Barcelona star Eric García has this week revealed his take that the podium for this year's Ballon d'Or award should be filled entirely by teammates from Hansi Flick's squad.
The subject of the upcoming 'Golden Ball' ceremony has of course dominated the headlines in Catalunya's capital over the course of the last week.
This comes owing not only to those Barcelona stars included on the 30-man shortlist, but also those left off.
Featuring front and centre were Blaugrana trio Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Pau Cubarsí, as well as the recently departed Ferran Torres. Surprisingly nowhere to be seen on the shortlist, though, were either Pedri or Raphinha.
Speaking during an interview with Cadena SER on Monday, the aforementioned Eric García was in turn asked for his take on the race to be named world football's best player for 2026.

#Barcelona #eric #garc #week

Raphinha has received another major accolade after his outstanding display against Feyenoord earned him a place in UEFA's Team of the Week, adding to his recent recognition in LaLiga.
The Barcelona captain was singled out by UEFA's technical observers following a performance in which he scored twice, with his opening goal particularly catching the eye.
Raphinha used a clever feint to beat two Feyenoord defenders before finishing the move in style.
UEFA's **** sment also highlighted the Brazilian's work away from the ball and his influence in several areas of the pitch.
"Against Feyenoord, the Barcelona captain led the press with impressive intensity and made runs behind the defence to create danger from deep, as well as playing between the lines, capping off his performance with two magnificent goals," the UEFA website explains.

#feyenoord #week #uefa

Leading members of the first-team ranks at La Liga's two headline clubs have secured for themselves respective places in the first Champions League Team of the Season.
This of course comes fresh off the opening round of fixtures in European football's premiere club competition being brought to a close on Thursday night.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid managed opening day victories, the former at the expense of Feyenoord, and the latter Inter Milan.
Leading the way with a brace for Hansi Flick's Blaugrana was the in-form Raphinha, enough for the Brazilian to clinch a spot amongst the attackers in the Team of the Week.
For Real Madrid, meanwhile, it was a performance at the other end of the pitch which proved enough for a spot amongst UEFA's coveted XI, after Thibaut Courtois conjured up a whole host of brilliant saves to hold Inter at bay.

#leading

Lamine Yamal struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Valencia 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100 percent start in La Liga.
The reigning champions moved three points clear at the top of La Liga, after Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday.
Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Pedri were also on target for Hansi Flick's swaggering visitors on a hot afternoon on Spain's east coast.
Yamal did not take part in the team training session on Saturday after a knock but showed no signs of it during a dazzling display against Carlos Corberan's Los Che.
Barcelona, the only team in the top flight to win their first four games, took control from the start to the upset of Valencia's fans at a persistently bad-tempered Mestalla stadium.

#real #start #lamine #jose

Barcelona faced off against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium earlier today as they hoped to secure all three points on the road in La Liga. The Catalan club made a bright start to the game and got their noses ahead in the sixth-minute thanks to Lamine Yamal's effort. Fermin Lopez doubled his team's advantage in the 22nd minute as Barcelona went into the half-time break 2-0 up on the scoreline.
Raphinha put daylight between the two sides in the 50th minute before Pedri made it 4-0 for Hansi Flick's team in the 79th minute. Yamal got himself another goal just five minutes later as the Catalan giants earned a dominant 5-0 win away from home.
Let's take a look at how each Barcelona player fared during the clash against Valencia.
He made a couple of solid saves at the back and did enough to secure the clean sheet.
RB: Eric Garcia – 6.5/10

#stadium

A member of the attacking ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona on Sunday took over sole ownership of the **** le of the top scorer in Europe's top-5 leagues this season.
This comes owing to developments in the Blaugrana's meeting with Valencia.
Hansi Flick's troops are fresh off another absolutely dominant victory this evening, keeping alive a flawless start to the new campaign with a five-goal romp at Mestalla.
Lamine Yamal was on target to the tune of a brace, whilst Fermín López also shone bright yet again with a trio of direct goal contributions.
It was captain and new centre-forward Raphinha, though, whose strike proved the significant one when it comes to the early race for the European Golden Boot.

