Speaking at a press conference after training on Saturday, Carles Puyol acknowledged that the game on Monday night will be “very close“, with a 50% chance for either team to take the three points. However, Barcelona’s captain knows that his team will play as they always do: “Our style never changes. We’ll give it all we’ve got.”
Footballers display their affection for the loved ones in their lives in a variety of different ways. Some get tattoos of their wives’ faces and celebrate goals with them (Dani Alves). Others stick to the thumb in the mouth or ball in their shirt after a goal to acknowledge their love for children and partners. And then there’s Carles Puyol. Not only did he celebrate his Liga goal this year with a heart dedicated to new girlfriend, Malena Costa, but he also decided to celebrate the modeling skills of his sweetheart via the following video [her commercial for Don Algodon's 'Sweet & Sexy' perfume] posted on his twitter page. That, or was he trying to make his fellow friends and fans jealous?
Catch the video after the jump!
Carles Puyol played his 500th game for the club on Saturday against Villarreal (3-1) and showed that at 32 he is still well on top of his game.
As the ball hits the back of the net a player has a huge decision to make – just how they will celebrate. As we saw against Ceuta on Wednesday there are many different ways to do this, ranging from the elegant to the downright absurd and anywhere inbetween. Some would say it is an art form in and of itself, and judging by Bojan’s offering, they may just be right.
Today the Spanish national team met at Las Rozas to celebrate their past achievements at a gala organized by the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF). FC Barcelona players Victor Valdes, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Pedro Rodriguez, David Villa, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, who were all members of the winning squad from the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, were present at the ceremony.
Even though Cesc Fábregas, Arsenal’s midfielder, is away from the club where he spent most of his youth career, yet he still follows the news from FC Barcelona closely.
Fábregas congratulated Puyol on his 500th game played wearing the Barcelona shirt, which he reached yesterday against Villarreal. The message was posted on Fábregas’ official twitter site and it said: “Congratulations to @Carles5puyol for his 500 game with his club! Very proud of you. Keep it going!“
Last night, Carles Puyol was one of the happiest FC Barcelona players. Not every player can complete five hundred games with a club like Barça.
“This is only half of my career!” joked the Barca captain, satisfied by the three points in a game of enormous effort from both teams. “Villarreal are those rivals that do not give up easily and do not give you respite, they should be proud. The team fought until the end,” evaluated Puyi.
FC Barcelona captain and Spanish international central defender Carles Puyol (32) will play his 500th match for the first team when FC Barcelona faces Villarreal today.
According to Catalan based newspaper Sport, Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque has issued the list of the players called for the friendly game against Portugal, which will be played on November 17 in the stadium Luz de Lisboa.
While Pique looked like a well mannered prince only a few days ago, he was back to his prankster ways during the match against Ceuta. Sitting in the stands along with Carles Puyol and using his sunflower seeds (pipas), he made a target of team physiotherapist Juanjo Brau, sitting one row in front of the defenders. How did it end between Pique and Brau? Find out after the jump.
On Friday night, Lionel Messi, Pedro Rodriguez, Carles Puyol and Xavi were among the celebrities who attended Cirque du Soleil’s show ‘Varekai’. Most of the players were accompanied by their girlfriends, except for Xavi who came alone. For Puyol, it was his first public appearance with new girlfriend Malena Costa. ‘Varekai’ is a touring production that premiered in Montreal in 2002. Its title means “wherever” in the Romani language, and the show is an “acrobatic tribute to the nomadic soul”. From the 5th of November 2010 to the 5th of December 2010, ‘Varekai’ will be performed in Barcelona.
More photos after jump!
After the game, a number of players spoke to the press. Find out what they had to say after the jump.
On Sunday, Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s top tennis player, lost to Kim Clijsters in the finals of the WTA Championships in Doha in a stiff contest. On Tuesday, she was all smiles as she travelled to Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen where FC Barcelona’s players and staff were stationed since Monday afternoon. Wozniacki met Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Bojan Krkic, who were described as “nice guys” on her official Twitter. Wozniacki, a Dane, gave a clue on who she was cheering for in last night’s encounter as she proudly held a Barca jersey. As excited and prompt as Wozniacki was Pique, who posted a picture on his official Facebook page, and Puyol, who put one up on his official Twitter.
