Lionel Messi hat-trick sees Barca past Real in seven-goal thriller

Messi hat-trick sees Barca past Real in seven-goal thriller - Barcelona moved to within a point of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as they twice came from behind thanks to a Lionel Messi hat-trick to edge a thrilling El Clasico 4-3 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The sides went in level 2-2 at half-time as a record 19th goal against Madrid from Messi cancelled out Karim Benzema's double after Andres Iniesta had put Barca in front.

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi grabs the ball after scoring during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Pierre-Philippe Marcou)      

       

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Gerard Julien). 

Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos is shown a red card during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Gerard Julien). 

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Pierre-Philippe Marcou). 

Real Madrid's goalkeeper Diego Lopez (top) jumps over Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar during the Spanish league "Clasico" football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014 (AFP Photo/Dani Pozo). 

Cristiano Ronaldo then put Madrid back in front from the penalty spot, but the hosts were reduced to 10-men when Sergio Ramos pulled down Neymar inside the box 10 minutes later and Messi levelled once more from the spot.

And the Argentine won the game with another penalty seven minutes from time after Iniesta had been felled by Xabi Alonso.

A first defeat for Real in 32 games means Atletico Madrid remain top of the table thanks to their better head-to-head record against Los Blancos with Barca still in third.

"The league starts a new now," said Barca boss Gerardo Martino.

"More than the mathematical distance we were behind, the impression was people wrote us off. Atletico Madrid were always in the fight and I think that after this result we are too.

"We knew if we didn't win tonight it was over for us. We still don't have matters in our own hands, but we'll now fight till the end."

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, lamented Ramos' game-changing red card when Madrid had just gotten themselves back in front.

"I haven't seen it again and it is difficult for me to comment on the decisions of the referee because there were many.

"However, it was the key moment. We were winning 3-2 and controlling the game well, but it is much more difficult to control the game with a player less."

The game got off to a blistering start as after Neymar and Benzema had early efforts easily saved, Barca opened the scoring when Messi played in Iniesta behind the Real defence and the Spanish international smashed the ball in off the underside of the bar.

Benzema had a great chance to equalise five minutes later when he spooned Angel Di Maria's cut-back over after a great a jinking run from the Argentine had taken him past three Barca defenders.

Messi could then have made it 2-0 when he fired wide with the type of opening he is normally deadly with as he raced onto Cesc Fabregas' fine through ball.

Benzema made amends for his earlier miss 20 minutes in when Victor Valdes just failed to keep out his header from Di Maria's cross.

The Frenchman then completed a rapid turnaround for the hosts as Javier Mascherano misjudged another Di Maria centre from the left and Benzema took a touch before firing past the helpless Valdes.

Gerard Pique had to make a vital clearance off the line to prevent a hat-trick of Di Maria assists for Benzema.

- Controversial penalty award -

Barca responded before half-time and were level when Messi controlled a loose ball inside the area and slotted home at Diego Lopez's near post.

Benzema could still have put Madrid in front at the break as his looping header from Dani Carvajal's cross crept inches past the post.

The first opportunity of the second period also fell to Benzema after a terrific run and pass from Gareth Bale, but this time Valdes managed to make the save low to his right.

Carlo Ancelotti's men did retake the lead on 55 minutes when referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco controversially awarded a penalty for a trip on Ronaldo by Alves despite the contact appearing to take place outside the area.

Ronaldo was unmoved, though, as he got up to take hammer the resulting spot-kick low past Valdes' outstretched right hand.

However, the game turned again 25 minutes from time when Messi released Neymar and he was brought down by Ramos.

Real's captain for the evening was shown his 19th red card for Los Blancos for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity and Messi converted from the spot to make it 3-3.

Alves then struck the inside of the post from 25 yards as Barca went in search of the goal that would salvage their title chances.

And they got it when Mallenco awarded a third penalty of the evening as Iniesta tumbled inside the area and Messi again dispatched it perfectly high past Lopez. (AFP)

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Carles Puyol to leave Barcelona at end of season

Carles Puyol to leave Barcelona at end of season - Barcelona captain Carles Puyol announced on Tuesday that he will leave the club at the end of the season after a hugely successful 15-year career at the Camp Nou.

