Gol Rakitic 4-0 pic.twitter.com/QxzfeAUAOT

— Роке Ojeda (@pokeojeda) January 17, 2016

Neymar is having himself a day today. The Brazilian superstar made it 4-0 against Athletic Bilbao with this amazing assist to Ivan Rakitic. It's probably safe to call this one...

Gol Suarez 5-0 pic.twitter.com/3dqIOYRmzh

— Роке Ojeda (@pokeojeda) January 17, 2016

Alright, fellas. Save some of these goals for another day, yeah? Luis Suarez with the double off of a brilliant floated ball into the box.

GOAL 1

GOAL 2

GOAL 3:

GOOOLAZOOO! TIEMBLA BALE#Neymar#Messi5#FCBAthletic#Suarezpic.twitter.com/AT2H3xQppa

— Miss Da Silva (@NeyMel110) January 17, 2016

It's a hat trick for Luis Suarez! 6-0 on the day for Barcelona. As comprehensive of a victory as you'll see all season.

A review of Barcelona's comfortable win over Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao have proved to be somewhat of a bogey team for Barcelona so far this season. Their first meeting was in the Supercopa de España where it was the Basques that ran away aggregate winners 4-1. The opening league game saw a rematch of the two sides and Barcelona relied on a solo Luis Suárez strike to win the game.

So it seemed a hard game was on the cards and just minutes into the game, Barcelona looked in trouble. Gerard Piqué's loose back pass was picked up by Eraso but before the midfielder managed a shot, Sergio Busquets was on top of him. Eraso ignored his open teammate but could only float the ball over with his chipped effort.

Two minutes later and that error in judgement was punished. Busquets found Aleix Vidal and the new Barça player slid a perfect ball into the path of Luis Suárez. After a brief wrestling match with a defender, Suárez took the ball into the box and around the diving Gorka Iraizoz. The keeper caught Suárez and the referee pointed to the spot. The bad news kept coming for Bilbao as Iraizoz saw red with 86 minutes still to play.

After showing off his fifth Ballon d'Or to the home crowd, Lionel Messi stepped up to take the penalty. Putting a somewhat shaky recent penalty record, Messi converted this one. A hard, low hit into the bottom of the right corner and the substitute keeper, Iago Herrerín, found himself picking the ball out of the net for his first touch.

Getting back into the game was going to be a tough ask for the visitors especially considering winning at the Camp Nou with eleven men is no walk in the park. That task was made a little harder just after the half an hour mark. Another quick breakaway found Suárez running at the defence with Neymar in support. The Uruguayan found the Brazilian and the Barça number 11 finished with a sublime chipped effort.

The Catalans were cruising and the half time whistle came with a comfortable 2-0 lead. That level of comfort was demonstrated by Luis Enrique's choice to substitute Lionel Messi at the break. Arda Turan was the man to replace him. It was interesting to see what position Turan would play. Would it be a like for like and Turan would play as part of the front three despite not featuring their for Atlético or would Andrés Inesta move up?

However, before Turan had even got a touch of the ball, Barça were 3-0 up. This time, Suárez wasn't the provider but the scorer. Busquets again started the play as he found Neymar. Neymar linked well with Suárez and a quick one-two allowed Suárez to be in on goal. He calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the net for his first and Barça's third.

The visitors did get a good chance to pull one back in the 60th minute however again Eraso missed it. After taking a cross down well, he again lifted his effort over the bar and again it was punished two minutes later. This time, Neymar dribbled his way down the left flank and made it all the way to the byline. A few dazzling tricks later and the ball was on a plate for Ivan Rakitić. The Croatian easily slotted the ball through Herrerín's legs to make it 4-0.

Seven minutes later and Suárez had his second. A floated ball in was brilliantly taken down, justifying claims of Suárez being the best number 9 in the world, and a quick tap with the right foot took the ball into the net.

Having gone ten minutes without a goal, the game had gone into a seeming drought. That is until Suárez popped up again. Busquets, once more, started the goal with a floated cross in and Suárez was there to head the ball home. No doubt, Suárez will pick up the Man of the Match along with his match ball but Sergio Busquets' performance must also be noted for being truly superb.

The game finished 6-0 to the home side and it was a truly five star performance.

# Recs	Commenter	Comment Link
10	VarmaFCB	If Qatar Airways doesn't want to sponsor us with the new deal
4	semperty	I'm liking the themed pictures, today
2	Som-i-Serem	Lucho, you Rock!
2	msalmanz	Sorry, had to.
2	semperty	Great positioning from Masche to stop that counter.
2	**Ade**	FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
2	BarcaBarca	I LOVE THIS FUCKING TEAM.
2	avyator	There's a sextuple, bitches.
1	BarcaBarca	lately he has been.. less biased.
1	craig00000	If that's an injury
1	**Ade**	He clearly leaves the tears in his ducts when he sees white.
1	godnkls	Did he went to shit and didn't make it in time for the kick off?
1	Som-i-Serem	Pique going YOLO.
1	une see	Hahaha...chill
1	**Ade**	Doesn't stop Ronaldo from still kicking them
1	**Ade**	Yet he was voted third.
1	Piyush_	Xmas in Laporte would be real weird
1	avyator	Glad Bartra is getting minutes, but what the fuck was that xD
1	semperty	Poor.
1	BarcaBarca	by that logic we should be at about 8 or 9.
1	semperty	I really don't get this notion.
1	VarmaFCB	Nope... Real Madrid isn't playing
1	**Ade**	We'll be the extinguisher.
1	VarmaFCB	Yes the game against Atleti is even more crucial than the clasico
1	semperty	Beautiful goal from Neymar!
1	**Ade**	A yellow with a penalty does the trick in my opinion.
1	0nk0	you have to be last man to get red, it's not only about that opportunity
1	Trifitology	Anybody else want to see a Vermalean/pique back line more often?
1	TheGodfather21	see these
1	Som-i-Serem	Penalty!!!!!!!!!!!!
1	Piyush_	11 shots to their 1
1	istiaque	VIDAL IS FAST
1	**Ade**	Mascherano is having a worldy today
1	Piyush_	then he has to realise an ass is not a football
1	el_uruguayo	It took 4 minutes from the foul to the penalty kick
1	Som-i-Serem	Messi with a chance to hit the woodwork
1	semperty	Hitting the target would be a good start.
1	ilinkps	Lol...when defending Jordi Alba knows only one thing to do
1	BarcaBarca	fuck it, it works\
1	**Ade**	He's neutralized a red hot Inaki who he's been clearly talked to man Mark.

