FC Barcelona is Mes que un Club

FC Barcelona won their 4th UEFA Champions League tittle against Manchester United by 3-1 at Wembley stadium in London, England. Canarian striker Pedro opened the score at 27' with a wonderful pass from catalan legendary midfielder Xavi. The "Red Devils" tied at 34' with a powerful goal by brit bad boy Rooney. Several other shots at goal were made by the catalan side but the halftime stop with both sides tied at one.

The culés controlled the ball almost 70% of the time during the game. Then at 54', argentine foward Messi put the 2-1 with a long distance goal which took Man U's dutch goalkeeper Van Der Saar by surprise. It was Messi's first goal in english soil. To wrap the wonderful performance by the blaugranas, Spain striker David Villa scored at 69' with a play started by Man of the Match, Messi, and a pass from catalan defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets.

At the end, french defender Eric Abidal (who had battled cancer in the previous months) raised "La Orejona" to celebrate the azulgrana's 3rd UEFA Champions tittle in 6 years. The catalan side also won in 2006 against Arsenal (2-1) and in 2009 also against Man U (2-0).

Messi was the competition's leading scorer with 12 goals equaling Van Nistelrooy's previous 2002-03 record. "La Pulga" ended with 53 goals and 25 assists in the entire season and is in the run for his 3rd straight FIFA Ballon D'Or award.

Barcelona's head coach Josep Guardiola got the 10th tittle of his three year span. 3 straight La Liga tittles (2009, 2010 and 2011), 2 UEFA Champions Leagues (2009 and 2011), 2 Spanish Supercups (2009 and 2010), 1 European Supercup (2009) and 1 FIFA Club World Cup (2009) and 1 Copa del Rey (2009). Also, he is the only coach in history to have won a Sextuple by winning all the tittles possible in a single season of European football.

FC Barcelona has three more competitions to complete their almost perfect year. In August 14th, they face arch rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the 2011 Spanish Supercup at Bernabeu stadium. The second leg is at the Camp Nou in August 17th. This competition faces up Liga Champions and Copa del Rey Champions.

In August 26th, they play the 2011 European Supercup against UEFA Europa League winners, portuguese side Porto, at the Stade Louis II in Mónaco. In December 8-18, they will compete for the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup against the winners of the Champions League of the other FIFA world regions. They qualify for the latter three competitions by winning the 2011 UEFA Champions League.

Record-breaking Barça

It's only half season of Spanish La Liga (19 games played) and F.C. Barcelona have won 17 games with 1 draw against Mallorca and 1 loss against Hércules. Making them the best Winter Champions ever (adding 52 points, out of a possible 57). This including the "manita" (5-0) win over arch rivals, Real Madrid, at the Camp Nou.

They have similar success in the other competitions. Currently in quarterfinals at Copa del Rey against Liga Adelante's (Spain 2nd Division) current leaders, Real Betis. Barca won the first leg, 5-0. In the UEFA Champions League, they are scheduled to play against London legends, Arsenal FC, on the Round of 16 (first leg on Feb 16, 2011).


Individually in Liga, Lionel Messi has 18 goals (second to CR9's 22). David Villa has 14 goals (3rd after its argentine teammate) and canarian clutch striker Pedro has 10 goals. Manchego wonder, Andrés Iniesta, has 6 goals (tied his career high already).

Playmaking-wise, Messi is leading the league with 13 assists. Pedrito has 8, brazilian Dani Alves has 7 and Villa has 5. Star-duo of midfielders, Xavi and Iniesta, have 4 each.

Combining all competitions (League, Champions and Cup), Messi has 31 goals and 16 assists. In Champions, the argentine has 6 goals, tied second with Bayern Munich striker Mario Gómez. The current leader is Inter Milán striker, Samuel Eto'o, with 7 goals.


Culés, David Villa and Pedrito, overall have 16 goals and 7 assists each. Iniesta has 6 goals and 6 assists. Messi has scored 3 hat-tricks (three goals in a single game) this season. Against Sevilla in Supercopa de España, against Almería (final result 8-0) in Liga and against Real Betis in Copa del Rey, this last one was his first of 2011.

Pep Guardiola's team hold a club-record of 28 games unbeaten after their most recent 4-1 win over Málaga. Second-place Real Madrid trails Barcelona by 4 points at the top of La Liga standings (52 against 48). Also, they have won nine times for 4 or more goals( six in Liga, one in Champions and two in Cup).

Blaugrana's have scored in Liga 61 goals and only received 11 goals, a 50 goal differential. 48 of those goals scored by Messi, Villa, Pedro and Iniesta.

Added to their greatness in the field, La Masia alumni Messi, Xavi and Iniesta were the top three nominees for the first ever 2010 FIFA Ballon D'or award. Which merged FIFA World Player and France Football's Ballon D'or in one. An award won by Messi and crowned FC Barcelona's game as a whole. Messi won both awards previously in 2009.

We are definitely looking at one of the best sports team in history. How many more records would be broken when the season ends? Who knows. But definitely, Mes que un Club!