FC Barcelona News: 19 August 2015; Pedro Transfer Makes Turn to Chelsea, Alen Halilovic Set for Sporting Loan

Gerard Piqué gets four-match suspension | FC Barcelona
The verdict of the Judge of Competition, in application of article 94 of the RFEF’s Disciplinary Code, was announced on Wednesday morning and it is not good news for Gerard Piqué. The central defender has been suspended for four games following his red card in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique denies insulting linesman - ESPN FC
Gerard Pique has apologised for his behaviour during Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup second leg against Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou but denied personally insulting the assistant referee.

Manchester United drop Pedro interest as Chelsea move in | Sky Sports
Spanish newspaper Marca have reported that the Blues have met the Spain international's £21.4m buy-out clause and that the player is already in London for a medical. Sky sources understand United had the option of signing Pedro earlier in the window, but after long consideration boss Louis van Gaal decided not to pursue the player.

Third time lucky | FC Barcelona
For FC Barcelona to fail to win two games in a row is not a usual occurrence. However, when it has happened, the team has always bounced back. The last time that the side went two matches without victory came last season in the first half of the league campaign when they lost 3-1 against Real Madrid and then 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo.

Goals galore at San Mamés | FC Barcelona
You can’t take anything for granted in football, but if there is anything that does seem to be guaranteed, then it’s the promise of plenty of goals this Sunday at San Mamés. In the last five years, league matches between Athletic and Barça in Bilbao have produced an average of four goals a match.

We should be proud of what we are doing, says Rakitic | FC Barcelona
Just a day after losing on his first Spanish Super Cup in a Barça shirt, Ivan Rakitic has shown himself to be confident that the team can put it behind them ahead of Sunday’s first game in the 2015/16 league campaign. "Now it is time to wait for the league to start on Sunday, we are focused and we want that fifth trophy [World Club Cup], but we have to go little by little."

Report: Sporting convince Halilovic | Football Espana
Barcelona starlet Alen Halilovic is expected to spend the season on loan at Sporting Gijon after a move to Hamburg collapsed. Reports from Spain sign Abelardo, Coach of the Primera new boys, and sporting director Nico Rodriguez talked Halilovic into the transfer.

Camp Nou to have new pitch | FC Barcelona
Camp Nou will have a new playing surface for the first home game of the league season against Málaga. The process of replacing the old pitch began on Tuesday and is scheduled to finish on Saturday. Unlike in other seasons, the operation is a simple case of replacing the grass with the new turf which has come all the way from Bordeaux in France.

Ten things you should know about the new Liga season | FC Barcelona
Most clubs have stuck with the same coach that they had last term, and the only managerial changes are at Real Madrid, where Rafa Benítez is now in charge, at Getafe, who have taken on Fran Escribá, and at Eibar, where José Luis Mendilibar will now be on the bench. But all three of those bosses have previous experience of managing sides in the Liga BBVA.

Barca, Madrid, Atleti have Liga dreams Valencia try to keep up - ESPN FC
The most successful, the most skilled, the most advanced and the most technically exquisite football on the planet starts again on Friday. La Liga returns, with all of its virtues and slightly fewer of its faults.

La Liga's five players to watch in the 2015/16 season | Sky Sports
Barcelona's transformation enters another phase this season after the exit of legendary midfielder Xavi, but the treble winners look well stocked. Rakitic's arrival last summer was arguably their most important, embracing his place in Luis Enrique's side in a deeper role than asked of him at Sevilla.

Source: Bostjan Cernensek http://ift.tt/1E5b6ef