Barcelona's fantastic rout of Athletic Bilbao on Sunday did not come without consequences. Bad ones.

Full-back Jordi Alba, who left the game in the second half with a leg contusion, went to a hospital for further tests, which revealed a mild hamstring strain in his right leg. The injury will cause Alba to miss the next ten days of action, meaning he's out for the remainder of January.

Alba will miss the two Copa del Rey matches against Bilbao, as well as the difficult La Liga game away from home at Málaga. The problem gets worse when all other options for left-back, Jérémy Mathieu and Adriano Correia, are also currently injured and have no date set for return.

In case all three left-backs are out for the next ten days, coach Luis Enrique will have to be creative to come up with an answer. His initial alternative on Sunday was to use handyman Sergi Roberto in that position, and in what has become a trend this season, Roberto was very good in the new position. Enrique can also use Aleix Vidal, who can play in either flank, in that spot as well, with Dani Alves or even Roberto doing the right-back job.

If only there was another good left-back on the club... yeah, he went to Benfica. I miss you already, Grimaldo.

Real Madrid beat Sporting but Bale amd Benzema both injured - ESPN FC
Gareth Bale's seventh-minute opener paved the way for Real Madrid to hit five goals for the second consecutive week as they brushed aside Sporting Gijon 5-1 on Sunday, though the Wales star and Karim Benzema both departed due to injury.

Zinedine Zidane makes smooth start at Real Madrid - ESPN FC
He has already won 5-0 and 5-1 respectively against struggling Deportivo La Coruna and Sporting Gijon and next on the horizon is a trip to Betis to face a club who recently sacked Pepe Mel and have just one win in 11 in all competitions. Espanyol then visit the Bernabeu on Jan. 31 and they're currently on a run of four successive defeats, with just one win in seven matches.

Zinedine Zidane of Real hopes Gareth Bale injury not serious - ESPN FC
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he is "hopeful" Gareth Bale's latest calf injury is not too serious after the Wales international scored but then limped out of Sunday's 5-1 La Liga win over Sporting Gijon at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo insists kick of Gijon player unintentional - ESPN FC
Asked about a second-half incident in which TV images appeared to show him kicking off the ball at the rear of Nacho Cases, Ronaldo said the action had been "instinctive" and the damage would have been worse if he had deliberately set out to hurt his opponent.

Antoine Griezmann brace helps Atletico win at Las Palmas - ESPN FC
Defender Luis sent Juanfran's pass into the far corner on 17 minutes to score his first goal since returning to Atletico from Chelsea, while on 68 minutes top scorer Griezmann finished off a through-ball from Koke to double the lead. The France forward made the most of another precise pass from the midfielder in the last minute to round off the victory.

Simeone - Atletico star Antoine Griezmann not yet among best - ESPN FC
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone advised star attacker Antoine Griezmann to keep focused after another brace fired his team to a 3-0 win at Las Palmas on Sunday evening. Atletico remained top of La Liga after Griezmann twice ran clear in the second half to seal the win after full-back Filipe Luis had put his team ahead against the run of play before half-time.

Valencia 2-2 Rayo Vallecano - ESPN FC
Paco Alcacer's late equaliser saved Gary Neville's blushes by earning a haphazard Valencia a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano. Rayo took a 15th-minute lead through Jozabed but early in the second half Alvaro Negredo scored a stunning goal from 50 yards to give Valencia an equaliser they barely deserved, only for Diego Llorente to restore Rayo's lead on 69 minutes.

Official: Celta sign Lyon’s Beauvue | Football Espana
Celta Vigo have completed the signing of striker Claudio Beauvue from Lyon on a five-year contract. The 27-year-old passed a medical on Sunday before putting pen to paper in a deal reportedly worth €5m. Celta’s official website cites Beauvue’s "speed, attacking ability and strength in the air" as his best traits.

Getafe 3-1 Espanyol - ESPN FC
Getafe continued their excellent run of form by beating Espanyol 3-1 at home to record a third successive Primera Division victory. Hernan Perez gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half but Pedro Leon struck just three minutes later to level.

Suárez hat-trick paces FC Barcelona in 6–0 rout of Athletic Club Bilbao | FC Barcelona
Luis Suárez scored three goals in the second half as FC Barcelona routed ten-man Athletic Club Bilbao 6–0 on Sunday night at Camp Nou. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Ivan Rakitic also scored in the goal glut following a 4th minute expulsion to Athletic Club goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz that put the Basques in a hole from which they had little chance of escaping.

Luis Suárez: "We knew how to take advantage" | FC Barcelona
Luis Suarez, whose hat-trick in Sunday night’s 6-0 win over Athletic Club makes him the top scorer in La Liga with 18 league goals, wasn’t looking for individual praise. "I am happy with the goals, but the most important thing is to win," he said. "We took advantage of the opportunities that came after the early expulsion."

Luis Enrique: We did what we had to | FC Barcelona
There was little for Luis Enrique to say after his team, FC Barcelona, vanquished Athletic Club Bilbao 6–0 at Camp Nou on Sunday night. After the Basques went down to ten men before the five-minute mark, it was only a question of whether the Catalans would do their job.