The 35-year-old, who did not reveal whether he will continue playing elsewhere, has been plagued by injuries over the last couple of seasons and has undergone three knee operations.

"At the end of the season I will leave FC Barcelona. The club are aware of this and we are in agreement," he said.

"We will rescind the final two years of my contract that were still to run."

Puyol signed a new deal with the club in January last year, but admitted in June that he would not stay if injuries continued to prevent him from playing a significant part on the field.

And having featured just 10 times this season in all competitions, he said it was time for a new challenge in a less physically demanding environment.

Barcelona's midfielder Carles Puyol poses prior to an announcement at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on March 4, 2014 (AFP Photo/Lluis Gene) 

"After the last two operations it has been difficult for me to recover the level I need to be able to continue here, more than I expected and more than surgeons said. That is why I have taken this decision."

- Next destination still unknown -

Puyol didn't reveal where he would go at the end of the current campaign and insisted he will give everything in what remains of the season to help Barca succeed on three fronts.

"I am not leaving today, there are still three months of the season remaining and those that know me know that I will not give up until the end. I will continue fighting to help the team improve and achieve our objectives this season.

"I don't know what I will do on June 30. What I do know is that I will need time to rest. I have had four years without a break due to the injuries. That is what I will do and then we will see."

Barcelona's midfielder Carles Puyol (R) leaves after an announcement at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on March 4, 2014 (AFP Photo/Lluis Gene) 

The announcement brings to an end an extraordinary career in the Barcelona first team that began in 1999. Puyol is the club's second most decorated player of all-time, behind only teammate Xavi Hernandez, having made 593 appearances.

After beginning his career as a right-back, Puyol was converted into one of the most successful centre-backs in world football over the past decade as he won three Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles with his boyhood club.

A number of Puyol's teammates past and present paid tribute to an historic figure in Spanish football.

"I will continue to enjoy being at your side until the end of this season. It has been an honour. I wish you the best for what is to come. There is no one like you captain," Andres Iniesta wrote on his official Facebook page.

"Thanks captain for all you have taught me. Good luck," Cesc Fabregas said in a tweet alongside a photo of the two of them just after Fabregas re-signed for the club in 2011.

Puyol was also a key part of the Spanish sides that won the European Championship in 2008 and the country's first World Cup in 2010, memorably heading home the goal that took his side to the final in South Africa with a 1-0 win over Germany.

"Carles is an example for everyone on and off the field," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said on Tuesday.

In total he has represented Spain 100 times with his last appearance coming in a 3-1 friendly win over Uruguay in February 2013, making him one of only eight players to have won a century of caps with La Roja.

"He is a natural leader, a person that when you hear his name you think of Barcelona," added former Barca midfielder Thiago Alcantara, now of Bayern Munich.

"In the time I was there he was a reference on and off the pitch. Everyone knows him and whilst Puyol is in the world of football, he will be an example for everyone." (AFP)

READ MORE - Carles Puyol to leave Barcelona at end of season

Messi's Latest Golazo Is Another Work Of Art

Messi's Solo Goal Against Getafe Is A Work Of Art (VIDEO/PHOTOS) - Attempting to definitively determine the most spectacular goal that Lionel Messi has ever scored for Barcelona can be an endeavor as wondrously frustrating as trying to calculate which structure built by architect Antoni Guadi in the Catalan capital required the most inspiration. Both masters of their craft produced multiple masterpieces worthy of repeat viewings with rare combinations of artistic flare and mechanical ingenuity.

The 26-year-old Barcelona talisman added to his body of work with a remarkable golazo on Thursday that turned Getafe's Coliseum Alfonso Perez into his own personal Park Guell. With Barcelona already leading Getafe 1-0 in their Copa Del Rey match, Messi embarked on a thrilling solo slalom through the defense to double the advantage in the 63rd minute.

The four-time Ballon d'Or winner began his diagonal right-to-left run to goal by leaping over the outstretched leg of midfielder Michel.

After hurdling that lunging tackle attempt approximately 30 yards from goal, Messi accelerated, driving the ball into the teeth of the Getafe back line.

