
<p>Barca apparently hope to schedule a friendly in the US this winter. </p>



<p>The club hopes to capitalize on their recent momentum, winning LaLiga in 2022/23, and continue to market themselves in North America.</p>



<p>According to sources at <em><a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38651387/barca-eye-december-friendly-usa-vs-liga-mx-club-sources" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN</a></em>, the Spanish side is looking to play a Mexican club in mid-December. This is, of course, during the middle of the current campaign. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barca</a> are tentatively set to play <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/almeria-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Almeria</a> on December 20th and then have a two-week break before <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">LaLiga</a> resumes in early January.</p>



<p>The aforementioned news source is adamant that the friendly will take place on the east coast of the country. This decision almost certainly comes down to the ease of travel from Spain. Although facing an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> team is not yet out of the question, Barca are likely play a team from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/liga-mx-tv-schedule/">Liga MX</a>.</p>



<h2>Mid-season overseas friendly is uncommon for club</h2>



<p>Spanish news outlet <em><a href="https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2023/10/13/el-barca-negocia-un-amistoso-en-estados-unidos-para-finales-de-diciembre-cadena-ser/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cadena Ser</a></em> also reports that the match is being organized by Media Solutions SA. This is the same firm that previously helped schedule Barca women’s team friendlies this past summer. </p>



<p>Barcelona Femeni traveled to Mexico to face Club America and Tigres in August and September.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Barcelona plot mid-season friendly in US as solution to financial crisis! 💰<br><br>• Barcelona searching for ways to boost income<br><br>• Club battling Negreira case and paying for reconstruction of Camp Nou<br><br>• Barca in talks over mid-season friendly played in US to generate revenue <a href="https://t.co/ziLSMoDeNT">pic.twitter.com/ziLSMoDeNT</a></p>— Football Coverage (@onthatdayss) <a href="https://twitter.com/onthatdayss/status/1713132071323877467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The decision to schedule a mid-season friendly in America is fairly unusual. In fact, Barcelona have played just one overseas exhibition match during December in recent memory. The Spanish giants previously traveled to Saudi Arabia to play <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/boca-juniors-tv-schedule/">Boca Juniors</a> in December of 2021. The friendly was a tribute to Diego Maradona.</p>



<h2>Organizing a Stateside friendly will aid Barca’s financial problems</h2>



<p>Recent financial difficulties at the club are clearly a motivating factor of scheduling these friendlies. Los Cules were hit with a Financial Fair Play <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-hit-with-financial-fair-play-violation-and-fine-20230103-WST-414235.html">violation</a> in January as a result of severe overspending. </p>



<p>The club has since been coming up with ways to help curb their financial issues. This includes <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barca-tv-to-shut-down-after-24-years-of-fc-barcelona-coverage-20230429-WST-430940.html">shutting down</a> Barca TV, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-selling-squares-of-camp-nou-grass-for-53-each-20230908-WST-454925.html">selling squares</a> of Camp Nou grass, and, of course, scheduling lucrative friendlies.</p>



<p><em>Cadena Ser</em> has reported that Barca generated over $5 million by playing an exhibition match in Australia in May of 2022. The club then made a few million dollars more by scheduling a friendly in Japan back in June as well. </p>



<p>Barca tend to raise significant crowds in the United States. Joan Laporta is hoping that they can generate extra money from the friendly before the year is out.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto</p>


Barca wants to schedule friendly in the US this winter

Barca are hoping to capitalize on their momentum and organize a money-spinning friendly in the US this winter

