Barcelona

Barcelona are held to a goalless draw by Galatasaray in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Attempt blocked. - Away1 - Away1 - Shots - 2Dest

Europa League tie hands Pep Guardiola's former assistant a return to the club he supports as manager of the struggling Turkish giants.

“It is always the most difficult with these great teams that are not accustomed to being in the lower half of the table. This will always stay with me; not only did we win six titles but the manner we did it in, the style of play that this team had, this will always stay in all our memories.” The season ended in league triumph and promotion to the top job at the Camp Nou. It is a homecoming for the 59-year-old Torrent, who also worked with Guardiola at Bayern Munich and Manchester City, and his Catalan backroom staff. Torrent took over as Galatasaray’s manager in January with the team 12th – their worst finish is 11th – after Fatih Terim was sacked amid a crisis engulfing the club. A man with 14 major honours won at Barcelona returns to the Camp Nou on Thursday night.

Get a report of the Barcelona vs. Galatasaray 2021-22 UEFA Europa League, Round of 16 football match.

The two teams meet again in Turkey on March 17 for the decisive second leg and a spot in the semifinals. Despite dominating possession in the first half over the Turkish Super Lig side, Barcelona were unable to find a breakthrough and the score remained level at 0-0 at the break. Barcelona were held to a lacklustre, goalless draw against Galatasaray in the first leg of their round-of-16 match at the Camp Nou on Thursday.

Xavi Hernandez cut a disappointed figure after Barcelona's first leg draw with Galatasaray at Camp Nou on Thursday evening.

“In the end of the second half, we have been better. “It’s not a good result, playing at home,” he said in his post-match press conference. “In the second half, we have been something better but when you lower the intensity, you lower everything.

Xavi opted to start Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo on the night, giving Gerard Pique a well-deserved rest. At right-back, Sergino Dest got a start with Alves ...

A stitch in time saves nine, and the manager must find the required stitch at the earliest. Moreover, none of the forwards were able to capitalise on the chances at their disposal. It was a night to forget for the winter signing. Though chances were created, they did not dominate the game as much as they have in recent weeks. Inaki Pena was the opposition’s best player on the night by a mile. And when tasked with a return to Camp Nou to take on Barcelona, he did not disappoint. Barcelona were comfortable letting Pena go on loan, and a move to Galatasaray clicked in January. However, given the importance of the Europa League in the club’s current season, one expected the manager to go for his strongest lineup. What was expected to be a relatively easy fixture for Barcelona turned out to be the ultimate test on Thursday night. For close to two years, Inaki Pena trained with and was a part of Barcelona’s first-team squad as the third-choice goalkeeper. The Catalans missed one big chance in addition to hitting the woodwork once. In view of the congested fixtures, Xavi is under pressure to rotate his squad to keep all players fresh.

The kind of game that could quite easily have been a Champions League fixture, Barca approach with confidence. While Xavi has a long way to go if he's going ...

Barcelona vs Galatasaray prediction Barcelona vs Galatasaray team news Where to watch Barcelona vs Galatasaray

Just 17 years of age, the young midfielder was handed his opportunity with the senior team by former manager Ronald Koeman in the early parts of the campaign.

Gavi, to that end, has emerged as a transfer target for the reigning champions of Europe. The player and his agent, Ivan de la Pena, have made it clear that they wish for Gavi to continue at Camp Nou. And the midfielder has not looked back since, making one big stride after another in his breakthrough campaign.

Nicolas Tagliafico, Jose Luis Gaya, Alex Moreno, Alejandro Grimaldo are said to be the four players the club are actively pursuing. According to reports from O ...

His understanding of the Barcelona way is the driving force behind the Catalans’ pursuit for him. However, the Spanish left-back is close to renewing his contract with Valencia which would make his signing very difficult. Jordi Alba is not getting any younger and Grimaldo could indeed be the next big cog in Barcelona’s fullback department.

Everything you need to know about the Europa League Last 16 tie, including kick-off time, how to watch, team news, head to head record, ...

2002: Galatasaray 0-2 Barcelona 2002: Barcelona 3-1 Galatasaray Barcelona will be without Pablo Gavira who is suspended, with Samuel Umtiti not due back until next month.

After returning to action this season, Fati has been among the goals all-too-often. He scored on his return vs Levante, and then in the Champions League vs ...