Lionel Messi has 'small' strain while Jordi Alba out 10 days - ESPN FC
Barcelona star Lionel Messi picked up a "small strain" against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday while Jordi Alba has been ruled out for 10 days with a hamstring injury. Manager Luis Enrique sought to ease concerns about Messi's health by insisting he took the Argentina star off at half-time only as a precaution.

Lionel Messi presents his fifth FIFA Ballon d’Or to the fans at Camp Nou | FC Barcelona
The Camp Nou crowd rise to their feet to acclaim the man himself with a giant flag bearing the world 'Congratulations Messi' - in homage to Lionel Messi, the best player in the world and his fifth Ballon d’Or award recently claimed in Zurich, Switzerland.

Barcelona Feature: Messi scare has Barca fans panicking but Suarez shows there's life without Leo - Goal.com
The Camp Nou was in party mood Sunday. Before kickoff against Athletic Club, Lionel Messi showed off his fifth Ballon d'Or to the Barcelona fans and was soon on the scoresheet too. But the alarm bells rang as he failed to emerge in the second half. Instead of Messi keping the party going, Luis Suarez stole the limelight.

Luis Suarez: My conscience is clear - Goal.com
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez says his "conscience is clear" despite suffering a two-game ban in the Copa del Rey. According to the referee's report, Suarez insulted Espanyol players and provoked a confrontation in the tunnel after Barcelona's 4-1 win in the first leg of their Copa del Rey round of 16 meeting.

The penalty and red card rule should be changed - Barca president | FourFourTwo
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has called for the penalty and expulsion rule to be removed from football because it ruins the spectacle. Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz was sent off just four minutes into the club's clash with Barcelona after bringing down Luis Suarez in the box.

This week's schedule with trips to Athletic and Málaga | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have two away trips this week. The first is in the Copa del Rey, to San Mamés (Bilbao) and then they go to La Rosaleda (Málaga) for a league match at the weekend.

Barcelona wanted Sergio Aguero before Luis Suarez transfer - ESPN FC
Luis Suarez was not Barcelona's "first choice" when they signed the striker in 2014, the club's former sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has told Marca. Suarez, 28, joined Barcelona from Liverpool for £65 million after the 2014 World Cup, but the Spanish giants had initially set their sights on Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.

Rival Watch: Big wins for the top three in La Liga and Arsenal held to draw at Stoke | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 6-0 on Sunday night, but Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid had also recorded healthy wins earlier on in the day, meaning the top three positions in La Liga remain the same. Atlético took 17 minutes to break the deadlock in Las Palmas through Filipe Luis, and Griezmann added a couple more after the break to make it 3-0. The result ensures that the red-and-whites stay two points clear of Barça, although the Catalans still have a game in hand.

The creator of ‘Captain Tsubasa’ Yoichi Takahasi comes to Camp Nou | FC Barcelona
The creator of the cartoon ‘Captain Tsubasa’, Yoichi Takahashi, was a guest of the Club for the FC Barcelona-Athletic Club game on Sunday at Camp Nou. The Japanese artist was welcomed by the president Josep Maria Bartomeu before the game in the President Suñol suite, together with a delegation from Japan that included the well-known singer Naotaro Moriyama.

Pobla Mafumet v Barça B: Romera brace seals win (0-2) | FC Barcelona
Gerard López’s team threatened from the beginning with Dongou and Xemi testing the opposition keeper’s gloves. It would not be long before Barça’s intensity paid off, as Romera’s perseverance saw him capitalise on a defensive mix up by the home side, to give his side the lead and open his personal account for the club on 26 minutes.

A very quiet, interesting transfer move in La Liga might just have giant implications for Barcelona in this January transfer window.

Celta Vigo announced on the final minutes of Sunday that they have signed Lyon forward Claudio Beauvue to strengthen the team's frontline in order to maintain the good form in this league season. The 27-year-old did have a good run with the French club, and is a fast, skilled left-winger with goalscoring abilities.

Which is the same thing that made Celta's star forward, Nolito, a Barcelona target for this January. In fact, a loan deal between Celta and Barça seems to be happening, but the Vigo club did not have a replacement. Until now.

However, Celta coach Eduardo Berizzo insisted that Beauvue signing is not a response to a probable Nolito departure:

"Beauvue has arrived because we need him. His signing is not linked to Nolito’s departure. He hasn’t joined to replace anyone."

Source: Football-España

This can mean two things: either Berizzo is saying that Nolito is not going anywhere and Beauvue is another reinforcement, or that Beauvue is not just a replacement, but a true necessity of the team in order to achieve success this season.

The second option seems more likely. We're 13 days away from the end of the window, and Nolito's return to Camp Nou looks more and more like a reality.

The second half of Barcelona's great 6-0 win against Athletic Bilbao started with a strange sight: Lionel Messi, who had a great first period with a goal and an overall good performance, did not return to the pitch, being replaced by Arda Turan. Messi is hardly ever substituted, let alone at halftime.

Post-match comments by coach Luis Enrique and Sergio Busquets indicated that Messi felt a little muscle discomfort in his leg, and was taken to a hospital for further testings, which got fans nervous about the status of the world's best player.

Worry not, Barça fans. Messi is fine, according to the club:

Medical tests on striker Lionel Messi this Monday morning have revealed great news. It turns out that the Argentinian has not got a hamstring injury and has just taken a bit of a knock. It is uncertain whether or not he will be available for future matches, but there is nothing major to worry about.

Source: FCBarcelona.com

Since there is only a two-day interval until the next match, once again versus Bilbao in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, Messi is considered doubtful for the clash at San Mamés.

But it could be worse. Leo is good, thankfully.

Looks like Barcelona will have to go through this week without their best player.

The small injury scare on Sunday involving Lionel Messi was alarming to coach Luis Enrique and his staff. Although following tests showed no hamstring injury, the medical services advised both Enrique and Messi that the best decision in the long term is to rest the player now and not to risk further problems.

If the advice is taken and Messi does miss this week, he won't be available for Wednesday's first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés, as well as Saturday's difficult La Liga encounter with Málaga, also away from home.