With Rafa and Lisandro Lopez patrolling the center of the field outside the home penalty area, Messi veered to his left to keep the former on his right. Messi then slipped between the defenders before they could close off his path.

With those three behind him, Messi continued drifting left across the mouth of the goal. He rolled the ball into the penalty area behind Carlos Vigaray and caught up to it before the defender could track back.

With no defenders left to halt Messi's progress, goalkeeper Jordi Codina came off his line. Capping the scintillating diagonal dash through the defense in fitting style, Messi rounded Codina and scored from a tight angle.

After the ball rolled into the back of the home net, there was just one thing left for Messi to do: celebrate. ( huffingtonpost )

READ MORE - Messi's Latest Golazo Is Another Work Of Art

Beckham was in cruise control against Messi and Co... so, should England really bring him back?

Beckham was in cruise control against Messi and Co... so, should England really bring him back? - Say what you like about David Beckham’s return to the Champions League in Paris on Tuesday night but one thing is beyond question. There was never any doubt that, at 37, the former England captain would look entirely at home.

As the dust settled on PSG’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes the debate over Beckham’s influence on the game began.

Some thought the midfielder's contribution had been enough to catapult him straight back in to the England team. Others – rather less generously – suggested PSG had actually improved once he was substituted with 20 minutes left.

Greatness: Lionel Messi and David Beckham shake hands before the game

Holding his own: There was never any doubt that Beckham could handle this kind of occasion

BUT IT'S A 'NON' FROM L'EQUIPE

Beckham seemed to hold his own against the celebrated Barcelona midfield last night, but he failed to impress leading French sports newspaper L’Equipe.

In the player ratings he was given only three out of 10 – the worst of any player on the pitch. The verdict claimed: ‘He sometimes found some precision with his right foot to create an opening or two. But he didn’t make much impact, he lacked rhythm and he is was sometimes off the pace.

'He lost the ball to allow Barca to open the scoring (38th minute). He was replaced by Verratti (70th), who was more resolute.’

Personally, I was somewhere in the middle.

Beckham certainly did enough to warrant his surprising selection. It remains a privilege to witness him pass a football and his understanding of time and space remains sharp.

For what it’s worth, I thought the late PSG rally that came after his removal was merely a home team summoning one last push and gaining some momentum, as often happens

Nevertheless, I think the argument – if indeed there is one – about a return to the England set up remains fatuous. Beckham is no longer an international footballer. It’s as simple as that.

To really help England – and goodness they need it – Beckham would perhaps need to be a few years younger and a little more mobile. He would need to be able to play a couple of games in short succession. Are we back to the Rio Ferdinand debate again? Maybe we are.

Beckham would not look out of place. He can still play. He can still find a pass. His presence in an international dressing room and on the training field may certainly lift a few chins.

Quarterback: Beckham operated from a deep position and helped PSG reduce Barcelona's attacking threat

Deep-lying playmaker: Beckham spent most of his time against Barcelona in his own half but covered a lot of ground

But England coach Roy Hodgson needs to look forwards. He needs to look beyond a World Cup in Brazil for which we may not even qualify.

Beckham has already given his country more than it ever asked of him, certainly more than it ever deserved. The memories of his stellar moments remain pin sharp. He has his place in the pantheon and he certainly worked hard for that.

Let us leave it there, though. Let’s not sully the legacy.

Taking names: Beckham receives a yellow card from Wolfgang Stark

Seeing Beckham returning to the Nou Camp – scene of his greatest club moment with Manchester United in 1999 – next week will be a wonderful thing. As only he can, Beckham has managed to stage manage one last farewell to some of football’s greatest venues.

But let us leave it at this. Let Beckham eek the last drops of energy and life out of his club career. That is entirely his prerogative. But let us not see him in the white of England again.

We perhaps do not quite need him, no matter how mundane we are. And – just as pertinently – he surely does not need us.

Eek it out: Beckham should continue at club level but England do not need him - and he does not need them

Dailymail.co.ukBy Ian Ladyman : 08:58 GMT, 3 April 2013 | : 12:33 GMT, 3 April 2013

READ MORE - Beckham was in cruise control against Messi and Co... so, should England really bring him back?