With the clash against Galatasaray scheduled for tonight, Barcelona could be tasked with the Europa League quarter-finals early in April, and the semi-finals later that month. He is expected to be available at the end of April. After opting for conservative treatment, the club expected him to be sidelined for nearly three months.

We're in for another Europa League match that will feel like a Champions League tie as Barcelona roll on after seeing off Napoli. Xavi has the team playing ...

Sporting a goal difference of +15, the best defense has been attacking for them and that will continue to be the case facing Galatasaray. Bafétimbi Gomis was added to the side to improve their scoring and has done just that with three goals across four appearances for the squad. Xavi has wanted the team to play the Barcelona way and it shows as they boast the second-best pass completion in La Liga since Xavi has taken over.

Xavi Hernandez is expected to start Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal behind a back four of Sergino Dest, Eric Garcia, Clement Lenglet and Jordi Alba. Frenkie de ...

Barcelona welcome Galatasaray to Camp Nou this evening in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 clash. The Blaugrana are expected to make rotations for this fixture but are still intent on putting up a strong showing and securing their fifth consecutive victory; they’re in the Europa League to win the Europa League. Barcelona have been making great strides since Xavi Hernandez took over and have climbed as high as third in La Liga. They beat Napoli 5-3 on aggregate in the previous round to make it this far while Galatasaray qualified straight as group winners.

The UEFA Europa League returned to action at Camp Nou as Barcelona hosted Galatasaray in the first leg of the round of 16. After a tough encounter against ...

Three minutes later, Jordi Alba volleyed a loose ball from the edge of the area. The Blaugranas dominated the final ten minutes but failed to put away any of their chances. At the hour mark, Sergio Busquets got on the end of the corner and headed the ball goalward. Memphis Depay struck the ball well to the left side of the goal but was denied by La Masia graduate Inaki Pena. From the get-go, the game seemed to be in neutral gear. After a tough encounter against Napoli, one expected Xavi’s men to come out of the dressing room pressing for a first-leg win.

The Camp Nou welcomed Galatasaray for the Europa League round of 16 first leg. With the schedule getting increasingly chaotic, getting a comfortable lead ...

Dembele was expected to bring a lot more on-ball unpredictability that Torres was missing, and he did so, for the most part. Was relentless calm on the ball, and always in the correct place to stop counter-attacks. Memphis looked lively throughout the hour he was on, and showed incentive by asking for the ball in deeper positions to create chances. Was excellent defensively, winning the ball high up the pitch several times, and almost scored the winner with a shot that hit the post. He combined well with the midfielders, and was superb in the defence barring a singular moment of poor tackling. He looked clueless off the ball and was often careless in possession.

Erling Haaland is the top priority for the Catalan club, while they are also eyeing reinforcements in defence. At the same time, recent reports have indicated ...

Barcelona will look to sell the Brazilian shot-stopper at the end of the season. However, the 32-year-old has never really got an extended run in the starting XI, barring the period when ter Stegen was out on the sidelines due to injuries. Erling Haaland is the top priority for the Catalan club, while they are also eyeing reinforcements in defence.

Although it would sometimes prove a tough testing ground for the striker, Steve Archibald remembers his playing days in Scottish football with a great deal ...

“I provided the experience and they provided the legs and stuff – it was a nice combination. It was fantastic to play with him and (Gordon) Strachan and other players in the team.” It was a great combination at the time.” “He was great to play with, he was a fantastic striker. By the time Archibald returned to Scotland with Hibs in 1988, there were tales to tell. Why wouldn’t one of the biggest clubs in the world wish to replace one of the biggest stars in the game with him? A midfielder at the time, he made it known that he was having trouble perfecting the art of jumping to head the ball. But first came Aberdeen and a partnership with someone worshipped like Maradona in the granite city. “He used to call me Ginge. He said, ‘Ginge, come on I’ll show you how to jump for the ball.’ We were behind the goals and there was only one floodlight on. He looked down and he said, ‘Ginge, that’s how you jump for a ball.’” I’m lying in the mud and I swear to God, I thought my jaw was broken. “He was a big guy.

Speaking after Barcelona's 0-0 draw against Galatasaray in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Last 16 tie (h/t BarçaTV+), manager Xavi Hernandez ...