Messi has just recovered from a two-month absence due to a knee injury suffered in September, and it would be worrying to see Leo with another injury problem just a few weeks after his return. If a rest is better, then rest him. It's that simple. Plus, with the new signings doing a great job and Neymar available, Barça could survive Bilbao and still win at Málaga.

It's just a week, after all.

It looks like Sandro Ramírez's time with Barcelona is coming to an end, and suitors are already making offers.

According to reports from Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo, the young striker was formally approached by La Liga club Real Bétis, who have identified Sandro as the attacking answer for a team battling relegation this season. Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked as they look for a backup to star striker Harry Kane, but Spurs have not made a formal offer yet.

Sandro has gone down the pecking order even more this season at Barça. The 20-year-old saw less and less playing time with the establishment of the 'MSN' trio and the signings of Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal who can play up front. Munir El-Haddadi has improved lately, and is also above Ramírez in the depth chart. Seeing that waiting for chances at Catalunya could take a long time, Sandro has decided to leave, and the next eleven days of the January window could be his last as a Blaugrana.

Barça prefer not to sell the player to a league rival, instead waiting for the Premier League to come with a real offer. Either way, we might have seen the last of Sandro at Barça.

Round of 64 of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona being held at bay. Sarthak Kumar narrates the proceedings.

The Republicans vs the Nationalists. The government vs the rebels. Left-wing vs right-wing. Democracy vs monarchy. Liberal vs conservative.

It was the Spanish Civil War, and Figueres had to decide.

The Catalans, the Basques, the Asturians, even the Galicians were mostly with the Republican government to fight the rebels led by Franco, but Figueres had to decide.

140 km from Barcelona, in the north-eastern reaches of Catalonia, as close to France as possible, a conservative town had to choose whether to side with - or against - its overwhelmingly liberal province.

Figueres had to decide.

The floodlights were on, the Estadi Municipal de Vilatenim was packed. Nine thousand fans had come, armed in white and blue balloons, to watch their third division team play against Barcelona.

Every Barcelona player had a football - blue with streaks of red - which they would then proceed to kick to a grateful crowd. Grateful for the footballs but also for the football that was going to be played.

UE Figueres are Catalan - they even use the Catalan Unió instead of the more popular Spanish Unión in their name. But it didn’t matter when Barcelona were around.

This wasn’t just Goliath they were playing against - these were players who had cost billions. Saviola (5 billion pesetas), Andersson (1.5 billion), Geovanni (3.5 billion) and Rochemback (2.2 billion) all started the game that night. Throw in the likes of Pepe Reina, Xavi, Puyol, Fernando Navarro, and Marc Overmars, and what do you get?

An amazing team. No, not Barcelona - UE Figueres were all over them.

Fernando Navarro and Puyol were expected to attack on the wings but ended up overrun. Pepe Reina was expected to stand in goal but ended up making fingertip saves. Xavi was expected to dictate the tempo but ended up losing it altogether.

Barcelona were expected to score goals, but ended up not having a single shot on target in the first half, and just another from open play in the second. And Figueres had still somehow not scored, having bombed Barcelona’s goal from every angle imaginable.

Barcelona were not scoring, and a man from Barcelona, donning the no. 6 shirt, wasn’t allowing that. No, not Xavi - Arnau Sala Descals,  captain of UE Figueres.

Bombs. Everywhere. The rebels were spreading destruction throughout the city. Figueres was facing the consequences of siding with the Republican government.

In the first minute of extra time, from the center of the pitch, a diagonal ball was played to the right-wing. Kali Garrido, the number 10, the 29-year-old striker with more goals than anyone else in the squad, and with the pedigree of having played in the second division - professional football - with Eibar, was waiting there, marked by Andersson, but couldn’t get his foot on the ball.

Seconds later, Garrido gets the ball at his feet from Arnau. Pepe Reina comes out. Andersson is somehow running towards Kali. Puyol is too far away. And just before anyone can get to the ball, Garrido takes his right foot and chips the ball over everyone. Nobody had a chance.

On the 7th of November, 2011. Barcelona didn’t have a chance.

Thousands fled the country, seeking refuge across the border in France. Amongst them was Manuel Azana, the President of the Republic.

Figueres was the last place the Republicans would ever meet.

Bale out for three weeks? | Football Espana
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale will reportedly miss the next three weeks after damaging the soleus muscle in his right leg. The Welshman was taken off at the midway point of Los Blancos’ 5-1 win against Sporting Gijon on Sunday, and Marca claims his test results will realise the club’s worst fears.

Real Madrid tried to hide evidence of youth player - claims - ESPN FC
The father of Manuel Godoy believes Real Madrid tried to hide their involvement with his son during FIFA's investigation into the club. Madrid, along with city rivals Atletico, were last week banned from registering players during the summer 2016 and winter 2017 windows for breaking youth transfer rules, although the La Liga clubs have denied any wrongdoing and say they will appeal.

Atleti reject Spurs’ Jackson bid | Football Espana
Atletico Madrid have reportedly rejected a €30m offer from Tottenham Hotspur for Jackson Martinez. Marca claims the Premier League club made the approach to Atleti and were rebuffed, Atletico first unwilling to sell for less than the €35m they paid Porto in the summer, and then reconsidering their stance on Jackson in light of their FIFA transfer ban.

Raul open to any position at Real Madrid | FourFourTwo
Raul will not rule out taking up any position, including that of president, when he decides to return to Real Madrid. The 38-year-old became an icon at the Santiago Bernabeu, lifting numerous trophies and becoming the club's record goalscorer with 323 strikes – a total only since bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo.

No Ricardo Rodriguez Real Madrid January move - Wolfsburg - ESPN FC
Wolfsburg have dismissed rumours that left-back Ricardo Rodriguez is to join Real Madrid this winter, with sporting executive Klaus Allofs telling reporters to "forget" any potential deal. Rodriguez, 23, is under contract at Wolfsburg until 2019, but reportedly has a buyout clause allowing him to move from the DFB Pokal holders next summer.

