FC Barcelona News: 5 December 2018

Valverde calls up six Barça B players and gives Messi a rest | Sport
Ernesto Valverde has called up six Barça B players for the second leg of the Copa del Rey tie against Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday. Defenders Chumi, Miranda and Guillem Jaime could all feature along with midfielders Riqui Puig, Oriol Busquets and Àlex Collado.

From La Masia to scoring at Camp Nou | FC Barcelona
Sunday was a magical moment for Carles Aleñá, as he scored for the very first time at the Camp Nou in the 2-0 defeat of Villarreal. And the assist came from another Masia product Leo Messi, further proof of the fundamental role that the academy plays in life at FC Barcelona.

The lowdown on Cultural Leonesa | FC Barcelona
On Wednesday at 9.30pm CET, FC Barcelona will be looking to capitalise on their 1-0 lead from the first leg against Cultural Leonesa to bag a place in the last sixteen of the Copa del Rey. Let’s take a closer look at the side that faces the ominous task of trying to stop that happening.

Players pay last respects to Núñez | FC Barcelona
Before heading to their Tuesday training session, the FC Barcelona first team visited the Memorial Space set up in honour of the late president of Josep Lluís Núñez at the Camp Nou. In Wednesday’s Copa del Rey second leg against Cultural Leonesa (9.30pm CET), the players will be wearing black armbands in recognition of a man who was in charge of the club for 22 years, from 1978 to 2000.

Aleñá registered for first team | FC Barcelona
The Masia product was already part of the first team set-up despite officially being registered as one of Barça B in order to ensure the playing time he needed after recovering from an injury of his own. But from now 20-year old will be part of the team with every right.

Ernesto Valverde: Lionel Messi not winning the Ballon d’Or is absurd | Football Espana
Barcelona Coach Ernesto Valverde believes it is ‘absurd’ Lionel Messi did not win this year’s Ballon d’Or award and suggested ‘inconsistencies’ in the process. The Argentine – who is a five-time winner of the award – ranked fifth in this year’s rankings, behind eventual winner Luka Modric, Antoine Griezmann, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.

Source: barcablaugranes.com