FC Barcelona News: 28 January 2019

Girona 0-2 FC Barcelona: Derby Delight | FC Barcelona
Montilivi was full again for Barça’s visit, and the electric atmosphere was only enhanced when Girona started the game on the front foot. The Blaugranes soon responded in kind, however, when Luis Suárez’s drilled cross was just too quick for Philippe Coutinho.

Jordi Alba: “Barcelona result, not performance, mattered at Girona” | Football Espana
Jordi Alba does not believe Barcelona should dwell on their performance at Girona and insisted the victory was ‘all that matters’. The Blaugrana edged out their Catalan neighbours 2-0 at Estadi Montilivi on Sunday to maintain their five-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of the table.

Valverde’s best winning streak | FC Barcelona
Barça began the 2017-18 League campaign with seven consecutive victories (Betis, Alavés, Espanyol, Getafe, Eibar, Girona and Las Palmas) and repeated it from day 15 to the 21st (Villarreal , Deportivo, Real Madrid, Levante, Real Sociedad, Betis and Alavés), but the current streak is the best in the top five European leagues.

Recovery work after derby win | FC Barcelona
Ahead of a busy week of Copa del Rey and LaLiga commitments, FC Barcelona trained on the Monday morning following their 2-0 win against Girona. All available first team players took part in the session on Pitch 2 of the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, in which those who had featured in the derby the previous day were given recovery work.

Barcelona boss Valverde backs Coutinho to find goal-scoring touch | ESPN
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde backed Philippe Coutinho to find his shooting boots after the Brazil international missed two clear chances in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Girona. Coutinho, Barca’s record €160 million signing, has struggled for form in recent months and was on the bench for four consecutive league games at the turn of the year.

32 games scoring away from home | FC Barcelona
The run began back in week 33 of the 2016/17 season thanks to a 3-2 win in the Santiago Bernabéu of all places. Since then, Barça have scored in every single away game: the last three away games of 16/17, every road games in 2017/18 and every away trip so far this season.

Benfica to receive another five million euros from Barça for Semedo | Sport
Barcelona right-back had a lively afternoon at Montilivi against Girona, scoring his first goal for the Blaugrana in the 2-0 win. It was also a notable afternoon for his former club Benfica as he made his 50th happearance of more than 45 minutes for Barça, too.

Messi overtakes Raul and closes in on LaLiga Santander record for wins | Marca
With the goal scored against Girona, Lionel Messi has now surpassed legendary Spanish forward Raul on the list of all-time victories in the history of LaLiga Santander. The Argentine superstar is now on 328 wins in 437 games, while Raul left Spain’s top flight on 327 victories in 550 games.

Barcelona ‘do not consider transfer market closed’ | Football Espana
Barcelona director Guillermo Amor has told reporters: “We are open to the market, you can never say that it is closed.” The Catalan giants have been busy in this transfer window so far, adding defender Jeison Murillo on loan from Valencia alongside a temporary move for Sassuolo forward Kevin-Prince Boateng.