Barcelona continued the good run after celebrating their ninth win in a row, and sixth in the League, after beating Almeria 5-0.

Guardiola selected the eleven players who lost to Numancia on the opening day of the season. With Alves, Marquez, Poyol and Abidal on the back line, Toure, Xavi and Iniesta on the midfield, Eto'o played striker while Messi and Henry played wide around him.

Even though, Almeria had the first chance of the game with Albert Crusat heading wide, Barcelona replied soon when Eto'o took advantage of the poor clearance of the ball by Almeria defender, the Cameroonian gave no chance to Diego Alves as he volleyed into the back of the net. It wasn't so long before they added the second, when Messi's right foot shot found Henry, who tapped home.

Things didn't seem to get better as Eto'o added the third goal on the twentieth minutes. Iniesta sent a brilliant through ball to Xavi, One on one with the keeper, he squared the ball to Eto'o, who tapped the ball into an empty net. Four minutes later, Messi found his way through the defenders and cutting back the ball for Eto'o, who scored the fourth for the Catalan, and his third in the game, and ninth in the league.

After thirty six minutes, Alves scored the fifth and his first goal for the Blaugrana after taking a free kick from thirty five yards. Before that, Almeria had to play the rest of the game with ten men, after Negredo was sent off, after committing a foul against Marquez while showing no intention of going for the ball.

After the break, the game seemed to lack the fast rhythm in the first half, even if some chances was available for both sides as Barca players looked careless due the scoreline. Guardiola made his first change when he brought in Hleb instead of Toure, then he took off Henry who was replaced by Bojan, and for the first time this season, Alves was taken off to be replaced by Victor Sanchez.

Until the final whistle, Barcelona kept in attacking, while Almeria struggled not to receive any extra goals.

Barcelona moved up three points, and they wait for tomorrow to see the rest of the results. The next game will be in the middle of the week in Copa del rey. Hopefully some players that haven't played enough minutes will have the chance to start the game.

Speaking in his post match comments, the Barca manager expressed his feelings to a listening audience.


FC Barcelona's coach Rijkaard is happy with Eto'o and the rest of the team, but sad about Messi's injury. The Dutchman did not hide his feelings in showing his disappointment with the injury picked up by Lionel Messi, who was hoping to sink Real Madrid with another hattrick like he did last season. Speaking on the injury to the youthful Argentine, Frank Rijkaard said:

It is bad news. It is a shame for the player and for the team too. There is nothing much more to say, other than we hope that he returns as soon as possible.

Praising Eto'o, Rijkaard was impressed with the FC barcelona number 9, also having some nice words for Toure Yaya:

Eto'o was great in his game. His performance was very good. He was generous with the ball, dropped back and was strong. We have seen important players like Eto'o and Touré come back and we have worked hard to win the game. There is no problem with our attitude.

On the resounding 3-0 victory Barca secured against Valencia, Rijkaard said:

We have to say we deserved it. I think that we controlled the game and were well disciplined and kept our positions well. The team worked well. We pushed forward early to end Valencia's hopes of doing something, although we let our level drop too much in the second half and maybe relaxed a bit.

Rijkaard ended by showing solidarity and support for his friend, Valencia's new coach Ronald Koeman:

The new coach needs time. Valencia are going through tough times at the moment. In addition, they have many injuries to cope with.

FC Barcelona's Star striker Samuel Eto'o speaks to the press after his return from injury.


Goal god Samuel Eto'o is very optimistic about the future of Barca and the contribution he has to make to the welfare of the great club. As he sums it up:

Barca needs me and I need Barca.

Read the full interview below:


First Official Interview With Samuel Eto'o After Injury.

Samu is hot at training and rearing to take off from where he stopped.


Injured FC Barcelona star forward, Samuel Eto'o has impressed greratly in training at La Masia, with the Cameroonian training at full scale and showing no signs of any injury or fatigue, not even to think of any loss in form.


At 17.00, Samuel Eto'o emerged at La Masía, where he worked in isolation from the rest of the group. He arrived half an hour before everybody else as he continues concentrating on recovery from the injury he picked up in the Gamper Trophy match against Inter Milan, a partial breakage of a tendon in his right leg.


Eto'o trained in full swing, taking shots at goal with crosses supplied by a fitness coach, and having Juan Carlos Unzué to beat as goalkeeper.


The Cameroonian's exact return date has not been clarified, but a date between December 1st and December 8th is the most likliest to see the goal poacher back in action for the Catalan giants.

Ronnie destroys news of Barca team internal disunity and a possible move to AC Milan.


Barcelona superstar Gaucho Ronaldinho has dismissed talks of his move to AC Milan and re-affirmed that his relationship with fellow clubmate Samuel Eto'o is in the best of shapes.
He also asserts that both he and Eto'o will be present at Barcelona next season to anchor affairs along with the old players and any new signings. Please hear Ronnie out:

I have always been very happy playing with Eto'o. He is a wonderful player who anyone finds it easy to play with on the field. I never had and still do not have any problems with him
We may have a misunderstanding in the past, but we met and he explained the exact details of what he said and what he hoped to convey by those statements. He also let me know why he said them and I understood it all. We have been friends before then and still remain friends.
In any team, you won't expect all the players to have the same mood, and some are more outspoken than others, but that is not really a problem.

On the latest news of his proposed move from Barca to Milan, the dazzling midfielder refutes the story. He says:

I am not leaving Barca and will stay here. I am already working out ways to better next season and will figure the right manner to better work with all my teammates to achieve great results next season.

Despite news of love waxing cold between Ronaldinho and Barca, all indications suggest that such news bears no concrete stand and remains just a mere thought. Of late, the Brazilian has trained less frequently with the club, but he says of that:

I am tired and looking to have some really good rest while looking ahead to next season's challenges.