#liga #sunday #hansi #lamine

Barcelona remain perfect to start the season and have won their fourth straight La Liga game to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table thanks to a dominant 5-0 win over Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday afternoon. The Blaugrana put on another attacking show and created over a dozen giant chances, and Lamine Yamal (twice), Raphinha, Fermín López and Pedri found the net to give the leaders three more points in spectacular fashion.
Barça played a fantastic opening period, establishing their dominance from the opening whistle and creating huge chances early and often against Valencia's low block.
Lamine Yamal scored a brilliant first goal and had a second disallowed for a very narrow offside, and came very close three other times. Fermín López also found the net with a powerful finish in the box, and almost scored a glorious solo goal but was denied by the keeper and the post.
The Catalans had a couple of scares at the back but Joan Garcia was up to the task with a couple of big saves. Barça were in control for the entire half, however, and dominated midfield thanks to Rodri, who was simply fantastic in the opening 45 minutes of his first start.
There was only one piece of bad news when a freak accident caused Eric Garcia to suffer a broken nose in a collision with Rodri in the box, but Barça were fully in control and had a deserved two-goal lead at the break.

#opening #lamine #yamal #start

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana travel to Mestalla for a La Liga game against Valencia, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 24 players for Sunday's clash:
Goalkeepers: 1. Joan Garcia, 13. Wojciech Szczesny, 25. Dominik Livakovic
Defenders: 2. João Cancelo, 3. Alejandro Balde, 5. Pau Cubarsí, 12. Xavi Espart, 15. Andreas Christensen, 18. Gerard Martín, 23. Jules Kounde, 24. Eric Garcia
Midfielders: 4. Brian Fariñas, 6. Gavi, 7. Fermín López, 8. Pedri, 16. Rodri, 20. Dani Olmo, 22. Marc Bernal
Forwards: 9. Gabriel Jesus, 10. Lamine Yamal, 11. Raphinha, 14. Karim Adeyemi, 17. Anthony Gordon, 29. Hamza Abdelkarim

#garcia #mestalla #valencia

Barcelona's golden duo Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both netted braces in the team's clash against Rayo Vallecano on Monday night, taking the team to the top of the table once more with a perfect score and a staggering twelve goals scored in three games.
The Brazilian promptly equalised to nullify Rayo Vallecano's opener before Lamine Yamal fired the team into the lead in the first half.
After the break, Anthony Gordon forced an own-goal with a vicious cross that took a deflection before he combined once again with Raphinha for the team's fourth goal on the night.
Somewhere along the way, Rayo Vallecano stole another goal back, but Barcelona showed no mercy and eventually made it five goals with Lamine Yamal netting his second goal.
Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 5-2 Rayo Vallecano.

#vallecano

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored twice as Barcelona breezed back to the top of LaLiga with a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Nou Camp.
Winless Rayo gave the hosts a mighty scare when Sergio Camello fired them in front after 12 minutes but Raphinha soon levelled and Yamal put Barca in front with 21 minutes on the clock.
Florian Lejeune's own goal extended the home side's lead early in the second half, and after Camello scored his second, further goals from Raphinha and Yamal preserved their 100% start to the campaign.
Rayo arrived at the Nou Camp without a win in their first two games but they took the game to their illustrious opponents and Camello silenced the home fans when he fired in his early opener after a neat pull-back by Alvaro Garcia.
It was Barcelona's first goal they had conceded this season but they roused themselves immediately.

#yamal

Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal and Raphinha both struck twice as the champions beat Rayo Vallecano 5-2 on Monday to continue their perfect start to the campaign.
Sergio Camello netted a brace for the visitors at Camp Nou but Hansi Flick's Barca managed to record a third win from three matches from an entertaining battle.
With his first goal, Yamal, 19, hit the milestone of 50 for the club -- two years younger than Barcelona icon Lionel Messi was when he managed the feat.
"We have to keep working, for now it's three wins from three, and we have to try and reach all our objectives," said Barca midfielder Marc Bernal.
"In the last games (Yamal) could not score, but he's shown his quality through his career. Today he scored and we're happy for him."

#yamal #lamine

Barcelona new signing Jesse Bisiwu has opened up on how he's settling into life at the club after making the switch from Club Brugge this summer.
The 18-year-old has already caught the eye by scoring twice in a pre-season friendly against Basel and will be hoping he can impress in Catalunya.
Bisiwu named Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong as two players who have been looking out for his so far and was quick to respond which asked which player has impressed him most at Barca since he joined.
"Raphinha, without a doubt," he told Het Laatste Nieuw. "I find it incredible how he gives 100% in every training session."
Bisiwu also admitted that it's been a big step up but that he's doing his best to show his skills on the training ground.

