F.C. Barcelona will wear an all-yellow away shirt and dark blue shorts for the 2008/09 Spanish La Liga season.
Manufactured by sportswear giants Nike, the yellow shirt features a V-neck collar with dark blue inserts and a dark blue and red stripe running down the left side of the players body. The shirt features DRI-FIT technology to keep the players comfortable in all different kinds of playing conditions.
The arrival of the new away kit marks a huge improvement from last season's (2007-08) away kit which has now been relegated to being the third kit in 2008-09 so this won't be the last we see of it just yet!
Spanish giants will be looking to end two years of hurt in 2008/09 with a new coach (Pep Guardiola) at the helm while wearing a new revolutionary home kit.
Known as the Blaugrana for their blue and maroon shirts, the maroon part will be replaced with red for the 2008/09 season thus making the home kit much brighter than it has ever been. Featuring a V-neck collar and the Unicef logo across the chest, the blue and red colours are split right down the middle as if two separate shirts - blue and red - have been cut and sewed together.
Manufactured by sportswear giants Nike, the shirt features DRI-FIT technology to keep the players comfortable in all different kinds of playing conditions.
Portugal midfielder Deco has joined Chelsea from Spanish giants Barcelona after he was told he did not feature in Barcelona's future plans by new coach Pep Guardiola.
Despite suffering injuries and a loss of form for Barca last season, Deco was still one of Portugal's best players in their failed Euro 2008 campaign and is still regarded as one of Europe's most highly-rated playmakers. The 30-year-old has joined the Stamford Bridge outfit on a two-year deal for a fee of about £8m and will once again team up with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari who he played under for the national team.
The Brazilian-born midfielder has a bulging trophy cabinet which includes two Champion's League medals, a Uefa cup winner's medal, and two La Liga titles from his time at FC Porto and Barcelona.
Deco spoke to Chelsea TV after officially signing and said that winning the Champion's League was a top priority for him and the club: "It is good for me to be here and first of all I am very happy to be here.
"I am sure I have come at the right time to do great things and be able to help Chelsea go back to the way it was and come back to being the first one, not only in England but also to win the Champions League that has been their dream for so long."
The arrival of the Portugese star adds a new dimension for the Chelsea midfield which currently includes Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Jon Mikel Obi and Claude Makelele although some would argue that his arrival has only hastened the departure of Frank Lampard who is rumoured to be a transfer target for former boss Jose Mourinho who is now at Inter Milan.
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has been sacked will leave his post at the Catalan giants at the end of the season due to a string of poor results which have left the Spanish giants trophyless for the past two seasons.
The former Dutch international and AC Milan star took charge at the Nou Camp in 2003 and enjoyed a great run of results which saw the club win La Liga for consecutive seasons in 2005 and 2006, as well as the Champions League in 2006.
Former player Pep Guardiola will manage Barcelona
Since then, the club has failed to bring in any trophies despite boasting arguably the most talented squad in world football with the likes of Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Deco, Messi, Iniesta, Puyol and Thierry Henry at his disposal.
The club currently lies in third position on the La Liga table and have failed to secure an automatic spot in next season's Champions League. Despite the club distancing themselves from rumours that Rijkaard would be replaced for next season, the final straw came on Wednesday when they were thrashed 4-1 by bitter rivals and La Liga Champions 07/08 Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
While Rijkaard's man-management skills have been called into question for much of the season, it is no coincidence that the club's fortunes took a downturn after the fall from grace of both Ronaldinho and Eto'o - two of the best players in the team - who have struggled with motivation and fitness. The talismanic Lionel Messi, who has experienced an on/off season due to injury, has also contributed to his team's poor on-field performance which has ultimately led to Rijkaard's decision to 'leave' the club.
What cannot be argued though is Rijkaard's bizarre decision to play one of the most prolific strikers in world football, Thierry Henry, on the left wing for much of the season.
