Three Facts How Attletico Win Barcelona

Three Facts How Attletico Win Barcelona

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There are three facts from Atletico Madrid's stunning 1-0 upset against Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, which saw the club advance to the Champions League semifinals thanks to an aggregate score of 2-1.

From history to hysterics
It's have been four years waiting to beat Barcelona, 40 years waiting to return to a stage like the Champions League semifinal, but it would be wrong in this case to dwell on the past. 

Barcelona come full circle, but not with any satisfaction 
Tata Martino was supposed to implement a different style, but still found it drawn out by the defining strands of the existing players and old regime. That was evident at the attempt at possession in the first half, but the lack of proper pressing that allowed Atletico to so assertively tear at them. Caught in that crux, Barca never looked convincing. 

Simeone: Fresh and so fearsome 
Beyond Koke’s breathless opening goal, they hit the frame of the goal three times, saw Gabi squander a glorious opening and should have had a penalty.

It would have been so thoroughly cruel if they had failed to go through after all that. This, however, was not a team that was going to complain about the nuances of knockout fate. At the Calderon, they more than made their own destiny. 

Highest Paid Footballer-Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi will become the world's highest paid footballer according to Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

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The four-time World Player of the Year has a contract with the Catalan giants until 2018, but Bartomeu said talks were on-going with the player's father and principal agent Jorge Horacio Messi over a deal that would surpass the five-year contract Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Real Madrid in September last year.

"We are in the midst of the season, so it is not the moment to be negotiating with him, but it is the moment to talk to the agents and with his father and that is what we are doing," Bartomeu said in an exclusive interview with AFP sports.

"We will talk with them about how we see the player. He is our star and he has a contract until 2018 because we want him to participate in our future, but there is the will within the club that he becomes the best paid player in the world.

"He is the number one and, as we have said various times, he also deserves to be the best paid player in the world."

Messi had been plagued by muscular injuries early in the season, but has recently returned to top-form as he has scored a hat-trick in consecutive games, most recently, in Sunday's thrilling 4-3 win away to Real Madrid.

After scoring the winner with his third goal of the night seven minutes from time at the Bernabeu, Messi kissed the Barca badge on his shirt several times in an uncharacteristic show of exuberance.

And contrary to some rumours linking him with a move to free-spending Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City, Bartomeu is convinced that Messi is determined to remain at Barca for many years to come.

"Here there is no doubt. Leo Messi arrived here as a 13-year-old and is now 26, soon to be 27. You see how he plays, he is a decisive player and has led all the success Barca has had over the past few years. That is why he has a contract until 2018 and there are no disagreements.

"There is only an enormous desire, both from the player and the club to reach an agreement. We will get there and we will get there calmly.

"We are sure we will reach a deal with Messi, we are convinced because it is his wish too. He said so just a few days ago. We will have Leo Messi at Barcelona for many years to come."

Bartomeu also stressed that it is the board's wish that manager Gerardo Martino sees out his contract until 2015 at the very least.

Martino has endured an up and down first season in charge of Barca, but the Spanish champions are still fighting for titles on three fronts.

"We are very happy with him, he is a person that is giving all the right signals, messages and acting in a manner that fits in perfectly with what we want FC Barcelona to be. He knows we are happy with him and the decision on whether to continue will be his.

"He has a contract until 2015, but at the moment there are so many important games that are left to play that is what he is concentrating on."

Laudrup Believes Real will win in the El Classico

The ex Swansea Manager believes that Real Madrid will win the El Classico and have a seven-point gap.

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Former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder Michael Laudrup believes Gerardo Martino's side must win Sunday's Clasico to keep their Liga defence alive.

The capital club sit four points clear of their bitter rivals heading into the Santiago Bernabeu clash, but the Blaugrana won the meeting at Camp Nou earlier this season.

Former Denmark international  Laudrup feels that home advantage could be key when the two sides meet this weekend and has tipped Carlo Ancelotti's men for success.

"Real Madrid are favourites because they are playing at home, but both teams have players who can change the balance game," he told Cadena COPE.

"Real Madrid were behind but now have the chance to knock a rival like Barcelona out of the title race because it a seven-point deficit with nine games would be very complicated."

Both clubs made big money signings in the summer, with Barca bringing Neymar to the club and Madrid breaking the world transfer record to lure Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu, and Laudrup feels both could do well in La Liga.

"You have to give Bale and Neymar time, but when you pay so much money for them, patience isn't the word because you pay immediately," said the former Swansea boss.

"They are both good but they have to adapt to Real Madrid and Barcelona's games because. Bale has been injured, but hasn't had a bad year." 

Champions League:Zabaleta Slams Refferee

It was a shock decision when Pablo Zabaleta get a red card when Edin Dzeko was clearly tackle inside the penalty box. Manchester City defeat 2-1 to Barcelona.

Argentine defender Zabaleta was sent off at the Nou Camp for two bookable offences, picking up his second booking for his protests to Lannoy over his failure to award City a penalty when Edin Dzeko appeared to be felled by Gerard Pique inside the box.

Barcelona also had a strong penalty appeal of their own waved away in the first half, while the home side had a goal controversially ruled out for offside even though replays showed Jordi Alba was onside before he crossed for Neymar to score.

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Zabaleta was insistent that City should have had a penalty for the Dzeko incident and he claims he is in the dark as to why he was sent off.

"It was very clear," Zabaleta said. "I think Pique was behind me and made the tackle on Dzeko and the referee was only two metres away from that.

"I don't know why I was sent off. I went to him to talk to him in a good way.

"I was a little bit angry to him because he didn't give a penalty but I have always been very respectful to him.
"I am frustrated. I think it was a shocking decision.

"Sometimes in the game you are nervous because you are trying to get the result, and sometimes shocking decisions by the ref make you a bit angry."

Zabaleta also felt City should have received a free-kick before Barcelona opened the scoring through Lionel Messi, feeling Dzeko was fouled in the build-up to the goal.

"It was also a foul against Dzeko just before Barcelona's first goal," added Zabaleta. "He held the ball and turned, and Pique had hold of his shirt, and the ref gave a free-kick to Barcelona."

"I am disappointed but also very proud of the team because I think we played a fantastic game.

Manchester City played a good game since beginning but when the French referee Stephane Lanno acts like this, it just killed the game.

Barcelona Vs Osasuna (7-0) : Post Report

Lionel Messi has become the all time top scorer for the Barcelona Club as he scores the hat trick and demolished Osasuna by 7-0.

The 26-year-old opened the scoring after 19 minutes to equal Paulino Alcantara's record of 369 goals in all competitions - including friendlies - for Barcelona. Alexis Sanchez and Andres Iniesta increased the hosts' advantage before the break.

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Messi struck again in the second half to move onto 370 goals and become the club's undisputed top marksman, and then completed his treble with a simple finish in the 87th minute, after substitute Cristian Tello had rammed in the fifth goal.

There was still time for a seventh goal, however, Messi adding an assist to his goal haul by teeing up Pedro.
Barca remain third in the Primera Division and four points behind leaders Real Madrid despite the win, but will have the chance to cut the gap with their arch rivals at the Bernabeu in a week's time.