Champions League - PSG snatch late draw at home to Barcelona

Champions League - PSG snatch late draw at home to Barcelona - Champions League quarter-final, first leg, Parc des Princes - Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Ibrahimovic 79, Matuidi 90) Barcelona 2 (Messi 38, Xavi 89 pen.) - Lionel Messi scored once again but went off injured before Blaise Matuidi netted with the last kick of the game to give Paris Saint-Germain a 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Matuidi's deflected effort was somehow leaked through by Victor Valdes after over four minutes of time added on in an eventful last-eight first-leg tie.

Xavi had restored Barcelona's lead from the penalty spot in the 89th minute shortly after Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out Messi's first-half opener.

Messi, however, did not come back out for the second half after tweaking his hamstring moments before the interval.

Messi's fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano also sustained an injury, of a more serious nature. He left the pitch on a stretcher later in the game with a ligament tear in his right knee.

Despite the disappointing finish to their away leg and an inconsistent performance by their usual high standards, Barcelona very much sit in the driver's seat in the race to the last four with two away goals and the excellent Matuidi suspended for the trip to Camp Nou.

It did not take Barcelona very long to establish a stronghold on the ball, but the home side came with a disciplined gameplan to combat the tiki-taka suffocation – and it almost reaped big rewards.

Eurosport - Paris St Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) celebrates with Blaise Matuidi after scoring against Barcelona during their Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, April 2, 2013 (Reuters)

After weathering early Barca control and easing into their formation - complete with former England captain David Beckham in a central midfield role in place of Thiago Motta - PSG had the first real chance of the contest when Ezequiel Lavezzi galloped into the danger zone and sent his shot across Victor Valdes and onto the far upright.

Javier Pastore was next to come close to breaking the deadlock as the Ligue 1 leaders continued to pick off their guests on the break, and only a good stop from Valdes kept his low drive out on the quarter-hour mark.

The keeper had to be alert again four minutes later when Ibrahimovic pulled rank on Beckham to take a 20-yard free-kick. He too went low and across Valdes, who once again met the strike well.

But having found himself well marked for the opening half hour, Messi began to grow into the game and found his 59th Champions League goal in 77 appearances on 39 minutes, courtesy of his side’s best player at that point, Dani Alves.

Alves’s exquisite lofted assist picked out Messi’s run perfectly after PSG had only half-cleared a corner, and the Argentine’s low volleyed finish across Salvatore Sirigu was befitting of the set-up.

After holding off the PSG back line to send another effort just past the top corner, however, Messi required a trip to the sidelines for an injury to his leg.

Though he returned for the dying embers of the half, Messi would be taken off by the Barca management team – which included Tito Vilanova in his return from a 10-week medical absence – with Cesc Fabregas on in his place.

Though the former Arsenal man helped keep the away side on top early in the second 45, PSG soon began to push them back once more after Alexis Sanchez blew a golden chance for 2-0 on 63, taking one touch too many six yards from goal.

And as Barcelona defended their lead into the closing stages, frustration at dealing with heavy pressure and a number of contentious decisions got the better of them.

Ibrahimovic may have been offside when he converted the loose ball after Valdes saved a Thiago Silva header, but 1-1 had been coming for some time.

Nonetheless, it appeared to be mission impossible for Carlo Ancelotti’s men when Sanchez was brought down in the box by Sirigu in the 88th minute and Wolfgang Stark pointed to the spot.

Xavi converted from 12 yards in Messi’s absence but there would be one late twist just as Herr Stark was ready to blow for full-time.

Ibrahimovic showed good vision to head an awkward cross into the path of Matuidi, and though his low strike came off substitute Marc Barta’s leg it really should have been kept out by Valdes.

Instead, the ball flapped past the limp hand of the goalkeeper and the French big-spenders will head to Catalonia hoping to pull off a massive result and reach the semi-finals.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain): Once again, PSG's defenders shone on the European stage and none more so than the Brazilian who helped prevent a typical Barcelona scoreline despite the real test yet to come at Camp Nou.