Barca wants to schedule friendly in the US this winter - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_17259" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/4480199428_93262bcd5a.jpg"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a><p id="caption-attachment-17259" class="wp-caption-text">The Captain (Via Flickr)</p></div>
<p>Since I’m new at EPL Talk, I’d like to talk a little bit more (before I discuss Wednesday’s match) about my history as an Arsenal fan. Slowly becoming a soccer fan in college, a 2006 trip to Europe with my girlfriend really cemented my love of the Gunners. Arriving in Paris just days before the Champions League Final, little did I know what would await me. The year before, I had been in Israel during the Liverpool-Milan game. Taking a cursory interest, I sat down with several Israelis who were screaming about how dominant Milan were. As everyone knows, it didn’t end up that way. But it was enough to turn me into a soccer fan for life.</p>
<p>Flash forward a year. After taking the train by the Stade De France the day of the match, and seeing the Arsenal and Barcelona fans peacefully hanging out, I knew that, unlike certain English clubs, this was going to be the club for me. The night was truly magical. Settling down in a Parisian cafe with the match on a HD screen, my girlfriend, for reasons unbeknownst to me, decided she was going to root for Barca. While I did watch a number of Arsenal matches that season, my fandom paled in comparison to how it is now, so I didn’t object.</p>
<p>After 17 minutes, Jens Lehmann was sent off. Sol Campbell scored, and the number of Arsenal fans in the cafe yelped in delight, myself included. Sadly, the night did not end up well for Arsenal. A 2-1 defeat, but it was hard to not be proud of Arsene Wenger’s team. Despite this, it was unmistakable: Barcelona were, even then, the perfect team. They played exciting soccer, and attacked &nbsp;mercilessly. Seeing them in the Champions League Final in 2009, it was again just beautiful to watch. You couldn’t help but root for them. My feelings toward them in both those games were of both awe and jealousy–Why couldn’t Arsenal be that team?</p>
<p>The reality, we can’t be that team. Watching the first half yesterday afternoon on delay, I realized that Arsene Wenger’s boys can’t be Barcelona. Rather, they have to (and are) shaping their own identity. Completely dominated for the first 55 minutes, an Arsenal team based on grit and fitness slowly came alive. The introduction of England International Theo Walcott changed the complexion of the game.</p>
<p>(As an aside, if you think that Fabio Capello wasn’t whetting his chops at the thought of Theo making runs like that in South Africa, you are kidding yourself. The kid can only show up in big games on the biggest stage. World cup qualifiers? Barcelona in the Champions League? He’ll be there. Stoke away in February? Not a chance!)</p>
<p>After that, a team with superior fitness finished it off. While I’m not sure that Puyol deserved a penalty for knocking off Fabregas, the reality is that the referee saw a foul, and at that point you have to send him off. Fabregas showed the reason why he should be footballer of the year, by knocking in a penalty with a broken leg! At this point, Wenger should have pulled him off–who knows what kind of damage that Fabregas could have done to himself in the remaining ten minutes.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, even despite the comeback, the old nemesis of Barcelona still struck awe and fear into the eyes of Gooners all over the world. Even despite the draw, it still seems likely that Barca will send Arsenal out of the champions league for the third time in the last 11 years. While the domestic rivals Chelsea and Man U continue to demolish the Gunners head-to-head, it is this talented, free-flowing, and altogether better group from Barcelona that makes Arsenal fans feel inadequate.</p>
<p>—-Notes on the Game:</p>
<p>1. Arshavin: The reality is, at this point, Arshavin is simply not good enough to make the starting XI of a club such as Arsenal. His runs and passes are incredibly wasteful, and he simply does not track back on defense. He should be used only as a super-sub, and nothing more. Eboue and Rosicky provide more right now than Arshavin does. Yes, his 4 goal performance at Liverpool was incredible. But better teams (Chelsea, Man U, Barcelona) will destroy you down the wing when a player doesn’t track back, as Arshavin is prone to do.</p>
<p>2. Nasri: While Arsenal fans sweat having to go to the Camp Nou without Cesc Fabregas, the young Frenchman, in my opinion, is having the best season of his life. He has been excellent, and a midfield of Diaby-Denilson-Nasri with Song in the back scares me much less than you would think. The loss of Fabregas will not be the reason why Arsenal loses in the 2nd leg.</p>
<p>3. Messi: For all his talk as the best player in the world, Messi seemed extremely absent from this game. Hopefully he doesn’t decide to “wake up” before the 2nd leg.</p>
<p>4. TV: As all of you know, Fox Sports Net is going to be broadcasting the second leg into most US homes with cable. Frankly, this should be the game that you DVR for your non-soccer-loving friends and family, and tell them THIS is the reason why you’re a fan. If the first leg was any guide, the second leg should be a barn-burner.</p>
<p><em>Jordan Acker is a law student and Arsenal supporter from Detroit, currently exiled in Washington, DC. Follow him on twitter: @JAcker2L </em></p>
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Barcelona, We Meet Again - World Soccer Talk