I’m sure that the players will be very motivated for the return leg.” Speaking of the second leg in Istanbul, the manager said: “We’re going to Turkey for everything. He has to understand that when he has the ball, he has to move forward until an opponent jumps in to find the man free. He also added that it was not a setback for the team after the progress they have made recently. He was brave to leave and I am very happy for him, even though he made our night bitter.” Xavi lamented over the lack of intensity from his side, saying: “When you lower your intensity, this is what happens.

Lionel Messi's time at Paris Saint-Germain really hasn't gone according to plan. While we've seen glimpses of his mercurial genius…

In the incredible footage, Messi is seen in quite a state as he and his teammates partied late into the night following one of the greatest achievements in football history. Sadly, for all parties, what was thought to be the spark that might finally light the Parisian inferno, has proven to be a bit of a damp squib. The day the news broke that Messi had played his last game for Barcelona was a seismic one in the football world and PSG were quick to swoop in and offer him a new home.

Champions League-chasing Barcelona welcome Osasuna to Camp Nou for a La Liga ...

This is in stark contrast to the clinical 23% of chances they finished off in February. Jordi Alba (LB) - Lionel Messi was Barcelona's leading La Liga assist provider in his final four seasons at the club, but Alba is two shy of matching his departed teammate's tally from the previous campaign. Wayward finishing has been a theme for Barcelona this month, converting just 6% of their attempts.

The winger has a contract until 2024 and while Leeds have already approached him twice this year, with a better contract, the player is yet to respond to any of ...

Even if one of them leaves, Barcelona will explore the wingers’ market, and this is when Raphinha will come into the picture. At the same time, however, he is not ruling out any possibility of joining a team that regularly competes for silverware. For him, personally, a move within the Premier League is what he is aiming for.

Barcelona 0-0 Galatasaray: Xavi's side are held to a Europa League stalemate as on-loan goalkeeper Inaki Pena keeps out Memphis Depay, Ferran Torres and Co to ...

They had come to defend, they had done it well and as the stadium emptied, their fans celebrated the draw like a victory. They were sloppy at the back in injury time and could even have conceded were it not for Galatasaray's failure to punish them. The 35-year-old went down and Bafetimbi Gomis came on and had the ball in the net shortly afterwards. He was offside as he shot past Marc Andre ter Stegen. The linesman raised his flag as he slipped and fell. Pedri livened things up dragging the ball away from Taylan Antalayi before he was brought down on the edge of the area. Xavi was shuffling nervously in his technical area gesticulating the passes he wanted his playing more quickly.

Player ratings as Barcelona and Galatasaray draw 0-0 in the Europa League.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) - 5/10 - Good movement, but couldn't snatch the all-important goal. Ousmane Dembele (LW) - 6/10 - Provided an injection of quality in the final third and looked very bright every time he got on the ball. Sergio Busquets (DM) - 7/10 - His introduction provided the hosts with a more stable foundation upon which to build play and a more efficient screen with which to maintain pressure. Defensively resilient, making three ball recoveries, and threatening on the front foot, bombing up the left flank to make two key passes. Things took a dramatic turn just minutes after that chance, however, when former Swansea man Bafetimbi Gomis had the ball in the back of the net. On Thursday night though, goal-mouth action was at a premium from the opening exchanges, with both sides struggling to create gilt-edged opportunities.

Fati injured the biceps femoris in his left leg during the Copa del Rey defeat to Athletic Club back in January and so he won't make a return until well into ...

Both the coaching and medical staff at Barcelona are determined to be as careful as possible in helping their prized talent return safely. Fati injured the biceps femoris in his left leg during the Copa del Rey defeat to Athletic Club back in January and so he won’t make a return until well into April at the earliest. Fati is still undergoing recovery in Madrid under the supervision of trusted physio Joaquin Juan Sanda. All along the club have been certain that the minimum time it would take for him to recover would be two-and-a-half months; that roadmap hasn’t changed.

Sports Mole previews Sunday's La Liga clash between Barcelona and Osasuna, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

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An on the rise Barcelona host mid-table Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday night. Xavi ...

However, the Blaugrana have had the historical edge on home soil. Barcelona vs Osasuna score prediction However, Fati is out until late March at the earliest.