PLAYER RATINGS

PSG: Sirigu 7; Jallet 5, Alex 7, Silva 8, Maxwell 5, Moura 7, Beckham 6, Matuidi 8, Pastore 7; Lavezzi 7, Ibrahimovic 7. Subs: Menez 6, Gameiro 5, Verratti 5.
BARCELONA: Valdés 7, Alves 8, Mascherano 7, Piqué 6, Alba 6; Busquets 7, Iniesta 7, Xavi 8; Villa 6, Messi 7, Sanchez 5. Subs: Bartra n/a, Fabregas 7, Tello 6.

By Liam Happe - @liamhappe | Eurosport – 6 hours ago

READ MORE - Champions League - PSG snatch late draw at home to Barcelona

Bi-polar Barca and the UEFA Celebrity League

Bi-polar Barca and the UEFA Celebrity League - After over 24 hours of tedious political agendas infecting our beautiful game in response to one managerial appointment, it was with a massive sigh of relief that I sat down in a comfortable chair for a mouth-watering double bill of high-end Champions League action.

Though both games delivered - especially PSG-Barcelona - there was nonetheless a touch of the 'Di Canios' about the Parc des Princes contest, or more specifically how it was generally portrayed.

The minute whispers escaped the stadium that a certain 38-year-old marketing powerhouse had been given the nod by Carlo Ancelotti to start the match, anticipation of a rare meeting between two of the world's most powerful clubs was masked by giddy yelps of "BECKHAM STARTS! BECKHAM STARTS!"

And as said contest fascinated purists for this much-maligned sport from start to finish, appreciation of the entertainment on offer became tellingly more difficult at the halfway stage amid widespread fears the world's best footballer had a boo-boo on his leg (Javier Mascherano was injured too, y'know).

Much like with Paolo Di Canio making tabloid front pages for eight-year-old news, the actual matter at hand found itself drowning in a sea of headline-grabbing 'celebrity' names that drummed up more mainstream attention than just trying to get a football over a goal line would do.

Don't get me wrong: I hope Lionel Messi is fine, and doesn't deprive any upcoming Barca fixtures of his brilliance. And I have always appreciated what Becks has brought to the pitch beyond his prime.

But there was so, so much to enjoy about this quarter-final first-leg outside of a lifestyle magazine-esque celebrity quest.

And when the Argentine performs well for approximately 10 minutes of a 45 minute display while the Englishman puts in nothing more than a passable 70-minute shift, do they really warrant the headlines coming out of such a game that they kinda-understandably do going into most matches?

Messi and Barcelona are of course no strangers to this shallow spotlight. Remember when their era was deemed 'over' because they dropped a first-leg 2-0 to Milan last time out?

Yeah. That came from the same Chinese whispers which declared them stronger than ever for beating a frankly poor and wasteful Rossoneri side 4-0 to advance, after all.

It is actually pretty amusing to hear declarations that 'naysayers have been proven wrong' - which are in fact the very same voices performing to a bathroom mirror.

And talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity, so I hear.

Forget their blissful possession, world class youth development and generation-defining approach to football, Barcelona's biggest asset in their golden era could well be their ability to ignore an endless stream of bi-polar hype from narrow-minded numpties who want glamour and gossip rather than great sporting action.

I do wonder how many times the consensus swayed from 'dominant' to 'doomed', as far as the Catalonians are concerned, as their back-and-forth opener against PSG went one way, then the other.

Meanwhile, those of us who did not have our view of the forest blocked by all those pesky trees enjoyed tidy possession, exhilarating counter-attacking, some superb point-blank goalkeeping, a few eye-catching errors, a monster performance from Thiago Silva and the very best (and very worst) of Dani Alves.

More often than not, second legs are even more gripping than the first. In that case, roll on April 10. Even if Paris Saint-Germain's chances of advancing are slim, evidence suggests they will go out with a bang if they fail to pull off a huge result.

Lionel Messi may not be fit to start. David Beckham may not get picked for the XI. Hopefully both feature, but if not... so what? It's not make or break for Barcelona. It's not the acid test of PSG's big spending. One team advances, the other will just have to try again next year. And they will.

It's one game of football. One that will (hopefully) keep all us sports freaks entertained. So sit back, relax, and try to appreciate it for what it is.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"There should be no law that says any particular player should play. No one should play for what they have won in the past." - Jose Mourinho lays down the law to Iker Casillas, who will not tend goal for Real Madrid against Galatasaray tonight.