Former player Josep Guardiola will takeover the reigns at the club where he is still revered as a legend from his playing days on 30 June. Guardiola captained the Barcelona side when they won the European Cup for the first time in 1992 and he will be taking on one of the toughest jobs in world football for his first foray into top-flight management.
As if winning the league with three matches to spare were not enough for Spanish giants Real Madrid, they went two steps further overnight by humiliating arch-rivals Barcelona 4-1 at the Bernabeu and depriving them of an automatic place in next season's Champions League in the process.
Real showed no signs of a celebratory hangover after clinching the title on Sunday and seemed to determined to celebrate their second successive title triumph at home in style and they did just that with goals from talismanic captain Raul, Arjen Robben, a classy strike from Gonzalo Higuain and a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty.
Barcelona's Thierry Henry scored a late consolation goal for the humiliated Catalans who were forced to clap Real on to the pitch at the start of the game in the traditional tribute to the league champions.
With two successive La Liga titles in the bag - the first under the reign of Bernd Schuster - Real will look to build on their success at home and turn their sights on dominating European football again starting with next season's Champions League.
Tue, Apr 29: UEFA Champions League (Semi-Final 2nd Leg)
Man Utd 1-0 Barcelona
SUMMARY:
English Premier League leaders Manchester United will play in the Champions League final for the first time since 1999 after knocking out Spanish giants Barcelona with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford last night.
Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes, who missed the famous 99' final victory over Bayern Munich through suspension, scored a rocket of a goal in the 14th minute to win the tie 1-0 on aggregate for the Red Devils.
A strong defensive display from the United back-line thwarted wave after wave of offensive play by the Catalan giants with Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown (in place of the injured Vidic) marshalling the equivalent of a brick wall.
United have reached the final 50 years after the Munich air disaster and will face either Liverpool or Chelsea - the game will be played tonight - in Moscow on May 21.
Wed, Apr 23: UEFA Champions League (Semi-Final 1st Leg)
Barcelona 0-0 Man Utd
SUMMARY
Manchester United wasted a glorious opportunity to take a 1-0 lead - and a crucial away goal - into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Barcelona as a missed penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in the third minute meant the score finished nil-all at the Camp Nou.
Ronaldo's admirers will probably point to those hideous red boots he was wearing as the cause for the fluffed penalty kick but his detractors will say the player that has terrorised Premier League defences all season failed to show up in a big game yet again.
Perhaps Ronaldo's performance last night ended the debate as to who is the world's best player once and for all. Barcelona's Lionel Messi, the other major contender for the prized accolade, returned from five weeks out with injury to spark his team into life and terrify the United defence with every touch of the ball.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, failed to inspire his teammates or showcase his famous skills on the biggest stage yet again. Perhaps he was still ruing his miscued spot kick? Nevertheless, the best players gets over those sorts of disappointments quickly.
All in all, the Red Devils will be relieved to be leaving Spain with a goalless draw when the result could have been so different had Barca converted the many chances they had created.
Wed, Apr 9: UEFA Champions League (Quarter-Final 2nd Leg)
Man Utd 1-0 Roma
Barcelona 1-0 Schalke 04
SUMMARY:
Manchester United and Barcelona pulled off 1-0 home wins over Roma and Schalke 04 respectively in the Champions League overnight to setup a mouthwatering semi-final clash in a fortnight's time.
United's 2-0 cushion from the first leg prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to drop the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes to the bench (in anticipation of the EPL clash with Arsenal this weekend) but still managed a narrow 1-0 win over the Italian side.
The home side was let off the hook in the first half when Daniele De Rossi skied a penalty in the first half and were made to pay the price when Owen Hargreaves crossed for Argentina striker Carlos Tevez to score a diving header in the 70th minute to seal a 1-0 win on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.
Barcelona shrugged off their recent woes in La Liga with a hard fought 1-0 win (2-0 agg) over German side Schalke 04 at the Camp Nou.
Despite missing the likes of the injured Ronaldinho and Messi, Barcelona just had too much class for Schalke as Yaya Toure scored the winner with a scuffed shot late in the 1st half to send the Catalan giants through to the semi-final in a competition they last won in 2006.
