10 Barca Players Tested by UEFA Doping

Barcelona Ten players, including Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez, are required to attend a drugs test by the European Football Federation (UEFA), Thursday, March 17, 2011. The test is said to be 'routine' is done the day after there were reports of one radio in Spain who called Barca had a troubled relationship with the doctor.

10 Barca Players Tested by UEFA Doping

Cadena Cope Radio-name it-claim that Real Madrid as the biggest rivals Barca have requested that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is more serious in conducting doping tests in the domestic league. Madrid, Cadena Cope added, also could not understand how the 'doctor with a questionable reputation' can work for clubs of Barcelona.

"The doctors from UEFA made ​​surprise visits to the gym this morning and Barca do a routine doping test on 10 players Barca," the statement listed the club's official website.

"This isis the second time to receive regular visits UEFA Barca this season ,last year three times ( visit)."

Doctors suspected it named Eufemiano Fuentes and never didakawa in December last for criminal trade in athletics doping scandal. He also recorded works for the Valencia club when the club came out as champions of La Liga in 2002 and 2004.

This accusation makes Barca and Valencia threatened to bring an action against Cadena Cope. The threat is then addressed the radio with an apology.

They also expressed no doubt the sincerity of Barcelona and the player. Cadena Cope's just not interesting reports about the doping suspicions.

"We're coming (team) of the UEFA anti-doping controls today, what a coincidence," said Gerard Pique as one of the players tested.

Besides Pique, Messi and Xavi, the seven other players tested was David Villa, Jeffren Suarez, Jose Manuel Pinto, Andre Iniesta, Victor Valdes, Javier Mascherano, and Ibrahim Afellay

Lionel Messi of Barcelona poses with the Toyota Award

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 18:

Lionel Messi of Barcelona poses with the Toyota Award the FIFA Club World Cup Final match between Santos and Barcelona at the Yokohama International Stadium on December 18, 2011 in Yokohama, Japan.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona controls the ball

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 18:

Lionel Messi of Barcelona controls the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup Final match between Santos and Barcelona at the Yokohama International Stadium on December 18, 2011 in Yokohama, Japan.

Lionel Messi (R) of Barcelona is challenged by Neymar of Santos

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 18: Lionel Messi (R) of Barcelona is challenged by Neymar of Santos

during the FIFA Club World Cup Final match between Santosl and Barcelona at the Yokohama International Stadium on December 18, 2011 in Yokohama, Japan.

Olimpia de Oro

Argentina's soccer player Lionel Messi,

holds the "Olimpia de Oro" trophy after arriving in Argentina, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011. Messi was awarded as "sportsman of the year" by Argentina's Sports Journalists' Association on Tuesday but received the trophy after arriving for his winter-break vacation following another trophy-laden year at Barcelona. Messi, who said he will spend Christmas with his family in Rosario, scored twice in his club's 4-0 win over Brazilian club Santos in the Club World Cup final on Sunday and was named player of the tournament.

Poses for a photo with His Mother Celia

Argentina's soccer ace Lionel Messi,

center, poses for a photo with his mother Celia, right, and with Monica Fein, Mayor of Messi's hometown Rosario, after being decorated as Honorary Citizen in Rosario, Argentina

Messi And Ronaldo Would Struggle To Adapt To Epl

English Premier League analyst and journalist, Andy Gray, has claimed that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi would struggle to adapt to play in the English Premier League.

When Gray was asked by co-presenter Richard Keys whether or not he felt Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would be able to score the same number of goals in the EPL, Gray stated that the Argentine international would “struggle in a cold night at the Britiannia Stadium”, referring to the home of top-flight side Stoke City. He added that “Barcelona would struggle in the EPL as they’ve never played the likes of Stoke.”

Gray later went onto say that La Liga lacks the depth that the Premier League has, suggesting that both Ronaldo and Messi would struggle to score consistently.

Perhaps Gray has forgotten that Ronaldo netted a whopping 31 goals in 34 matches during the 2007-08 season with Manchester United.

To add insult to injury, Gray finished his remarks by saying that Ronaldo “would not be the player that he is today had he not played in English football”.

Pablo Zabaleta dispute with Cesar Elizondo in a 3-0 win with authority

Pablo Zabaleta dispute with Cesar Elizondo in a 3-0 win with authority

Aguero celebrates with Messi and Di Maria's second goal in the match

Aguero celebrates with Messi and Di Maria's second goal in the match

Messi Scores 50th Goal of the Season

Villa slid in the opener from close range before half-time, his first goal since February, while Messi came off the bench to finish inside the box and continue an astonishing season of football for the Argentine. The win re-extends the gap at the top of La Liga to eight points. Earlier Real Madrid had hammered Valencia 6-3 at the Mestalla in a statement of intent on the title race, but Barca responded with enough to edge closer to retaining their crown.

There was a buoyant atmosphere inside the Catalan cathedral despite the sapping midweek Copa del Rey final loss to Real Madrid. With the third Clasico of this historic quadruple coming up on Wednesday, the Champions League semi-final first leg in the Bernabeu, Pep Guardiola rested stars Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Pedro, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. And the lack of star quality showed, with Barca struggling to break down their opponents and not dominating possession to the level now expected of them.
Striker David Villa summarized, stating “It was a complicated game but 3 more points. We were a bit tired from Wednesday’s game. The goal? Of course it’s nice but main thing is of course that the team wins. Now we rest a bit and then we’ll be trying to reach the final of the Champions League.”

Jorge Messi and Sergio Batista Reflect On Clasico

Lionel Messi’s father has criticized the approach of Jose Mourinho following Real Madrid’s defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Argentina national team coach Sergio Batista believes that Lionel Messi is on course to establishing himself as the greatest footballer ever
After the match, Mourinho complained about the referee’s decision to send Pepe off in the early minutes of the second half for his challenge on Daniel Alves and claimed that it was a “scandal” at the Bernabeu. The father of Lionel Messi, Jorge, has now given his take on the matter and says that Mourinho was wrong to vent in the manner he did after the clash.
“It was bad, very bad,” said Jorge Messi, according to Goal.com Spain. “I can understand that the game was heated. “I cannot tell if it was right to show him [Pepe] the red card or not but I agree that it was the turning point. But until then, Madrid played badly. “Mourinho’s approach was very conservative,” he added.
Jorge was delighted to watch his son Lionel score both the goals, the second one of the finest strikes in a Clasico. “I told him [Lionel] that they would win 2-0 and that he would score both the goals,” enthused Jorge, who then jokingly added: “Paul the Octopus is useless, you have to listen to me.”
Messi’s national team coach Batista was at the game last night and was left mesmerised with what he saw.
“We saw the Messi we all know and love,” said Batista, according to Reuters. “He’s on his way to becoming the best player in history. Given what we already know and because he surpasses himself day by day, he’s already the best in the world. I left the stadium telling myself, ‘Thank God players like Xavi and Messi exist’. They give you goose bumps, they thrill anyone.”