COMING UP

Real-Gala is complemented by Borussia Dortmund v Malaga as the Champions League's last eight round out the first legs. Los Galacticos and the Bundesliga champions will look to join their compatriots in holding the advantage ahead of next week's return fixtures. Join us for LIVE text coverage from 18:45 GMT, with kick-offs at 19:45 GMT.

By Eurosport | Early Doors – 1 hour 35 minutes ago

READ MORE - Bi-polar Barca and the UEFA Celebrity League

Fakta-fakta Menarik Jelang PSG Vs Barcelona

Fakta-fakta Menarik Jelang PSG Vs Barcelona - Duel seru bakal tersaji di Stade de France, Rabu, 3 April 2013, dinihari nanti. Pemuncak klasemen Liga Prancis dan Liga Spanyol akan saling berhadapan. Paris Saint-Germain, klub bermaterikan pemain bintang, akan berhadapan dengan Barcelona, klub yang dianggap sebagai tim terbaik dalam beberapa tahun terakhir. Berikut fakta-fakta menarik yang menghiasi pertandingan PSG melawan Barca.

-PSG tak terkalahkan dalam 23 pertandingan kandang di kompetisi Eropa. Kekalahan terakhir PSG di kandang terjadi ketika takluk 4-2 dari Hapoel Tel-Aviv, dalam laga penyisihan grup Piala UEFA, pada November 2006.

-PSG sudah sembilan kali menjamu tim asal Spanyol. Rekor mereka adalah lima kali menang, tiga kali imbang, dan sekali kalah.

Pemain Paris Saint Germain meluapkan kegembiraannya, setelah pertandingan 16 besar Liga Champions berakhir 1-1 di Paris (7/3). PSG lolos ke babak selanjutnya karena menang agregat 3-2. AP/Christophe Ena

-Barca sudah 14 kali tampil dalam pertandingan perempat final kompetisi Eropa. Barca merebut 12 kemenangan dan hanya menelan dua kekalahan.

-Kekalahan terakhir Barca di babak perempat final terjadi pada musim 2002/2003. Ketika itu Barca dikalahkan Juventus. Sementara kekalahan tandang terakhir di babak perempat final terjadi pada musim 2001/2002.

-Barcelona telah tujuh kali bertandang ke markas klub Prancis, dengan rekor tiga kemenangan, dua kali kalah, dan sisanya berakhir imbang.

-Stadion Stade de France memiliki kenangan indah buat Barca. Di tempat itu, Barca sukses mengalahkan Arsenal 2-1, dalam partai final Liga Champions 2005/2006.

-Gelandang PSG, Thiago Motta, adalah pemain didikan akademi Barca. Selama enam musim bermain di tim senior Barca, pemain internasional Italia itu sukses merebut dua gelar Liga Spanyol, satu Liga Champions, dan dua Piala Super Spanyol.

-Maxwell bergabung dengan Barca pada 2009, dan kemudian hijrah ke PSG pada Januari 2012. Maxwell tampil dalam 57 pertandingan di Liga Spanyol dan merebut dua gelar Liga Spanyol, tiga Piala Super Spanyol, satu Liga Champions, dua Piala Super Eropa, dan dua Piala Dunia Antarklub.

-Zlatan Ibrahimovic menghabiskan musim 2009/2010 di Barca. Pemain asal Swedia itu merebut satu trofi Liga Spanyol, satu Piala Super Spanyol, satu Piala Super Eropa, dan satu Piala Dunia Antarklub.

-Eric Abidal dan Alex Song memulai karier profesonal di Liga Prancis. Abidal pernah memperkuat AS Monaco, Lille, dan Olympique Lyon. Sementara Song memulai kariernya bersama Bastia.

-Pemain tertua Liga Champions di musim ini, David Beckham, pernah tujuh kali melawan Barcelona. Beckham, ketika itu berkostum Real Madrid, merebut tiga kemenangan, sekali imbang, dan tiga kali kalah ketika melawan Barca.

tempo.co : Selasa, 02 April 2013 | 20:12 WIB

READ MORE - Fakta-fakta Menarik Jelang PSG Vs Barcelona