Tag: Barcelona

Barcelona add two big names to transfer shortlist, but they aren’t good fits
13Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona add two big names to transfer shortlist, but they aren’t good fits

Barcelona only made one transfer this past summer window due to their tricky economic situation, and they had to sacrifice all other potential signings and then sell Ilkay Gundogan back to Manchester City in order to make it happen. But even though Dani Olmo has already missed time with injury, which was a feared drawback of the transfer initially, the Spanish international has shown signs of being worth the club's time. Olmo has scored in all three of his appearances for Barcelona, adding a new dynamic to an attack that looks like Europe's most explosive with Robert Lewandowski banging home the goals, Lamine Yamal building on a sensational rookie campaign, and Raphinha legitimately looking like one of the best wingers in the world. Per a report from Relevo, Barcelona are still lo...
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Barcelona are preparing their X-Factor to beat Real Madrid
13Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona are preparing their X-Factor to beat Real Madrid

Barcelona fell to Real Madrid in all three Clasicos last season, including a 4-1 defeat in the Supercup, as the Merengues ran away with the league title after Barca were the ones to dominate them in the 2022/23 season. Coming out of the October international fixtures, Barcelona will actually be first in LaLiga, even though Real Madrid were the more hyped team coming into the 2024/25 season after winning LaLiga and the Champions League, in addition to signing attackers Kylian Mbappe and Endrick. Barcelona, however, have boasted Europe's most electrifying attack under new manager Hansi Flick, who has Robert Lewandowski scoring goals like he's at Bayern Munich while Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have both been world-class, too. The final piece of the puzzle for Barcelona has been attacki...
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Here’s how Barcelona plan to address their goalkeeper situation after Szczesny transfer
13Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Here’s how Barcelona plan to address their goalkeeper situation after Szczesny transfer

Barcelona lost star goalkeeper and captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, casting doubt on the German international's future in Catalunya. We won't know about ter Stegen's long-term status until after the 2024/25 season, but Barcelona have already signed a big-name player to replace him in goal in Wojciech Szczesny, coaxing the former Serie A star out of retirement. Szczesny hasn't had a save percentage below 71 since joining Roma in Serie A in the 2015/16 season, and he remained one of the best goalkeepers in the league last season for Juventus with a save percentage of 74.1. According to a report from Relevo, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick plans on immediately starting Szczesny in goal, reducing homegrown talent Inaki Pena to the status of a ba...
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One of Barcelona’s stars may have lost his starting job after injury
12Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
LaLiga

One of Barcelona’s stars may have lost his starting job after injury

Barcelona have been on fire to start the 2024/25 La Liga season under Hansi Flick, as they currently sit first in the league ahead of a hyped Real Madrid squad that added Kylian Mbappe and Endrick this summer. But despite all the offseason attention on the Merengues, Barcelona have actually formed the most potent attack in Spanish football with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski performing at an even higher level under new manager Hansi Flick, Dani Olmo clicking with his new side, and Lamine Yamal building from his brilliant Euro performance. Defensively, Barcelona have suffered some blows with a season-ending injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal, as well as serious injuries to starting center backs Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, but the Blaugrana have still managed to make d...
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The 3 Barcelona stars who have benefited the most from Hansi Flick
10Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

The 3 Barcelona stars who have benefited the most from Hansi Flick

ST Robert Lewandowski This isn't Robert Lewandowski's first time working with Hansi Flick, as he was the centerpiece goal-scorer of the 2019/20 Flick-led Bayern Munich side that rampaged through European football and won the treble. Lewandowski came into the 2024/25 LaLiga season with a bevy of critics despite being by far Barca's best attacking player in the 2023/24 season, and that's largely because he earns more than 30 million euros per season with options that escalate. Now 36 years old, Lewandowski has undoubtedly heard the cries that he is "finished", and the Polish No. 9 has answered them accordingly, scoring 10 goals through the first 9 league games while providing the kind of all-around quality that a lot Barcelona fans unfairly doubted. Remember, Lewandowski has a comb...
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Latest Barcelona injury news updates and return dates
6Oct By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Latest Barcelona injury news updates and return dates