#jesse #brugge

The summer transfer market has been shaken by Álvaro Morata's surprising move to CD Leganés, while the latest sports headlines are dominated by Julián Álvarez's absence from Atlético de Madrid's trip to Seville and FC Barcelona's tactical adjustments in attack.
The Madrid-born striker is behind the summer's biggest move after joining CD Leganés on loan from Como. The deal shakes up the second tier and makes the Spain international Leganés' main ***** et in their bid to return to the top flight.
For his part, Diego Simeone heads into the visit to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán without a recognized centre-forward after Julián Álvarez was confirmed unavailable. The Argentine's absence, prompted by his refusal to train during the final stretch of the transfer window, puts even more focus on the tactical setup the rojiblancos will use in Seville.
Meanwhile, in Barcelona, Hansi Flick is drawing up attacking alternatives. Faced with the complicated scenario of signing Julián Álvarez, the coaching staff are considering redeploying Raphinha as an out-and-out No. 9, trusting in his movement and finishing to lead the blaugrana attack.
On the international stage, the European draws have handed demanding matchups to Celta de Vigo and Real Sociedad in the Europa League, while Getafe will face more manageable fixtures in the Conference League.

#legan #seville #transfer #international

Today's sports front pages, August 29, are packed with major talking points: Kylian Mbappé is in the Madrid spotlight after his brilliant start, Barça are looking for tactical solutions after the "Flick Spirit," and Julián Álvarez's situation continues to make headlines ahead of the big Sevilla-Atlético clash.
The newspaper AS devotes its front page to Kylian Mbappé under the headline "MBAPPÉ EYES THE BALLON D'OR", highlighting the French forward's ambitions to win the individual award after his hat-trick against Real Sociedad and his performances for Real Madrid.
The big surprise of the transfer market comes from MARCA with its headline "THE SUMMER'S BLOCKBUSTER", announcing the presentation of Álvaro Morata by CD Leganés.
In the Catalan press, MUNDO DEPORTIVO praises the "FLICK SPIRIT", hailing the dynamism and collective pressing of the Blaugrana side despite not having an out-and-out No. 9.
For its part, SPORT goes a step further and states that "RAPHINHA WILL BE THE '9'" as the main alternative in the German coach's system.

#madrid

The debate around Barcelona has largely been happening at the other end of the pitch.
Is Julian Alvarez on the way? Should Raphinha continue as Hansi Flick's number nine?
Those questions have dominated the conversation around Barça's early weeks, but the strongest evidence of the team's progress may be coming from a defence that has made the perfect start to the La Liga season.
Two matches, two victories and, crucially, two clean sheets.
Barcelona began their campaign by beating Elche 5-0 before following it up with a 2-0 win over Athletic Club. Alongside Real Betis, they are the only side in La Liga still to concede a goal.

#Barcelona #liga #alvarez #elche

Barcelona made it six points in two games with their win over Athletic Club last night as they took the Basque giants down with a 2-0 scoreline at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and Anthony Gordon entered the starting lineup on the night and the team looked comfortable, yet threatening from the get-go.
Raphinha eventually scored the opener with some wonderful footwork and Barcelona toiled to earn the second goal to pull free of the competition.
Eventually, a bit of luck and Fermin Lopez's lethality helped the team secure the 2-0 win and helped them back to the top of the table.
Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 2-0 Athletic Club.

#eventually #night

Raphinha and Fermin Lopez goals helped Spanish champions Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Thursday in La Liga to continue their perfect start to the season.
The Catalan giants eased to a solid victory over their Basque visitors in their first game of the season at the partially-rebuilt Camp Nou, with new arrival Rodri coming on for his Barca debut.
Raphinha rounded the goalkeeper and slid home in the 37th minute to give Barca the lead, and Lopez netted after 82 minutes to secure the points, with the Catalans missing several chances for more goals and twice hitting the woodwork.
"Very happy to play my first game, happy with the victory, we've got two from two," Rodri told DAZN.
"It's important to keep building up rhythm and adapting to this great team. My first minutes and (I had some) good feelings."

#first #raphinha #minutes

Barcelona's game against Athletic Club last night may well have been as dominant as the team's win over Elche, but the scoreline did not reflect the same.
The Catalans were the dominating side by some distance once again and barely gave the visitors any chances at all. However, their efficiency in front of goal was not as clean as the previous time around, and that made all the difference.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the first half with a cold finish, handing the team the lead at half-time and putting in a captain's shift once more. The team, however, struggled to find the second goal for long time.
Eventually, Fermin Lopez delivered by poaching a goal in the 81st minute to make it 2-0 and put the result beyond doubt.
Barça Universal brings you the player ratings from Barcelona 2-0 Athletic Club.

#time #once #half #catalans

FC Barcelona's biggest signing of the summer so far, Rodri, is already preparing for his competitive debut, reports Mundo Deportivo.
After working individually last week because he joined the squad with limited pre-season preparation following his World Cup triumph and a minor back procedure, Rodri trained alongside his teammates for the first time on Monday.
As Hansi Flick had announced before the match against Elche, the midfielder worked with the players who either played limited minutes or did not feature at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
The starters completed a recovery session instead. Among those who played against Elche, only Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Karim Adeyemi and Pedri took to the pitch at the ***** o Vilanova training ground.
Rodri has now begun his return to full training with Thursday's match against Athletic Club in mind.