Chen to take Espanyol control | Football Espana
Chen Yansheng will on Tuesday become the majority shareholder in Espanyol, with a 56.2% stake in Los Periquitos. Mundo Deportivo reports Chen arrived in Catalonia on Monday to finalise his takeover of the club, and met with Dani Sanchez Libre, the former President who still held a majority share in Espanyol, to sign the paperwork.

Espanyol to take two from Chelsea? | Football Espana
Espanyol are reportedly set to sign two players on loan from Premier League champions Chelsea - Christian Atsu and Papy Djilobodji. Sport reports talks between the clubs over winger Atsu, on Everton’s books last season and Bournemouth’s for the first half of the current campaign, and Djilobodji, a centre-back signed in the summer from Nantes.

Eibar maintain push for Europe with victory over Granada - ESPN FC
Two goals apiece from Borja Baston and Sergi Enrich helped Eibar to their biggest Primera Division win for 13 months as they beat hapless Granada 5-1. The home side made it four wins in a row to move back into the top six and in contention for European football after an impressive response when Youssef El-Arabi had briefly made it 2-1 in the second half.

Claudio Beauvue 'happy' after he 'suffered' at Lyon - ESPN FC
New Celta Vigo striker Claudio Beauvue is relieved to have completed a move to the Spanish club after claiming that he suffered on a "human level" during a difficult six-month stay at Lyon. Lyon released a press release on Monday stating that they would receive €5 million up front as a result of the transfer, with another €2.5m in potential bonus payments included as part of his five-and-a-half-year deal.

Watford sign Nordin Amrabat from Malaga - Goal.com
Watford has confirmed the signing of Morocco forward Nordin Amrabat from Malaga. The 28-year-old moves to Vicarage Road for an undisclosed fee after spending two years in La Liga, initially on a loan spell from Galatasaray.

Luis Enrique targets further Barcelona success - ESPN FC
Exactly one year ago, he was about to rise from what seemed to be footballing ruins, and the events of the past few days have been a brilliant way to mark that anniversary. In turn he has been idiosyncratic, daring and shrewd, but above all, the Barcelona manager has been true to himself.

Las Palmas v FC Barcelona on Saturday 20 February at 4.00pm CET | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona have found out when they’ll be playing Las Palmas in the 25th game of the Liga campaign. The competition organisers, the LFP, announced the fixtures on Monday morning and the Barça game will be on Saturday 20 February at 4.00pm CET (an hour earlier locally due to the time difference in the Canary Islands).

When and where to watch Athletic Club v FC Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals | FC Barcelona
Here we go again. FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao are back at it in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals just three days after facing off in La Liga. The first leg kicks off at 9.00pm CET on Wednesday night at the San Mamés in Bilbao.

FC Barcelona ready for Copa del Rey quarter-finals versus Athletic Club | FC Barcelona
After FC Barcelona vanquished 10-man Athletic Club 6–0 on Sunday night at Camp Nou in league play, the two sides battle again on Wednesday night, this time in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, and with a change of scenery — their second meeting in less than three days will be at the San Mamés in Bilbao.

FC Barcelona train for second of three games with Athletic Club | FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona first team got straight back to the training ground on Monday morning, the day after impressively trouncing Athletic Bilbao 6-0 in the league. That’s because there is no time to rest, with the second of the trilogy of games against the Basques coming up on Wednesday, this time in the Copa del Rey.

Five talking points from the 6-0 defeat of Athletic | FC Barcelona
Barça played almost the entire game against a ten-man opponent, but that didn’t stop them from working hard for 90 minutes. Even with a 6-0 lead in injury time of the second half, five players rushed back to deal with a two-man counter attack. Dedication, that’s what you need!

Medical tests show that Leo Messi is not injured | FC Barcelona
Medical tests on striker Lionel Messi this Monday morning have revealed great news. It turns out that the Argentinian has not got a hamstring injury and has just taken a bit of a knock. It is uncertain whether or not he will be available for future matches, but there is nothing major to worry about.

Luis Suárez: Nine facts for a number nine in top form | FC Barcelona
The Messi-Suárez-Neymar Jr trident was in typically brilliant form on Sunday night, with Luis Suárez especially impressive with three goals and an assist. He wears number nine, so here are nine nuggets of information to honour the Uruguayan’s stunning achievements so far.

Barcelona target Nolito not for sale for less than 18m euros - ESPN FC
Former Barca B forward Nolito, 29, has been linked with a return to the Camp Nou, and Barca coach Luis Enrique has also talked positively about a reunion with a player he has twice coached before, but the Catalan club would reportedly prefer a deal involving an initial loan as they cannot currently raise the required cash.

Aleix Vidal and Dani Alves in battle at Barcelona - ESPN FC
At first glance, Barcelona's starting line-up for Sunday's 6-0 win against Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou looked like business as usual, but there was a small alteration that deserved extra attention. In all but one of the names chosen, Luis Enrique opted for the treble-winning first choice XI he settled on at this time last year. Barca's "Gala 11" as it is known colloquially in Catalonia.

Luis Suarez can still be the best player in the world - Brendan Rodgers - Goal.com
Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez has made Barcelona even better than the side was were before and thinks he can still become the best player in the world. Rodgers reluctantly sold Suarez in 2014 after Barca offered Liverpool huge money for the Uruguay international.

Messi Suarez Neymar best forward line in history - Xavi - ESPN FC
Xavi has called Barcelona's forward trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar the best in the sport's history. The South American attackers led the Blaugrana to an historic Treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles last season, and helped guide the club to Club World Cup glory in December.

Sampaoli: FIFA should ban Barcelona trio Messi, Neymar & Suárez | Squawka News | Reaction
Messi, Suárez and Neymar have netted 67 goals between them in all competitions this term and have been in electric form, leading Sampaoli to suggest FIFA should ban the terrific trio for being too good. "FIFA must intervene. The friendship between Leo, Neymar and Suárez is the worst thing that has happened in football," Sampaoli told El Pais. "Leo, alone, wins matches; if he also makes Neymar and Suarez better, this is not okay. They must ban it.