As FC Barcelona’s official site reports, during Monday’s training Gaby Milito suffered a hamstring injury to the adductor of his right thigh. His recovery time will be approximately two weeks.
Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta celebrate after scoring goals during the Spanish League football match Barcelona against Valencia (2-1) on October 16, 2010 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. “I dedicate the goal to my girlfriend,” said Puyol after the game. Iniesta dedicated his goal to his unborn child by touching his belly after scoring.
There are so many different things that make a player decide to change clubs. Lucrative offers from other clubs, lack of playing time, the hunger for success, the clashing of egos, the thirst for new experience and so on. But what makes a player stay on loyally at the same club?
Carles Puyol eyes the ball during a training session at Hampden Park in Glasgow on October 11, 2010, on the eve of Spain’s Euro 2012 qualifying football match against Scotland.
In the ninth group of the Euro Championship 2012 Qualifiers, the Spanish team players were expected to come back after the disappointing appearance during the last friendly game they played against Argentina. Nevertheless, friendly games are always friendly games and during competitions things are different. On Friday night, La Roja was to play against Lithuania in hope of gaining another precious three points. Five Barcelona players were ready for the task, and they were in the starting line-up; those were: Puyol, Pique, Busquets, Iniesta, and Villa. And with a different starting line-up than the usual one, the Spanish players were able to outclass their opponents in a game that assured all La Roja fans that they are still one of the best teams, if not the best team, in the world – and that they are coming strong for the 2012 Euro Cup competition.
Read some brief notes about the match after the jump, and add your own thoughts on the game.
It was a laud-Lionel night at the old Estrella Damn factory, where the 23-year old player was presented with the Golden Boot. Dignitaries from the club showered praises on FC Barcelona’s star striker and the reigning World Player of the Year for his attitude, commitment and performance.
In perhaps the most telling statement of the evening, club President Sandro Rosell said, “We’ll never let you leave. You’ll be with us all of your life.”
Although the season is still young, one thing has become apparent during the course of the games we have witnessed so far. This is a new Barca. As such there have been qualities on display for fans to both admire and fear in equal measure. Over the course of two articles we shall look more closely at just how our team has changed and just what we can expect of this new Barca during the upcoming season.
Below are some of the comments made by various players after the game. Messi’s injury and the valuable three points were the main topics discussed.
According to Catalan-based sports daily Sport, FC Barcelona and Spanish International central defender Carles Puyol has been given medical clearance to play and has been included in Guardiola’s list of 19 players called up for the game against Hércules.
Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Barcelona defender and Spanish international Carles Puyol (32) is unlikely to be fit in time to play against newly promoted Hercules at the Camp Nou on Saturday. Puyol suffered a calf injury during the warm-up before the first league match against Racing Santander. He also missed two matches for the Spanish national team, a Euro 2012 qualifying match against Liechtenstein and a friendly match against Argentina.
According to Catalan-based news daily Sport, FC Barcelona and Spanish international defender Carles Puyol (32) has abandoned training for the Spanish national team and is returning to Barcelona, due to injury.
According to a report on FC Barcelona’s official website, both Puyol and Xavi were rested during the game against Racing Santander as a precaution, after experiencing some minor discomforture in their calf (Puyol) and ankle (Xavi). Puyol was rested the entire match, while Xavi was taken off at the half.
The Golden Foot Award, as its official website states, is given to a player 29 years and above for both their individual and team performance, their personality and their popularity among fans and football experts. We are thrilled that FC Barcelona captain and versatile defender Carles Puyol is one of the ten contenders for this award, the winner of which will be declared on October 11. The winner will be jointly decided by a jury which consists of Golden Foot’s international media persons and fans who can vote for their favourite on the site. You can vote for Puyol here.
Twelve of fourteen called up FC Barcelona players saw action in the various international friendlies that took place on Tuesday (Brazil-USA) and Wednesday (the rest). Read a brief summary of each and post your thoughts after the jump.
As you may remember, a few days ago British newspaper The Sun published an interview Carles Puyol supposedly gave them where he talked about Cesc Fabregas.
FC Barcelona defender and Spain international Carles Puyol (31) has declared that he will continue playing for World Champions Spain until the Euro 2012.
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