FC Barcelona News: 20 May 2019

Eibar 2-2 Barça: One last point for the champions | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have closed out the season with a 2-2 draw at Eibar in a game where everyone’s minds were understandably more on the Copa del Rey Final next week but that still produced plenty to talk about, including two goals in a minute from the man who is surely now on course for sixth European Golden Shoe and the eighth senior debut this season for a Barça B player.

Sixth ‘pichichi’ award for Leo Messi | FC Barcelona
No discussions needed. Leo Messi has claimed the ‘Pichichi’ Trophy awarded to La Liga’s top scorer over a season for the sixth time in his career. The Argentine scored 36 goals in 38 matches, a distance ahead of second placed Karim Benzema of Real Madrid and his Barça team mate Luis Suárez who both scored 21 goals in the 2018/19 league campaign.

Messi moves four goals clear of Mbappe in Golden Shoe standings | Marca
After netting a brace in Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Eibar, Lionel Messi now moves four goals clear of his nearest rival Kylian Mbappe in the fight for the European Golden Shoe award. The PSG hitman still has a game to play - against Stade Reims - and bagged himself a brace in the Parisian side’s 4-0 win against Dijon this weekend, so the Argentine will have to wait to see if he will pick up the award for the sixth time.

Nélson Semedo is discharged from hospital | FC Barcelona
Nélson Semedo has undergone the necessary tests required for the head injury he received against Eibar on Sunday, and has been discharged from hospital. The player returns to Barcelona to continue with the established protocol regarding this kind of injury and an evaluation will be made of when he can return to training.

Valverde: “Coutinho a doubt for the final and Dembélé looks unlikely” | Sport
“We’ve got a few issues in certain positions and we’re going to see if we can get a few players back,” he admitted. “Ter Stegen will certainly be available. Coutinho, I don’t know and Dembele is looking unlikely. Let’s see about Arthur. He’s had a problem for two to three months and he needed a break. It could have happened a month or so ago but it’s happened now. I don’t know if he’ll be available.”

Carles Pérez makes first team debut | FC Barcelona
Carles Pérez, who joined the FC Barcelona youth system in 2012 as an U16 player, has become the eighth Barça B player to make his senior debut for the first team this season. The 21-year-old Catalan came on for Malcom for the last quarter of an hour of the 2-2 draw at Eibar, wearing number 43 on his back and playing on the right of an attack that also featured Leo Messi and Sergi Roberto.

Carles Perez: “I’m so happy to complete my dream and play for Barça” | Sport
“When I saw I wasn’t going with the B side to Catellon, I thought maybe I’d have a chance. And, if it came, that I’d take full advantage of that. And when I came out onto the pitch the coach told me to play with confidence, not to hide or play with fear, and to play as I did with the B side. I’m happy to have made my debut.”

What awaits the eight academy graduates who debuted for Barcelona in 2018/19? | Marca
The league season is over for Barcelona and this has been a campaign that saw eight academy graduates debut in the first team. But not all are guaranteed to continue at the Camp Nou for next season, so we look at what the future holds for the new batch of talent.

CD Castellón 2-1 Barça B: Final day defeat | FC Barcelona
Barça B were unable to see out the season with a win, as late free kick undid the good work done by Marqués with an equaliser five minutes from the end, shortly after the U19 team’s Nico had come to to make his debut as a replacement for Kike Saverio.

Source: barcablaugranes.com