A preview of Barcelona's second clash with the Basque giants in the past three days

You getting that feeling of déjà vu yet? With FC Barcelona preparing to play Athletic Bilbao for the second time in three days and the fifth time this season, one could be forgiven for complaining of fixture fatigue, especially in light of three 2016 showdowns with RCD Espanyol. I mean it says it all when Barcelona are going to be eight games into 2016, and having only played four teams in total. So much for variation, right?

Clearly, the folks over at the LFP have been watching too many Simpsons re-runs as well; "It's my job to be repetitive. My job. My job. Repetitiveness is my job!"

After an emphatic 6-0 win against Athletic at the weekend, Barcelona would surely settle for a repeat performance, but be under no illusions, tomorrow will be an entirely different ball game. Not only can Athletic welcome back Aritz Aduriz from suspension, but they will also have home advantage at San Mames, not to mention 11 players for the duration of the game, at least in all likelihood anyway.

Ergo, it’s not really wise to draw too many conclusions from the weekend, other than that Barcelona can be quite good against 10 men with home field advantage and if that comes as a surprise to you, well you were probably a lost cause to begin with. Sure, we outplayed what we were up against, but it would be a major disservice to Athletic to suggest that this result was a consequence of anything other than the unique circumstances they found themselves in after Gorka Iraizoz’ early red card.

Lest we forget, the first chance of the game fell to the visitors while they still had their full complement of players on the field…

Fortunately, while tomorrow’s match promises to be a huge test for Luis Enrique and his side, it isn’t the be-all and end-all either. The quarter-finals of this year’s Copa del Rey will be played over two legs, just like every other season, and as such if given the choice, I would take a score draw without hesitation is it were on the table. With an away goal and the second leg at the Camp Nou, I would be confident we could progress overall – and really, that’s all that’s important here.

As much as we want to win every match, it shouldn’t inflate our expectations either. We will be without Luis Suarez. There’s no Jordi Alba. We might be without Lionel Messi too. So, Cules, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture for a change. Agreed?

TEAM NEWS

BARCELONA

If you’re a regular reader of our site, then you probably will have seen my preview to Sunday’s game, in which I rambled on about the 4-2-3-1 that Luis Enrique was beginning to integrate into his plans. It offers more stability, particularly in transition, and as a result, Enrique has stated that he is keen to use it when the situation dictates. Now I’m not a UEFA Pro Licensed coach, but I think tomorrow is a clear example of the situation dictating this to us.

Without Luis Suarez, we’ll need to find a new centre-forward, albeit for one night only. There’s a lot suggesting that Neymar should be that man, but against a side as physical as Athletic Bilbao, I’d be keen to avoid that. Sandro would be my choice, although he seems like he’s headed for the exit and that may influence Lucho’s selection. Munir thrived there in the youth ranks, but he’s found the transition to playing that position in the senior squad a little tougher.

So, maybe Lionel Messi will travel and play anyway.

Whatever the case, my selection for the triumvirate of attacking midfielders is clear: Aleix Vidal on the right, Neymar on the left and Arda Turan in an old-fashioned role as #10. The beauty of it is that Turan provides the physicality we will need at San Mames, but he also provides us with flexibility as he can easily interchange with Neymar, who has shown at an international level that he absolutely dominates in a shadow striker role.

Behind them, I would opt for a double-pivot of Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta – it isn’t Iniesta’s best position, but his composure in possession will be vital for limiting the opportunities that Athletic have in transition, particularly if they start with Inaki Williams and Iker Muniain.

In defense, the injury to Jordi Alba will force Enrique’s hand in the sense that he has to rely on "Mr Versatile", Sergi Roberto to fill in. He experimented with it at the weekend, and after the official site ran a story on it this evening, it seems like a dead-cert to happen tomorrow as well. Then, on the opposite flank we will have Dani Alves, with Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen the logical choices in the centre of defense.

ATHLETIC CLUB

Aritz Aduriz is back, and with his return, Athletic regain their best player, top scorer and their identity. With him in the squad, they can bully opposing defences with a more physical style of offense and that’s really what we expect from a match-up with the Basque Country giants. Iraizoz isn’t suspended for the Copa del Rey, but expect Iago Herrerin to continue in goal irrespective.

FORM GUIDE

Barcelona: WDWWWW

Athletic: WDWLWL

LAST MEETING

FC Barcelona 6-0 Athletic Bilbao – 17^th January 2016 – La Liga

LIKELY LINE-UPS

Barcelona (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Vermaelen, Roberto; Busquets, Iniesta; Vidal, Messi, Arda; Neymar

Athletic (4-2-3-1): Iago; Lekue, Laporte, Etxeita, Balenziaga; San Jose, Benat; de Marcos, Susaeta, Williams; Aduriz

MATCH PREDICTION

I’m going for a 2-1 Barca win, on the assumption that Messi will travel and start.

The speculation will not go away that Nolito is headed to Camp Nou. Here's a brief rundown of his career.

Manuel Agudo Durán - known to us by his nickname, Nolito - is considered the #1 transfer target of arguably the best team in the world, Barcelona. He's shining for his current club, Celta Vigo, and is said to be on the verge of becoming part of Spain's squad in the upcoming European Championships.

But the world wasn't always so rosy for Nolito, a late bloomer and a fighter.

He was born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, a town in the south of Spain. His biological mother could not raise him, as she was in prison. Instead, his grandparents were the ones who provided for him. When he speaks of his parents, he also means his grandparents, Dolores and Manuel. Nolito dedicates all his goals to his grandfather, who passed away in 2008.