#rodri #elche #played #deportivo

Tension at the Metropolitano after the boos aimed at Julián Álvarez headline a matchday in which FC Barcelona showed overwhelming dominance against Elche, Mourinho stepped in amid the 'Vinicius case', and Ligue 1 witnessed Ferran Torres' instant resurrection in Paris. On top of that, the transfer market is delivering dramatic twists just days before the deadline.
The atmosphere among the Atlético faithful is reaching boiling point. Atlético de Madrid fans showed strong disapproval toward Julián Álvarez after he made clear his intention to leave the club. After the final whistle against Villarreal, boos echoed around the stands, and the forward headed alone to the dressing room by decision of the club hierarchy to avoid further incidents.
The reigning champion kicked off LaLiga by laying down the law with an emphatic 0-5 win. In a brilliant attacking display, Raphinha and Fermín led the team with a brace each, joined by Adeyemi opening his account as a Barça scorer. A standout cameo from debutant Gordon in just 20 minutes put the finishing touch on an imposing start.
José Mourinho has spoken out after the controversial incidents in Cornellá. The Real Madrid coach publicly defended the Brazilian attacker, taking command within the Madrid dressing room and trying to ease the external pressure once again closing in on his biggest star.
He came, he saw, he conquered. Ferran Torres enjoyed a dream start in Ligue 1, rescuing PSG from the brink against Rennes. After trailing 0-2 at half-time, the Spanish forward took control in an extraordinary second half and scored a crucial brace to level the match.

#lvarez

Barcelona clubbed Elche 5-0 to get their La Liga ******* le defence up and running. The Catalan giants made an easy meal of their opponents in a rampant display.
Raphinha opened the scoring with a penalty that he won and set up Karim Adeyemi to double the lead on his debut just before the half-time break.
Anthony Gordon came on as a substitute and ******* isted Raphinha's second, then set up Fermin Lopez's second when he could have shot for himself.
Lopez, who has returned from the injury that forced him to miss the 2026 World Cup, is looking immaculate again this season.
The Spaniard produced a wonderful turn to get past one defender and scored his second, Barca's fifth.

#Barcelona #liga #raphinha

Barcelona could hardly have asked for a more convincing start to their La Liga **** le defence.
A 5-0 win away at Elche gave Hansi Flick's side three points, five goals and plenty of reasons to feel positive about the season ahead.
Raphinha and Fermin Lopez both scored twice at the Martínez Valero, while Karim Adeyemi also found the net as Barcelona made a powerful statement in their first league outing. Yet the result was only part of the story.
With Barça playing without a recognised centre-forward, questions over the club's plans for a new No. 9 remain firmly alive.
Flick also used his post-match press conference to praise Raphinha's leadership, explain the situation surrounding Alejandro Balde and provide an update after Gavi was forced off with a knock to his right knee.

#liga #hansi #raphinha #valero

Hansi Flick revealed why he was "concerned" about Barcelona's first-half performance against Elche, as the Blaugrana went on to secure a dominant 0-5 win to kickstart their LaLiga campaign.
Much has been made of Barcelona's lack of an out-and-out striker, but finding the back of the net was not a problem for the clinical visitors on Sunday as they scored with five of their seven shots on target.
Raphinha and Fermín López both bagged braces, while Karim Adeyemi also found his way onto the scoresheet on his competitive debut for the club and Anthony Gordon registered two ***** ists on his first outing in Blaugrana.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Flick praised Raphinha's mindset and flexibility to play in any required position, explaining that "he's the player for me who is a good example for intensity, a good example for improving this and also to start the pressing.
"When he's doing this, the other players are following him and this is great. This, for me, is a captain."

#flick #hansi #elche #sunday

The next Barcelona match is upon us! The Blaugrana kick off a new season with a trip to Elche for the first La Liga game of the campaign, and Hansi Flick has called up the following 23 players for Sunday's clash:
Goalkeepers: Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Eder Aller
Defenders: João Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Álvaro Cortés, Jordi Pesquer
Midfielders: Gavi, Fermín López, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Brian Fariñas, Xavi Espart
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon, Hamza Abdelkarim

#garcia #elche #goalkeepers #wojciech

Barcelona face their penultimate pre-season test today in Basel before the league kicks off next week.
This is how Hansi Flick lines up today at St. Jakob Park.
Barcelona: Joan Garcia; Espart, Christensen, Gerard Martín, Balde; Bernal, Eric, Fermin; Raphinha, Gordon, Adeyemi.
Basel: to be confirmed.

