Barça Atlètic picked up its first three points of the season after a fine display against Gramanet. The game finished 2 – 0 to the side managed by Luis Enrique.

A minute’s silence was held before the game in memory of ex-Barça player Joan Segarra who died recently. Luis Enrique’s players dedicated their first win of the season to him after beating Gramanet on Sunday at the Miniestadi.

Sending-off at start

In the 11th minute Héctor Verdés was sent off for a heavy tackle on Pugui. However Luis Enrique decided to stick to the same attacking system he’d used since the start of the game with three players up front.

Despite the sending-off Barça Atlético dominated the whole of the first half with the best chances going to Nolito and Thiago who brought fine saves out of the visitors’ keeper.

Goals not long in coming

Barça Atlètic continued to dominate the game in the second half and the goals weren’t long in coming. Six minutes into the half Víctor Sánchez scored the first after a great assist by Goran Maric.

Sides evened up

The two sides evened up in numbers when Gramanet defender Xavi Muñoz got his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card in the 57th minute. Luis Enrique’s men were playing much more confidently and in the 71st minute Xavi Torres headed home from a Jeffren corner to make it two nil.

Jeffren injured

As the game moved towards its end, Jeffren got injured after having a crack at goal from a Maric pass, and had to be stretchered off.

With this result Barça picked up its first three points of the campaign. Next week Luis Enrique’s men will be visiting Sant Andreu.

STATS

FCB Atlètic, 2
At. Gramanet, 0

Barça Atlètic: Miño, Córcoles, Espasandin, Hector Vedés, Víctor Sánchez, Rueda (Xavi Torres, min 45), Rayo (Jeffren, min 45), Thiago (Sergi Busquets, min 68), Maric, Longás and Nolito.

At. Gramanet: Barragán, Rezzonico, Jorge, Pugui, Monty, Meca, Expósito, Lao, Alfaro, Roberto Carlos.

Goals: Víctor Sánchez (min 51) and Xavi Torres (min 71)

Referee: Sebastian Ripoll

Asked about the rumours linking Juventus forward David Trezeguet (30) with a summer move to his club, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has yesterday denied the interest in the French player at a press conference before the game against Fiorentina:

"Barcelona is not interested in this player. It's a great player, but we already have our team almost in place."

Asked for a reaction on that statement, Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said to Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport that his club didn't plan to let the Frenchman go anyway:

"I'm happy that Barcelona doesn't want Trezeguet because we didn't have any intention to sell him."

Has Barcelona's season fallen apart completely as they drop two more places to seventh.

European Power Rankings


1 (1) Manchester United - 23.95


2 (3) Arsenal - 20.92


3 (2) Chelsea - 20.77


4 (4) Internazionale - 20.46


5 (5) Sevilla - 20.24


6 (7) Liverpool - 20.00


7 (5) Barcelona - 19.90


8 (9) Roma - 19.45


9 (6) Porto - 19.10


10 (11) Everton - 18.55


11 (10) Fenerbahce - 18.17


12 (12) Real Madrid - 17.96


13 (13) Milan - 16.99


14 (17) Werder Bremen - 16.84


15 (14) Olympiacos - 16.83


16 (16) Bayern Munich - 16.81


17 (15) Hamburg - 16.15


18 (16) Lyon - 16.12


19 (19) Fiorentina - 15.66


20 (20) Rangers - 15.56

Link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/09052008/3/barcelona-members-request-censure-motion-against-board.html

The crisis at Barcelona over its poor season deepened Friday as two club members launched a censure motion against the management of the Spanish club that seeks the ouster of is president, Joan Laporta, and his board of directors.


Oriol Giralt Gili and Christian Castellvi Clement delivered a written warning to the board informing them that they had begun the process to request a censure motion, essentially a vote of no confidence, against the board, the club said on its website.


The move comes one day after Laporta announced that reserve team coach Pep Guardiola, a former player, will take over from Frank Rijkaard at the end of the season, the club's second without any silverware.


Barcelona were eliminated in the Champions League semi-final by Manchester United and trail Real Madrid in the Spanish league by 17 points in third place with two games remaining after losing 4-1 to the new champions on Wednesday.


The defeat means the Catalan side will miss out on automatic qualification for the Champions League since they will not be able to finish any higher than third in the Spanish league which has just two rounds remaining.


"More than ever, a censure motion is necessary," Gili told reporters as he went into Barcelona's headquarters, the Internet edition of El Mundo reported.


Barcelona's club statutes allow for a motion of censure to be officially put in place if five percent of the club's members who qualify as voters -- adults who have been members for more than one year -- sign a petition.


The club has roughly 117,000 members with voting rights, meaning the petition will need to gather the signatures of around 6,000 members.

FC Barcelona sees revenue prospects surge to all-time high.


Since assuming office in 2003, Barca president, Joan laporta has done well for himself and the club, turning around a huge deficit he inherited to create one of the financially sound clubs and sporting outfits in the present day world of sports. To add to its already soaring earnings, two major deals have been struck by the club management, which will bolster the coffers at Camp Nou and give the club an income of €400m-a-year and around €100m of that could be used to buy players. The first, and largest, contract that has been signed is with television company Mediapro for the rights to Barça's games and will see the club receive €750m between the 2008/2009 and 2012/2013 campaigns. That will see Barça earn around €160m-a-year, which is nearly €40m more than they currently receive.


Added to that is the contract with sportswear giant Nike which has been renewed for around €30m-a-year, although both parties have been sworn to secrecy over the figures involved. Barça were receiving €15m-a-year from the company to manufacture their kits and apparel, but Sport believe that has now doubled.
FC Barcelona has also benefitted immensely from goodwill, as the outfit, which is more than a club, has partnerships with world charity organisations like the Unicef and the UNESCO.

The overall prospects of the great club look better than ever, with more ideas and designs still in the pipeline and ready for implementation.