His family was far from rich, but Nolito was grateful they provided him with food and clothes. Nolito enjoyed playing on the street and still brings that streetwise sensibility to his game. As a left winger, he brings tricky dribbling, an eye for goal, and increasingly improved passing as Barcelona found this season when he scored once and provided two assist in a 1-4 loss to Celta.

Nolito began his career in the youth system of UD Algaida de Sanlúcar, a club in his hometown which no longer exists. Afterwards, he joined Atlético Sanluqueño, followed by a move to CD Mestalla (part of Valencia CF), and then Écija Balompié, a tiny Seville club in which he would start making his breakthrough.

During his two seasons at Écija, he started to shine. Remarkably, he got a goal against Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey match. Los Galacticos got the first goal via Antonio Cassano, but the team boasting the likes of the original Ronaldo and David Beckham in the lineup were in for a shock. In the 81st minute, young Nolito, brought in as a substitute, smacked on the volley past Diego Lopez. Écija would earn themselves an improbable draw. While Madrid would win the return leg easily, 5-1, the draw still ranks as an achievement.

His performances caught the eye of the Blaugrana, and in 2008 he joined Barcelona B, aged 22. Under Luis Enrique, Nolito began to become a serious professional.

"He made me see I could live from football," Nolito mused about his former, and perhaps future, boss. "He told me I was good, but I had to believe in myself and be mindful of things like nutrition. At that stage, I was either going to go up or go down. He was key."

Nolito got his first-team debut under Pep Guardiola, and he got his first goal for Los Cules in the Copa del Rey against Club Atlético de Ceuta.

In 2011, with opportunities few and far in between, the player left to join SL Benfica on a free transfer. He enjoyed a good first season in Portugal, scoring 15 goals. But his second season saw him playing markedly less, at which point he decided to return to Spain.

Granada made a move, and got him on loan for the remainder of the 2012-13 season. He scored 3 goals as Granada avoided the drop. Nolito memorably took a corner kick that Cristiano Ronaldo deflected into his own net to give Granada a 1-0 win over Madrid, with the Andalusians amazingly failing to register a single shot on goal. It was Granada's first win over Real Madrid in 40 years.

Celta snapped up the attacker in the summer, reuniting him with Luis Enrique. Nolito has only fond memories of the coach and his physical trainer Rafa Pol, both currently with Barcelona. He credits both for teaching him not just how to press but when to press, and how to make every movement count.

Nolito's first season at Celta was a success, as he netted 12 goals and notched 2 assists in the league. He finished as Celta's top scorer for the year as the team ended the season an impressive 9th, having finished just a point off relegation the season before.

Lucho left to manage Barcelona, where he won a famous treble last season. Nolito improved on his first season, this time scoring 13 goals and dishing 13 assists in the league, and his team did one better than the year before, finishing 8th.

This term, Nolito has gotten 8 goals and 5 assists in La Liga while Celta are a mere 6 points from the Champions League spots.

Will Nolito join his former club and his former boss? It's hard to say, but both Luis Enrique and Nolito are seemingly dead set on making it happen. And I think we all can see why.

You getting that feeling of déjà vu yet? With FC Barcelona preparing to play Athletic Bilbao for the second time in three days and the fifth time this season, one could be forgiven for complaining of fixture fatigue, especially in light of three 2016 showdowns with RCD Espanyol. I mean it says it all when Barcelona are going to be eight games into 2016, and having only played four teams in total. So much for variation, right?

Clearly, the folks over at the LFP have been watching too many Simpsons re-runs as well; "It's my job to be repetitive. My job. My job. Repetitiveness is my job!"

After an emphatic 6-0 win against Athletic at the weekend, Barcelona would surely settle for a repeat performance, but be under no illusions, tomorrow will be an entirely different ball game. Not only can Athletic welcome back Aritz Aduriz from suspension, but they will also have home advantage at San Mames, not to mention 11 players for the duration of the game, at least in all likelihood anyway.

Ergo, it’s not really wise to draw too many conclusions from the weekend, other than that Barcelona can be quite good against 10 men with home field advantage and if that comes as a surprise to you, well you were probably a lost cause to begin with. Sure, we outplayed what we were up against, but it would be a major disservice to Athletic to suggest that this result was a consequence of anything other than the unique circumstances they found themselves in after Gorka Iraizoz’ early red card.

Lest we forget, the first chance of the game fell to the visitors while they still had their full complement of players on the field…

Fortunately, while tomorrow’s match promises to be a huge test for Luis Enrique and his side, it isn’t the be-all and end-all either. The quarter-finals of this year’s Copa del Rey will be played over two legs, just like every other season, and as such if given the choice, I would take a score draw without hesitation is it were on the table. With an away goal and the second leg at the Camp Nou, I would be confident we could progress overall – and really, that’s all that’s important here.

As much as we want to win every match, it shouldn’t inflate our expectations either. We will be without Luis Suarez. There’s no Jordi Alba. We might be without Lionel Messi too. So, Cules, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture for a change. Agreed?

TEAM NEWS

BARCELONA

If you’re a regular reader of our site, then you probably will have seen my preview to Sunday’s game, in which I rambled on about the 4-2-3-1 that Luis Enrique was beginning to integrate into his plans. It offers more stability, particularly in transition, and as a result, Enrique has stated that he is keen to use it when the situation dictates. Now I’m not a UEFA Pro Licensed coach, but I think tomorrow is a clear example of the situation dictating this to us.

Without Luis Suarez, we’ll need to find a new centre-forward, albeit for one night only. There’s a lot suggesting that Neymar should be that man, but against a side as physical as Athletic Bilbao, I’d be keen to avoid that. Sandro would be my choice, although he seems like he’s headed for the exit and that may influence Lucho’s selection. Munir thrived there in the youth ranks, but he’s found the transition to playing that position in the senior squad a little tougher.

So, maybe Lionel Messi will travel and play anyway.

Whatever the case, my selection for the triumvirate of attacking midfielders is clear: Aleix Vidal on the right, Neymar on the left and Arda Turan in an old-fashioned role as #10. The beauty of it is that Turan provides the physicality we will need at San Mames, but he also provides us with flexibility as he can easily interchange with Neymar, who has shown at an international level that he absolutely dominates in a shadow striker role.