Barcelona, We Meet Again

<p>The world’s best player&nbsp; ensured Barca avenged the Coppa del Rey exit at the hands of Sevilla&nbsp;when he scored two goals in the 4-0 rout of the Rojiblancos. Lionel Messi not only helped the Catalan club thump Sevilla but also made sure the lead over Real Madrid got extended to a comfortable five points. Along the way Messi has reached another landmark in Barcelona history and made sure his name will be forever etched in the club’s folklore. He became the youngest player in the club’s prestigious history to reach 100 goals.</p>
<p>The humble Messi did not take the opportunity to gloat about his achievement but rather warned the season is still young with many games to be played and insisting it is too early to start celebrating. His maturity and focus are exemplary and the Coach Josep Guardiola must be counting his lucky stars for having such a talented player who is concentrated on achieving glory for the club as opposed to playing for personal achievements. Messi has actually scored 101 goals in 188 appearances for the club, including a remarkable 68 league goals in 124 matches.</p>
<p>Messi has scored 14 goals and assisted on six others in just 15 league matches while his totals for the season are 21 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions. More importantly, Messi led Barca to winning all six trophies in 2009 (La Liga, Copa del Rey, European Champions League, Supercopa de Espana, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA World Club Cup) in a historic and amazing feat unmatched by any other European club. Messi also had the honour of scoring Barca’s 5000th goal La Liga goal in February 2009 against Racing Santander.</p>
<p>Barca will be challenging for trophies for many seasons to come as long as the 22-year-old Argentine star remains with the club and does not suffer any injuries. If he remains with the club for several years then he will probably be considered Barca’s best player ever. Some pundits and fans are already calling him Barca’s best ever. For now, Messi is satisfied with playing his part in bringing trophies to the club.</p>


Messi Reaches The Century Mark With Barca - World Soccer Talk

Messi Reaches The Century Mark With Barca

<div><div><figure class="image"></figure></div>After&nbsp;covering the Barcelona versus Real Madrid topic, it&nbsp;is only&nbsp;logical if&nbsp;Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were discussed due to their pivotal role in both teams. The two&nbsp;wingers are&nbsp;currently playing&nbsp;for two of the best clubs in Spain and two of the most popular outfits in the world.</div>
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<div>Barca’s Lio Messi is a&nbsp; graceful and diminutive yet extremely skilled and fast player while Real Madrid’s Ronaldo is a well-built player who relies on sheer speed and power allied with a plethora of tricky moves up his sleeve to torment defenders. The Messi&nbsp;–&nbsp;Ronaldo comparison cannot be limited to just elegance&nbsp;against brute efficiency&nbsp;since the Portuguese player&nbsp;can&nbsp;showcase a <span>catalogue</span> of nifty moves. Though both can score from free-kicks, Ronaldo normally&nbsp;opts for&nbsp;power and precision at the expense of curling and placement of&nbsp;the ball which seem to be the preference of Messi.</div>
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<div>The Argentine prodigy actually has a scoring ratio that&nbsp;surpasses that of the Portuguese star. That might come as a surprise to many but statistics cannot be argued with.&nbsp;Lio has scored 55 goals in 110 league appearances for Barca while Ronaldo registered 84 goals in 196 league matches for Manchester (he played for Sporting Lisbon prior to that). While Ronaldo’s <span>exploits</span> in the Premier League cannot be marginalised, Messi’s footwork and stunning contribution to the Barca cause is sometimes overlooked due to the presence of Samuel Eto’o (now with Inter) and Thierry Henry.</div>
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<div>Make no mistake, Messi was the driving force behind the Catalan club’s record-setting treble season despite Eto’o being the team’s top scorer. Ronaldo toyed with EPL defenders the past few years and in 2007-08 season had a remarkable 42 goal tally in all competitions for the Red Devils. Legendary&nbsp; United manager Alex Ferguson did not want to let go of his Portuguese&nbsp;kingpin last season because he&nbsp;realised how invaluable his input had been to bringing success to Old Trafford. Sir Alex&nbsp; finally&nbsp; had to let go this summer after Los Blancos&nbsp;offered a mind-boggling&nbsp;world record fee of $132 million for Ronaldo.</div>
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<div>In their professional career both have won the Champions League and multiple titles in one season. The experience factor might not&nbsp;favor&nbsp;one over the other&nbsp;and actually becomes less&nbsp;of an issue&nbsp;when you consider the talent on hand. However, one crucial element might be age since Messi is the younger of the two (By a couple of years and&nbsp;that can be significant for a player who is attack-minded) and still has time to improve and enter Argentine folklore along football greats such as Diego Maradona while Ronaldo is less likely to do so given the age of some of Portugal’s established players.</div>
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<div>One more advantage for Messi is that he has been with Barca all these years while this will be Ronaldo’s first season with Los Galacticos. The onus is on&nbsp;Ronaldo to deliver following his record&nbsp;move which, by itself, could&nbsp;turn out to be another&nbsp;factor&nbsp;working against&nbsp;him. If the&nbsp;burden of being the most expensive player, the&nbsp;pressure of having to live up to his exploits&nbsp;in England, and&nbsp;Portugal’s failures all begin to catch up with him then Ronaldo’s season could gradually fall below expectations.</div>
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<div>The match-up between both squads could turn out to be uninspiring- just check the much anticipated Inter-Barca game which resulted in a scoreless draw, albeit not the worst one&nbsp;to watch with some&nbsp;neat moves from Xavi and Messi.&nbsp;The&nbsp;star&nbsp;who ends up winning La Liga&nbsp;or the Champions League and who ends up contributing more on&nbsp;route to victory will most likely prevail as the best in the world. Both superstars have a plethora of skilled players supporting them&nbsp;such as&nbsp;Kaka&nbsp;in the case of&nbsp;Real Madrid.</div>
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<div>The presence of Kaka with Los Blancos might tip the balance in Ronaldo’s favor since&nbsp;the Brazilian&nbsp;maestro&nbsp;is better in comparison&nbsp;to Barca’s other&nbsp;star players. Upfront Real’s Karim Benzema and&nbsp; Barca’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic will probably struggle to deliver&nbsp;given their hefty price tag since both tend to struggle in big games. ‘Ibra’ has never scored against the top teams in Europe and has not left his imprint on the international level&nbsp;and the same applies to Benzema. That will leave more for Ronaldo and Messi to do though Cristiano can rely on the creativity and vision of Kaka.</div>
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<div>The two league games between Real Madrid&nbsp;and Barcelona&nbsp;could very well boil down to Ronaldo versus Messi though Kaka will&nbsp;likely have a big say.&nbsp;There will be a&nbsp;parade of stars if those&nbsp;two teams end up playing in the Santiago Bernabeu for the Champions League trophy come May 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp;Records and trophies aside, who would not want to have Messi or Ronaldo on his team?</div>


