfielders in Albert Crusat (ex-Espanyol), but will pose a threat upfront with Kalu Uche and Piatti. In defence look out for the wonderfully named Peruvian Acasiete and the excellent Brazilian keeper Diego Alves.

Prediction: 2-2 has been the result in 2 of FCB's last 3 games in the Mediterranean Games Stadium so I'll go for Almeria 1-3 FC Barcelona.

Possibly the best music venue in Barcelona?

Be interesting to see if anyone can come up with a better live music venue in Barcelona than the Sala Apolo - http://www.sala-apolo.com/ . It complies with pretty much everything you're looking for in a music hall. Its dark, smoky*, sells beer, is downtown, old (well 1946), small and best of all it's round. The roundness meaning you always get a good chance of seeing your heroes on the stage.

This year we have been delighted by, amongst others, the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and The Zombies (and yes Colin Bluntstone still has THE voice). And next week some Scottish kids are playing there - The Teenage Fanclub or something like that.

OK the beers are not cheap, but that just makes the queue at the bar shorter and there are plenty of cool bars in the Paralell area to check out pre and post-concert.

If anyone remotely interesting is playing there I would defintely recommend taking your camera along to take pictures of the venue, especially when the lights come on.

* They are going to try bringing in the no smoking ban again in January. Hmm, we'll see.

2 v 3 in 1 = MOTD

Although FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are massive favourites to win the league and another team winning it is as likely as the 2 Glasgow teams being beaten by the Edinburgh teams on the same day it's a big one tonight.

2nd placed FCB entertain a 3rd placed Villareal who know a win would take them above Barça. Their credentials are excellent, having drawn 2 and won 1 of their last 3 visits - no other team comes near that. So Barça know there won't be too much respect given to them by the Yellow Submarine.

FC Barcelona have to cope without Milito and Pique in the centre of the defence so it will be a choice of Abidal or Fontas (another product of the cantera) to accompany Carlos Puyol in his 500th appearance for the blue and clarets. Upfront people have stopped talking about Villa's lack of goals and Messi will be looking for his 50th goal of 2010.

Villareal have replaced Godin and Ibagaza with Marchena and Borja Valero with Borja adding an extra element of fantasy to the midfield area. Upfront Rossi and Nilmar are fast and clever so if Fontas does get his 6th minute of first division it could be an interesting test for the Banyoles Boy.

Prediction: FCB 3-1 Villareal

Hockey Match of the Day - R.C. Polo v CD Terrassa

This Sunday (7th November) you could do worse than go along to the Eduardo Dualde pitch at the Polo Club in Barcelona where a top level womens' hockey match will be played at 1230hrs. Entry is free and a Barcelona v Terrassa clash is always entertaining.

R.C. Polo managed by Jordi Alastrúe in his debut season take on Corto's CD Terrassa. The Polo club currently lie top of the table 3 weeks into the season play CDT who would overtake them with a win.

Both teams are littered with internationals and maybe one to watch would be CD Terrassa's Marta Prat, the Spanish international is currently Pichichi of group B.

This season the women's teams are divided into two groups of 6 with the top 3 in each going through to the 1st division so there is a lot to play for this weekend in what should be a hard fought match according to CD's Argentinian, Estudiantes' supporting manager.

The Club de Campo, under Catalan Xavi Arnau, have won the last two leagues, but this season CD Terrassa will hope to add to their record-breaking 18 titles and Polo will want to repeat their championship success of 2006.

See you there.

Barcelona Football Festival

Barcelona Football Festival is an international youth football tournament for boys and girls, held in Barcelona and the Costa Brava region. A high quality tournament designed to provide unforgettable days of football and fun - on and off the field.


Two days full of matches, a visit to Camp Nou stadium, adrenaline-fuelled rides at Port Aventura, water fun at Water World, brilliant sunny weather and first-rate beaches. What more could you wish for?


http://www.barcelonafootballfestival.com/

FCB enter last 16, Messi makes history (again)

FCB go to Copenhagen in search of 3 points that would take them into the last 16 and give them the luxury of resting players in the remaining group matches which include a trip to Greece days before they play Real Madrid at the Camp Nou. How many days nobody knows as even though arguably the biggest league match in Europe is this month we still do now know if it will be played on Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

It is difficult to see Copenhagen being able to put up much resistance given that playing at home they will have to come out of their shells thereby leaving more space for Messi to get the goal that would take him past Rivaldo as the Barça player with most European goals.

There are no players missing for FCB except Pinto banned for the "whistle" incident in the first leg. It may be that Cesar Santin doesn't start either as he was the man duped in said moment and he was also guilty of the miss of the match in the first leg at the Camp Nou.

Biggest story in the Spanish press regarding the match says it all really. FC Barcelona travelled to Denmark in Sporting Braga's plane.

Prediction: FC Copenhagen 1-3 FC Barcelona