#jakob #park

WELCOME TO BLUENERGY STADIUM!!! The beautiful home of Udinese in Udine, Italy is the site of Barcelona's next preseason ******* ignment as the Catalans face off against the hosts as well as Nottingham Forest of the Premier League in the Friuli Venezia Giulia triangular tournament
Barça will play two 45-minute halves, one against each team. Barça's first game starts at 9pm CET against Forest, with the second game against Udinese scheduled for 10pm CET. It's a peculiar but fun format (more info here), and Hansi Flick will once again give minutes to La Masia youngsters and first team reserves. This should be fun, and you're welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!
Editor's note: this will be the single live thread for both games. We will start with coverage of Barça-Forest, then update the thread with the lineups and match info for the Barça-Udinese clash. Once the first game ends, you can simply stay here to follow and comment the second.
BARCELONA
Starting XI: Szczesny; Espart, Christensen, Martín, Pesquer; Fariñas, Bernal; Adeyemi, Fermín, Raphinha; Hamza (4-2-3-1)

#first #game #once

FC Barcelona landed in Italy today for pre-season triangular tournament featuring Udinese and Nottingham Forest.
In their first game of the evening, the La Liga champions face off against the Premier League, with the starting lineup for the match now being announced.
For the second game in a row, summer signing Karim Adeyemi has been named in the starting lineup by manager Hansi Flick.
The German international starts as part of the attacking unit that also features teenage striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who scored twice against Birmingham City in the last friendly.
Meanwhile, one of the captains, Raphinha, also starts, having successfully recovered fully from the injury he sustained during the World Cup with Brazil.

#lineup #forest

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the press after the squad's final session of their training camp in England, and much of the conversation was about the club's search for a new striker.
The Catalans are still dreaming of Julián Álvarez but have also been linked with a number of other names, and Ferran Torres' possible exit to PSG also increases the urgency to sign a number nine.
Flick made it clear he does want a striker to be signed but was also very calm in his answer, saying he has "complete confidence" in sporting director Deco to get a deal over the line.
"It depends on the team. We have to wait. I have complete confidence in Deco and we know we have to do something. It also depends on [what happens with] Ferran. We'll see what we do."
Barça currently have Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Fermín López, Ferran and new signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi as forward options along with academy prospects Ebrima Tunkara and Hamza Abdelkarim, but Flick clearly wants a true striker profile to replace Robert Lewandowski.

#deco #number

FC Barcelona statement – FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona Board of Directors met Wednesday, 29 July, for an ordinary meeting at the Club's installation, headed by first vice-president Rafael Yuste in the absence of president Joan Laporta, who excused his absence.
More training at St. George's Park – FC Barcelona
Another session for the Barça squad, their fourth in England during their preseason training camp.
INSIDE VIEW | Raphinha joins the group – FC Barcelona
Brazilian arrives in Birmigham while his teammates continue to step up the training.
Alejandro Balde: 'If we can win more trophies, better' – FC Barcelona
Barça defender Alejandro Balde answered fans' questions live from St. George's Park on the FC Barcelona YouTube channel on Wednesday during the squad's preseason training camp in England.
Nuhu Fofana, Blaugrana until 2030 – FC Barcelona
Agreement reached between FC Barcelona and forward Nuhu Fofana to extend his contract for a further four seasons, meaning he is now set to stay with the Club until 30 June 2030.

#alejandro #nuhu

Club football is demanding the spotlight on a day of busy offices, pre-seasons underway, and boardrooms burning up.
The ball starts rolling. Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona officially begin their pre-seasons today. With all eyes on the new 2026/27 campaign, the three La Liga giants are starting medical check-ups and the first training workloads ahead of a demanding season.
Joan Laporta has made a big splash in the market. When asked about Atlético de Madrid's interest in Julián Álvarez, the Barcelona president warned: "We're not going to dance to anyone else's tune, we set the rhythm." He also officially confirmed the signing of Karim Adeyemi and Raphinha's stay, while keeping some uncertainty over Ferran Torres.
Paolo Maldini is taking on a historic mission. One of the living legends of defensive football has been named the new technical director of the Italian Federation (FIGC). His main objective is to rebuild the foundations of the Azzurra and return the team to the absolute elite after the heavy blow of missing their third consecutive World Cup.
A spectacular twist in the Premier League. Switzerland international Johan Manzambi, the undisputed breakout star of the World Cup, is one step away from becoming a new player for Unai Emery's Aston Villa. The Birmingham club have managed to **** the signing from Newcastle when negotiations had seemed all but done.