Messi Versus Ronaldo! - World Soccer Talk

Messi Versus Ronaldo!

<p></p><div><figure class="image"></figure></div>It is mouth-watering just to imagine a match featuring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema taking on an opposing team which includes Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi Hernandez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to name just a few.<p></p>
<p>The dream of many football fanatics has come true following a spending frenzy by Los Blancos which included the record signing of Portuguese Ronaldo from Manchester United. The club obviously made other big name signings and also fortified its defense with the hope of challenging the Catalan club for honours both in Spain and Europe.</p>
<p>Barca did not hold back and retaliated by capturing Inter’s Ibrahimovic though that came at a steep price. Inter received star striker Samuel Eto’o in return in addition to&nbsp;a hefty payment for the Nerazzurri. The proud Catalan club still has plenty of weapons upfront besides the famous names mentioned above. Andres Iniesta has become an integral cog in the team’s free-flowing approach and often contributes with decisive balls from midfield while young striker Bojan Krkic is beginning to emerge as a threat. Krkic’s playing time will still be limited with the presence of Henry and Ibrahimovic yet he is sure to get regular cameo appearances under Coach Josep Guardiola’s stewardship.</p>
<p>Barca’s strengths are not limited to the frightening forward lineup or the midfield’s flair and solidity but also the defense’s compactness under the leadership of Carles Puyol. While Xavi and Iniesta supply the attackers with the ammunition to score goals, the energetic Yaya Toure supports the defense and covers the space left by the midfielders roaming forward. Captain Puyol marshals the defense and has found an able deputy in&nbsp;the form of Gerard Pique.</p>
<p>As for Los Galacticos, Kaka and Ronaldo pull the strings from midfield and move forward to support Captain Raul and French striker Karim Benzema. Behind them former Liverpool star Alonso ensures the team ticks like a well-oiled machine while Mahamadou Diarra recovers plenty of balls, breaks up opposition moves and offers cover for the defense. Iker Casillas remains a trustworthy goalkeeper between the posts and often performs incredible saves while Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa were brought in to strengthen the defensive line.</p>
<p>Real Madrid&nbsp;was not able to lure French International and Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery leaving club President Florentino Perez visibly disappointed. While Barcelona appears to be more of a solid, free-flowing and united team, Los Blancos have yet to mesh together and are still reliant on individual talents and flashes of brilliance from stars such as Kaka.</p>
<p>So the question for La Liga and all football fans is probably best summed up in this question: Would you pick a cohesive yet very talented team like Barca or will you bet on Real Madrid winning titles through the contributions of the individual superstars? It is Barca’s impressive talent working for the collective&nbsp;good&nbsp;in a face-off with&nbsp;Real’s awfully talented superstars who are still relying on their skills to gel into a successful team.</p>
<p>Both Kaka and Ronaldo achieved success with their previous clubs but they have not played together prior to this season and Los Blancos have not won in Europe for a long time. On the other hand, Barca have won a historic treble last season and probably have the best player in the world at the moment in the shape of Leo Messi.</p>


ALL POSTS TAGGED "Barca"

Barcelona

Barca wants to schedule friendly in the US this winter

General

Barcelona, We Meet Again

Ballon d'Or

Messi Reaches The Century Mark With Barca

Leagues: La Liga

Messi Versus Ronaldo!

Leagues: La Liga

Would You Pick Real Madrid Or Barcelona?