Schalke 04: El Hombre de Oro

November 2014

Capoue (83) - Sanchez (31), Messi (43)





Doumbia (23), Cauna (53)





Neymar (30), Pique (77)



Neymar (6), Bartra (15, 50, 70), Pedro (31), Correa (43), Rodri O.G. (63), Xavi (pen 68)





Messi (19, 45, 48), Puyol (39), Bartra (51)





Pedro (2), Bartra (17), Pique (30), Messi (59), Deulofeu (87) – Barkero (pen 57), Montanes (89)

Liga BBVA Table

UEFA Champions’ League Group E Table

Barcelona’s Player of the Month

Marc Bartra

What an insane start to the season Bartra is having? I must admit, I wondered why Tata Martino had relied so heavily on the young man last season but he’s quickly showed why, with a difference, GOALS!

Maradona’s Verdict

We suffered our first outright defeat this season in official competitions but I don’t believe it was enough to blemish what I consider to be a successful month. It was a shame to lose to CSKA Moscow but we are still in a commanding position in our UEFA Champions’ League table and I fully expect us to come out on top of our group. It was another clean month in the league and we’ll need got a few more of those too because Real Madrid are biting at our heels.

PUYOL TIPS BARTRA FOR GREATNESS

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol believes teammate Marc Bartra can go onto become one of the world’s best defenders after a fantastic start to the season.

The 23-year-old has been a regular for the ‘Blaugrana’ since Diego Maradona’s arrival, appearing in 20 of Barcelona’s 22 games this season.

Bartra has fired Barcelona to the top of La Liga with 12 goals so far this season and kept the Puyol out of Maradona’s starting 11.

Now, Puyol has backed his compatriot to continue impressing at a global scale, noting his attitude as the key to his success.

”Bartra has been a fantastic revelation for us this season and I’m very happy to see him hit the headlines across the world.

“I’d firmly say he’s the most in-form defender right now and if he continues, I see no reason as to why he cannot become the world’s best in his position.

“He’s pacey, good on the ball and has really developed his ability to score in front of goal. At this stage, his partnership with (Gerard) Pique has been one of the best.

“The best attribute I feel he has is his willingness to listen and take advice on board. I’ve tested him a few times and barked down his ear but he’s always been able to handle constructive criticism, which ultimately will make him a top player in the near future.”

The La Masia graduate has caught the eye of many managers this season, more notably of his former boss Pep Guardiola, whom is speculated to be preparing a bid worth £20 million in January in order to lure him to Bayern Munich.

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CESC ROCKED BY INJURY

Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas has suffered an injury setback that will keep him out of action for up to four months with a torn calf muscle.

The Spaniard had to be carried off by the Barcelona’s medical staff after picking up the injury in their 5-2 home win versus Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Fabregas, whose been struggling with a calf injury this season, suffers an aggravation and will be likely to return to action in mid-March.

Barcelona manager Diego Maradona has shown his support for Fabregas and rues his decision to play the midfielder after his medical staff failed to identify the injury’s reoccurrence.

“The Fabregas news is really disappointing to hear but we are right behind him and wish him a speedy recovery.

“Cesc has been having a few issues with his calf on the past few days and we had hoped the injury had been shaken off after a short spell on the side lines.

“He had told us before that he was feeling a small discomfort but at first, we believed that was normal as he was still recovering. Unfortunately, his injury has gotten worse but I’m confident he can recover well.”

Fabregas has made ten starts so far this season for Barcelona and assisted three goals since the start of the season.

December 2014

Abel (28) – Pique (59) Deulofeu (70), Iniesta (84)





Czucz (90) – Rafinha (4, 42), Neymar (13), Messi (52, 67)





Messi (4, pen 14), Pique (44), Rafinha (45)



3-1 agg.







Pique (5, 90+4), Messi (50) - Charles (29)

Liga BBVA Table

UEFA Champions’ League Group E Table

Barcelona’s Player of the Month

Rafinha Alcantara

With Iniesta recovering from an injury and Fabregas out for a while, it was Rafinha’s curtain call and he really done the business. He’s typically a great passer of the ball and has created some great chances for our forwards to tuck home, adding three goals himself.

Maradona’s Verdict

We had another good month as expected with 4 wins out of 5. However, I was very annoyed with our two games versus Cordoba in the cup. At times it seemed we showed them a lack of respect in thinking it would be and easy clash, winning 3-1 in a less than convincing fashion and then drawing 0-0. That’s not the attitude I want from my team and I’m expecting a response in January.

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CR7: “I DESERVE TO WIN EVERY YEAR”

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo believes he should have won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award more than once ahead of the 2014 gala.

Ronaldo has been nominated for the highly coveted individual award for the past seven years but has seen Barcelona’s Lionel Messi swoop the award for five times in a row.

The Portugal captain, who last won the Ballon d’Or back in January 2009, has been nominated once again for the award alongside Messi and Manchester United’s Juan Mata.

Ronaldo has now come out and stated his belief that he deserved the gong ahead of his eternal rival Messi.

"Do I deserve to win it? Maybe I deserved to win it last year or the year before. I think I deserve to win the Ballon d'Or every year.

“I like winning everything, but I know that it doesn't depend on me. I'd like to win it, but sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, that's just life.

"I don't know if I will win it this year. I've been in the top three for the last seven years and in the FIFPro Team of the Year for the last eight out of nine, so I really have nothing more to add.

“My numbers speak for themselves. What I've achieved, in some way, is key to winning individual awards."

Ronaldo will be hoping his heroics last season for Real Madrid will make a strong case as he scored 42 goals in 51 appearances en route to La Liga success with ‘Los Merengues’.

The 29-year-old also became the first Real Madrid player to ever score a goal in every single minute of the full 90, this being just one of the much talked about records which could edge him towards the World Player of the Year title ahead of Messi.

MESSI WINS BALLON D’OR

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has won his sixth consecutive FIFA Ballon d’Or award after beating Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo once more.

Messi took top spot ahead of his eternal rival Ronaldo in second and Juan Mata from Manchester United in third.

Ronaldo had hoped his recent La Liga success might have finally been enough to win the award, with Messi and his team only winning the Copa Del Rey under Tata Martino last season.

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola, ex-Barcelona star Thierry Henry and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger are just three of the high profile names believed to have voted for the Argentine.

In the younger category, Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos was awarded with the European Golden Boy gong after a sensational season with the UEFA Champions’ League winners.



The 21-year-old appeared a total of 53 times altogether for PSG under the now Barcelona manager Diego Maradona and his current boss Andre Villas-Boas, scoring three goals en-route to the French quadruple.

BAYERN STEP UP BARTRA INTEREST

Bayern Munich are ready to make a bid for Barcelona’s Marc Bartra after their manager Pep Guardiola expressed his interest in the defender.

Bartra has been in great form of late for Barcelona and has racked up an array of possible suitors, which include the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Former Barcelona manager Guardiola is now ready to make the first move in the January transfer window after admitting his interest for the 24-year-old.

“Bartra is a player I know very well from my time at Barcelona and I have been very impressed with his development this season.

“I’d be lying to you if I told I wasn’t interest in his services but in this moment in time, which club isn’t?

“We are looking at the potential of commencing negotiations with Barcelona, as I assume many clubs are at the moment, but it’s nothing concrete just yet.

“We are talking about a man who is beginning to hit the peak of his powers so I expect there to be many clubs after him, so time will tell what the future holds.”

Clubs across Europe are speculated to be launching bids in the region of £20 million for the centre back, with his current contract at Barcelona containing a £31 million release clause.