FC Barcelona News: 8 February 2019

Messi doesn’t train with Barça squad, does recovery work in gym | Sport
Lionel Messi did not train with the rest of his teammates on Friday, Barcelona’s first session in preparation for Athletic Club on Sunday after the Clasico draw with Real Madrid. According to club sources, the Barça forward did recovery work in the gym, as is normal in the first session after a game. They insist that there’s no difference here to the player’s normal routine.

Valverde handed boost by Dembele return | Marca
Dembele has enjoyed a much better second season at the Camp Nou than his first, although he hasn’t been available since he suffered an ankle injury against Leganes on 20 January. Friday’s training session will once again see Dembele be monitored, although he will take part in a full contact session with his Barcelona teammates.

Official: La Liga Clasico set for March 2 at 20.45h at the Bernabeu | Sport
La Liga have finally confirmed, as previously revealed by Javier Tebas, that the La Liga Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona will take place on March 2. The game, which will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu, will kick off at 20.45h and will be the second meeting between the sides that week.

Yet another Clásico debut goal | FC Barcelona
Malcom Oliveira not only got to play in his first Clásico on Wednesday night but got to celebrate the occasion by scoring Barça’s equaliser. Quite some achievement, but it turns out that scoring a goal in your first game for Barça against Real Madrid is actually quite a common occurrence…

Barcelona’s Malcom: “I have seen my El Clasico goal 100 times” | Football Espana
Barcelona forward Malcom has reveled in his El Clasico goal against Real Madrid on Wednesday: “I’ve seen the goal 100 times.” The 21-year-old joined the Catalan giants in a €41m deal from Bordeaux last summer but has started just one La Liga game, but was afforded an opportunity in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.

Piqué, the outfield player who has featured most in La Liga | FC Barcelona
Gerard Piqué is an ever present in La Liga. The Barça centre back is a fixture in Ernesto Valverde’s starting XI, from kick off to the final whistle. The number 3 is the only Barça outfield player who has played every minute since the 2018/19 season got under way back in August. In total the defender has played 1,980 minutes over 22 matches, a veritable barometer of the current league campaign.

Boateng had to overcome ‘crazy’ ways to join Messi & Arthur phenoms at Barcelona | Goal
Kevin-Prince Boateng admits he had to curb his “crazy” ways in order to recover from a troubled start to his career and carve out a path which has led him to Barcelona. While still in his teens, the versatile forward burst onto the scene at Hertha Berlin and earned himself a move to Tottenham.

Italian media report that Rakitic has contacted Inter | Marca
Inter are said to be considering an offer of 90 million euros for Ivan Rakitic, who has a contract with Barcelona until 2021 and a release clause of 120m euros. Reports from Italy claim that the midfielder has been in touch with the Serie A side over a possible transfer.

Source: barcablaugranes.com