FC Barcelona News: 21 April 2019

Closer and closer (2-1) | FC Barcelona
Within two minutes of the opening whistle at Camp Nou, Barça were fully into their stride and stretching Real Sociedad’s XI right across the pitch. Lionel Messi had the first chance of note with his direct free-kick blocked by the visitors’ wall, as the hosts kept the pressure on throughout the opening quarter hour.

Lenglet: My first goal at the Camp Nou is special | Marca
Barcelona’s opener at the Camp Nou against Real Sociedad on Saturday came via an unlikely source in centre-back Clement Lenglet. It was the Frenchman’s first goal for the club in front of his own supporters since his summer move from Sevilla.

Rulli: Dembele distracted me, I don’t understand how it wasn’t offside | Marca
Real Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was left furious after a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona, believing that the LaLiga Santander leaders’ winner should not have been allowed to stand. Jordi Alba struck past the Argentine, but Ousmane Dembele was accused of blocking the goalkeeper’s view of the shot from an offside position.

La Liga, 6 points away | FC Barcelona
The team must get another three points at Mendizorroza on Tuesday, April 23, against Alavés (9.30pm CEST), and then wait to see if Atletico Madrid lose against Valencia in the match played on Wednesday, April 24, at 7.30pm CEST, at the Wanda Metropolitano. If this situation occurs, FC Barcelona will be champions.

Uninspiring Barcelona edge closer to Liga title but questions remain as Liverpool loom | Goal
One down, two to go. After breaking their Champions League quarter-final hoodoo in midweek, Barcelona’s next target was wrapping up La Liga so that they could focus solely on their mouth-watering last-four tie against Liverpool.

Manchester United win made Sociedad tough, says Barcelona’s Jordi Alba | Goal
Jordi Alba felt Barcelona’s midweek exertions against Manchester United took a toll after they claimed a workmanlike 2-1 La Liga win over Real Sociedad. Ernesto Valverde’s side cruised to a 3-0 win over the Premier League giants to book a place in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday and Saturday’s victory moved them closer to back-to-back Liga titles.

Recovery session after three more points | FC Barcelona
Ernesto Valverde’s squad returned to training after the win against Real Sociedad on Saturday (2-1) at the Camp Nou. The available players from the first team worked out on the Tito Vilanova pitch of the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, and those who participated in the La Liga game did post-match recovery work. Todibo didn’t train, with the first-team being joined by Morer, Mingueza and O. Busquets from Barça B and Tenas from U19A.

Source: barcablaugranes.com