The first leg of the semi-final clash between Manchester United and Barcelona will take place at the Nou Camp on April 23.
Tue, Apr 1: UEFA Champions League (Quarter-Final 1st Leg)
Schalke 04 0 - 1 Barcelona
Roma 0 - 2 Man Utd
SUMMARY:
Barcelona earned a vital 1-0 away win in their quarter-final 1st leg clash against Germany's Schalke in Gelsenkirchen overnight to ease the pressure on under-fire coach Frank Rijkaard.
On the back of a run of poor form in La Liga, Barcelona were too classy for the home side in the 1st half and were duly rewarded with an early goal in the 12th minute from Bojan Krkic after good work from France striker Thierry Henry. Schalke retaliated in the second half but it was a case of too little too late as the visitors held on for the win and a precious away goal ahead of next week's second leg at the Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, English giants Manchester United are in firm control of their quarter-final tie against Roma with a convincing 2-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
Portugese winger Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with his 36th goal of an amazing season - a powerful header - before the break to give his side the lead. In the second half, it was the other half of United's dynamic duo, Wayne Rooney, who gave his side a two-goal cushion with a simple tap in to put Sir Alex Ferguson's men firmly in the driving seat for the return leg at Old Trafford.
On current form, Manchester United are one of the favourites to win the competition they last won in 1999. If they manage to do so, it will be a special cup triumph for the club in the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was both honest and realistic after his side's 3-2 defeat at home to Barcelona. "We were playing against one of the best teams in the world, and when we had the ball, we were not keeping it," he said.
"At any level the team that passes the ball well usually wins, but we were up against the best squad in the world. We needed nine or 10 players at their best and that didn't happen. But it was a great experience for the players even though the result was disappointing."
Asked about Celtic's chances of reversing the result at the Camp Nou, Strachan said with a wry smile, "I wouldn't put my house on it, it took me 35 years to get it. But we will go over there and give it a go."
Two goals by Messi and one from Thierry Henry were enough to beat Celtic who had twice taken the lead.
It was a brave effort by the Scottish club, but Barcelona showed why they are one of the favourites for the tournament.
Strachan will do what he can to produce a miracle for Celtic, but he may well need his famed sense of humour for the second leg.
Bolton manager Gary Megson has said that he is trying to get unsettled striker Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Barcelona.
Gudjohnsen spent two happy years at Bolton earlier in his career scoring 26 goals in 55 games. Although he has been the target of approaches from more fashionable clubs than Bolton, a return to the Reebok, where he has retained hero status, may appeal to the Icelandic international.
Following the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea, Gudjohnsen would be a major signing for them in their attempts to get away from trouble at the foot of the Premier League.
Gudjohnsen has played only 33 games for Barcelona since joining them at the start of last season. He has hit the net only 8 times and has failed to settle or gain a regular first team place.
It is likely that he would be happy to leave and that Barcelona would be prepared to let him go. It will simply be a matter of Megson trying to persuade him to 'come home'.
Barcelona will wear this full orange strip as their third kit this season.
So orange is this kit that the Netherlands would be proud to wear as their national colours, the third kit is actually easier on the eye than their turquoise away kit.
Be prepared to see Ronaldinho, Henry, Messi and Eto'o run riot as carrots this season!
Spanish giants FC Barcelona will have a new kit design for the upcoming La Liga season 2007/08.
After breaking from the tradition of not advertising sponsors on their shirts with the groundbreaking agreement to publicise UNICEF last season, the name of the famous children's charity will once again be plastered on the front of the new home kit.
The five-year collaborative agreement with UNICEF bears the slogan "Barcelona, more than a club, a new global hope for vulnerable children".
The design of the new home kit incorporates the traditional blue and maroon colours of the famous club with a V-neckline and mesh side panels.
The material is 100% polyester and features sportswear giants Nike's NikeFit Dry technology.