Check back here for the latest injury news on Barcelona players, as well as the expected return date for each player when that information is available. The piece will be updated throughout the 2024/25 LaLiga and Champions League seasons. CM Gavi Gavi has been out since Nov. 20 of last year when he suffered a torn ACL, but it won't be long until the Barcelona star center midfielder makes his return to the Blaugrana lineup. Last month, Gavi began practicing again with his teammates, and he is being eased along to make sure he has a full recovery. Tentatively, Gavi is expected to play again at the end of October or in early November. A very optimistic timeline would have him return shortly after the October international fixtures, meaning he could be in the squad to face Real Madrid ...
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2024/25 Champions League Predictions for Matchday 2
30Sep By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Champions League, Features

2024/25 Champions League Predictions for Matchday 2

Arsenal vs. PSG PSG don't feel like a legitimate Champions League threat in an era without Kylian Mbappe, who seemed to be the only reason why the Parisians were threats to reach the semifinals after Neymar was fully washed on the beach like a sullen hermit crab without a shell. Joao Neves gives PSG reason for optimism, but when your standout attacking player is Ousmane Dembele heading into the year 2025, you don't really stand much of a chance against a Premier League title contender. Arsenal have their own problems after a surprisingly complacent summer transfer window from an attacking perspective, but, then again, you don't need much more than Bukayo Saka and the Champions League version of Gabriel Jesus to dismantle PSG's defense. Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 PSG Aston Villa vs....
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Barcelona are already tracking the best possible Marc-Andre ter Stegen replacement
26Sep By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

Barcelona are already tracking the best possible Marc-Andre ter Stegen replacement

Barcelona goalkeeper and captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee during a 5-1 win over Villarreal this past weekend, and the serious injury puts a question mark over the German shot-stopper's long-term career. At 32, ter Stegen is still regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in European football, but after a brilliant 2022/23 season in which he was THE best keeper in Europe, MATS' performances have declined sharply over the past year. Currently, young goalkeeper Inaki Pena will get the first crack at proving himself as ter Stegen's future heir, while Barcelona are coaxing former Juventus, Roma, and Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny out of retirement just a year after he remained one of the best keepers in Italian football. However, Ba...
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3 proven LaLiga GKs Barcelona could sign for free to replace Marc-Andre ter Stegen
24Sep By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

3 proven LaLiga GKs Barcelona could sign for free to replace Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Barcelona star goalkeeper and captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen went down with a horrific right knee injury that has now been diagnosed as a patellar tendon rupture, which will cost the German international the remainder of the 2024/25 LaLiga season. Although ter Stegen had become a target of criticism from Culers recently, he is the second-best goalkeeper in LaLiga and has been one of the best goalkeepers in European football for the past decade. No matter how you spin it, the ter Stegen injury is a big loss for Barcelona, with the promising but unproven Inaki Pena stepping in as the starter. Barcelona could sign a player in the January transfer window if Pena proves inadequate, but even before that, Barca are eligible to sign a free agent on the open market. Mundo Deportivo provided...
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This Barcelona January transfer replacement for Marc-Andre ter Stegen could be an upgrade
22Sep By Kevin ParviziNo Comments
Features, LaLiga

This Barcelona January transfer replacement for Marc-Andre ter Stegen could be an upgrade

Barcelona goalkeeper and captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious right knee injury during the Blaugrana's 5-1 win over Villarreal in LaLiga on Sunday, and he is expected to miss seven to nine months More testing will be carried out to determine the extent of the injury, but, at this juncture, it appears Barcelona will have to assume that the 32-year-old's season is over. Barcelona brought in 25-year-old goalkeeper Inaki Pena off the bench, and he will be the starter at least up until the January transfer window, during which Barca could sign another goalkeeper to replace ter Stegen for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign. According to a report from Diario Sport, Las Palmas starter Alvaro Valles could be a potential option to replace Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the January ...
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