Behind them, I would opt for a double-pivot of Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta – it isn’t Iniesta’s best position, but his composure in possession will be vital for limiting the opportunities that Athletic have in transition, particularly if they start with Inaki Williams and Iker Muniain.

In defense, the injury to Jordi Alba will force Enrique’s hand in the sense that he has to rely on "Mr Versatile", Sergi Roberto to fill in. He experimented with it at the weekend, and after the official site ran a story on it this evening, it seems like a dead-cert to happen tomorrow as well. Then, on the opposite flank we will have Dani Alves, with Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen the logical choices in the centre of defense.

ATHLETIC CLUB

Aritz Aduriz is back, and with his return, Athletic regain their best player, top scorer and their identity. With him in the squad, they can bully opposing defences with a more physical style of offense and that’s really what we expect from a match-up with the Basque Country giants. Iraizoz isn’t suspended for the Copa del Rey, but expect Iago Herrerin to continue in goal irrespective.

FORM GUIDE

Barcelona: WDWWWW

Athletic: WDWLWL

LAST MEETING

FC Barcelona 6-0 Athletic Bilbao – 17^th January 2016 – La Liga

LIKELY LINE-UPS

Barcelona (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Vermaelen, Roberto; Busquets, Iniesta; Vidal, Messi, Arda; Neymar

Athletic (4-2-3-1): Iago; Lekue, Laporte, Etxeita, Balenziaga; San Jose, Benat; de Marcos, Susaeta, Williams; Aduriz

MATCH PREDICTION

I’m going for a 2-1 Barca win, on the assumption that Messi will travel and start.

Javier Mascherano expected to avoid prison sentence for tax fraud | Sky Sports
The Argentina international - who has also played for West Ham and Liverpool - admitted the offences, which date back to 2011 and 2012, and accepted a one-year custodial sentence as part of a plea bargain. But he is not expected to be imprisoned after his legal representatives requested the sentence be suspended and replaced with a fine.

Porto allow Tello to join Fiorentina | Football Espana
Porto have allowed Barcelona loanee Cristian Tello to cut his two-year arrangement short and join Fiorentina. The attacker has become surplus to requirements at Dragao in the wake of Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal, while La Blaugrana have no plans of recalling him, despite their search for a player in his position.

First-leg 2-1 away win in Copa del Rey has always ended well for FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona may have been disappointed to have conceded a late goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 quarter-final first-leg win over Athletic Club, but the scoreline should provide optimism for the blaugrana faithful. That is because every time the Catalans have won by that result in the first-leg of a Copa del Rey match away from home, they have always gone on to secure qualification to the next round.

When and where to watch this weekend's La Liga match between Málaga CF and FC Barcelona | FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona play their first away game of the second half of the league season this weekend when they fly south to the city of Málaga on Spain's Costa del Sol for a 4.00pm CET clash that gives the Catalans the chance to extend their nine-game road winning streak and provisonally take over first place in the La Liga table.

Espanyol Shakira abuse may be punished after Barcelona clash - ESPN FC
That may change now as the anti-violence committee at the Spanish sports ministry has asked the RFEF to look at what happened, as they are "the organisation responsible for organising this sporting competition and can take a decision."

Neymar of Barcelona never met with Real Madrid says father - ESPN FC
Neymar's father has dismissed reports the Barcelona star has had talks with Real Madrid directors, calling the allegations an "invention" on Thursday. Onda Cero reported that the Brazil captain and his father reportedly met with representatives from Real while attending the 2015 Ballon d'Or ceremony earlier this month.

Lionel Messi Man City transfer ideal for Barca star - Aguero - ESPN FC
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has told Argentina teammate Lionel Messi that Manchester is the "ideal" city for him, and urged the Barcelona star not be put off a move to the Premier League by the prospect of bad weather. Barcelona's Ballon d'Or winner Messi has been repeatedly linked with City, although the forward said at the awards ceremony in Zurich that it his intention to finish his career where he started -- "at home" at the Camp Nou.

Or not...

Huge news out of Barcelona's last training session ahead of the trip to the Andalucía for a key La Liga match against Málaga: superstar forward Neymar Jr. did not practice with the squad, and has been ruled out of this Saturday's game.

The Brazilian arrived at the training center of Friday complaining of muscle pain in his left leg. Further tests conducted by the medical services showed no actual hamstring injury. However, the doctors advised the player and coach Luis Enrique not to travel and be rested for this weekend's fixture.

Interestingly enough, Neymar is going through the same exact problem as Lionel Messi, who missed last Wednesday's Spanish Cup match at Athletic Bilbao with a hamstring issue. Now, it's his teammate who needs a day off.

However, if you do some research... maybe Neymar is not that injured. He is now one yellow card away from an automatic suspension in the Spanish League. If he were to get the fifth booking against Málaga, he would certainly be out of the giant La Liga game against Atlético Madrid next Saturday.

Coincidentally missing the Málaga match with an injury while not risking a yellow card, everything goes to plan for Neymar and coach Luis Enrique.

So what are you going with, Barça fans: injury rest or yellow card rest?

As the 2015/16 season rolls along, Barcelona fans have gotten used to the controversial kits, especially the home shirt with horizontal stripes, used in the Blaugrana kit for the first time in the history of the club. It was a tough pill to swallow at first, but they actually look nice enough.

But it looks like Nike is not continuing the trend for next season. Diario Sport came out with a concept/leak of the Catalan giants' kits for the 2016/2017 season. It shows the home, away and third kits that could end up being the final idea.

According to Sport, we already have new kits for next season. Back to the verticals! pic.twitter.com/Kt2EETUnoo

— Renato Gonçalves (@Renato__21) January 22, 2016

Two things:

1. HELLO VERTICAL STRIPES!!!

2. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!