Thierry Henry proudly displays his new Barcelona shirt
France striker Thierry Henry completed his move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona for a fee of £16.1m from English Premier League side Arsenal over-night.
Henry, who turns 30 in August, passed a medical on Monday afternoon (GMT) before being unveiled in front of 30,000 fans at the Nou Camp after signing a four-year deal with the Catalan outfit.
Henry won't be wearing this away kit now!
The mega-bucks four-year deal which includes a staggering £84million buy-out clause in the Frenchman’s contract should see the pacy forward end his career in Spain.
Henry leaves Arsenal as the top scorer in the club's history with 226 goals in 364 appearances.
The following video is of Henry's presentation at the Camp Nou:
In the following two video clips, Henry says goodbye to his beloved Gunners fans:
Arsenal's talismanic captain and France striker Thierry Henry is set to leave his beloved Gunners for Spanish giants Barcelona in a reported fee of around £16 million.
At the time of this post, Henry is in Barcelona to undergo a medical and is set to be officially unveiled as a Barcelona FC player on Monday afternoon (GMT).
The move will come as a huge blow to Arsenal - the club will be losing their talismanic captain, a hugely talented striker and a club icon who epitomises the beautiful flowing football under Arsene Wenger's reign.
Click here for more details as Henry seals his move to Barcelona.
Messi and Maradona show their admiration for one another
Barcelona's Lionel Messi scored a wonder-goal against Getafe in the Copa del Rey which drew comparisons with fellow countryman Diego Maradona's famous goal against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup.
Enjoy this piece of magic!
And this is what Maradona did in 1986 - the similarity is uncanny!!!
Spanish arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid shared the spoils in a thrilling three-all draw at the Camp Nou over the weekend.
The Spanish giants put their disappointing exits from the Champion's League in midweek to stage a wonderful spectacle for fans with Barca's hat-trick hero, Argentine Lionel Messi, shining brightly.
Real took the lead three times in the match but Messi was on hand on each occasion to produce some magic to save his team from defeat.
Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy bagged a double (one penalty) for the Whites in the first half before Sergio Ramos put them 3-2 up with a header midway through the second half.
With the match seemingly won, Messi thought otherwise and equalised with a sublime goal in the last minute of the game to earn his side a draw.
Real, missing a host of first-team regulars including David Beckham, Fabio Cannavaro etc. will feel unlucky for not winning a match they dominated for the most part but both teams will feel a boost in morale as we approach the business end of the domestic season.
Liverpool 0-1 Barcelona (Agg:2-2 Liverpool goes through on away goals rule)
Chelsea 2-1 Porto (Agg:3-2)
Lyon 0-2 Roma (Agg:0-2)
Valencia 0-0 Inter (Agg:2-2 Valencia progresses on the away goals rule)
SUMMARY:
The Mighty Reds are through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champion's League after knocking out reigning European champions Barcelona at Anfield early this morning (AEST).
Liverpool proved too good for Barcelona over the two matches and the Spanish side's famed attacking quartet of Ronaldinho, Deco, Messi and E'too simply could not breakdown a resilient Liverpool defence marshalled by the brilliant Jamie Carragher.
Barcelona knew they had their work cut out for the 2nd leg when Liverpool visited the Nou camp and left with a win and two vital away goals a fortnight ago.
However, it was Liverpool who dominated for much of the game and had plenty of chances to settle the tie in the first half when both John Arn Riise and Momo Sissoko rattled the cross bar.
In a last roll of the dice for Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, the Dutchman sent on Gudjohnsen in place of Thuram for the last 20 minutes and the move immediately paid dividends.
With Barca now effectively playing in a 4-2-4 formation, the Liverpool defence momentarily collapsed under the onslaught and allowed substitute Gudjohnsen to score in the 75th minute.
Liverpool were pinned back in their own half defending desperately but held onto progress through to the quarter finals by virtue of the away goals rule in what Jamie Carragher hailed as one of Liverpool's greatest European results.
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