Lionel Messi becomes Barca’s all-time record scorer

 BY AGENCIES

AGENCIES-

Four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi became Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer, including friendlies and unofficial matches, with a double against Osasuna on Sunday.

The Argentine already held the club record for goals in official matches, but has now scored 370 goals for the Catalans in all to overtake Paulinho Alcantara who scored 369 goals in 357 games as a Barca player between 1912 and 1927.

Messi opened the scoring at the Camp Nou with a lovely flicked finish from Alexis Sanchez’s cross.

And after Sanchez and Andres Iniesta had extended the hosts advantage, Messi drilled home his 30th goal of the season to make it 4-0.

Manchester United, Liverpool & Manchester City announce US summer tour dates

Premier League trio Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City have announced their 2014 Guinness International Champions Cup fixtures, with the latter two sides facing each other on July 30 in New York.

Manuel Pellegrini's outfit will take on Brendan Rodgers' men at Yankee Stadium in Group B, while David Moyes' side take on Italian duo Inter and Roma in Group A.

United take on the Giallorossi at Denver's Sports Authority Field on July 26, before travelling to Washington DC to face the Nerazzurri at the FedEx Field on July 29. Their game against Real Madrid has yet to be scheduled.

Manchester United group managing director Richard Arnold said: "These two matches against strong opposition will provide David Moyes and his team with valuable preparation for the 2014-15 season.

“The team last played in Washington DC in 2011 and the match against Barcelona was extremely well supported. This will be the team’s first visit to Denver and we are excited to meet our fans in this city for the first time."

Liverpool's summer excursion to the US will be the second of Rodgers' Anfield career, with Olympiakos first up in Group B at Soldier Field Stadium on July 27.

The Reds then face Pellegrini's City side at Yankee Stadium on July 30, before taking on AC Milan at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on August 2.

City face Milan on July 27 at Heinz Field before the clash against Liverpool and finish up against the Greeks on August 2 at Bank of America Stadium.

"City have always enjoyed terrific support across the five boroughs having visited the states many times," City captain Vincent Kompany said.

"The passion of our New York fans was clear for all to see when we played at Yankee Stadium last year."

Just how far can Real Madrid go?

By: Alex Marrow

It has been a rather good week for Real Madrid. They now lead La Liga by three points, following rare slip-ups from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on the weekend. Their path to the Champions League quarter-finals is all but ensured, following an emphatic 6-1 rout in Gelsenkirchen against Schalke 04. And on top of that, the talismanic Crisitano Ronaldo has returned to the side following suspension in the same, blistering form that he has been showing all season.

But the question is this. How much can Madrid achieve this season? Their advantage in the league is slight, but their remaining matches against Barcelona and Atletico will be crucial in determining who is crowned champions. If Madrid can negotiate those two fixtures and the Copa del Rey final against their fierce rivals, then a treble is definitely on the cards.

The hardest task, as ever, is winning Europe’s elite competition, something that has eluded the Spanish giants for 12 years. Back then, the Galacticos of Zidane, Figo and Roberto Carlos helped Madrid to their ninth European triumph. Now it falls on the shoulders of their new collection of Galacticos: Ronaldo, Bale and Modric to name but a few. Fortunately for Madrid fans, the team has been playing some breathtaking football, scoring marvellous goals and exciting fans all over the world. The players work hard for each other, oozing confidence and really seeming to enjoy playing with one another.

To win the Champions League you need strength in depth and belief. Real Madrid has these features in abundance. Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso have performed brilliantly for a number of seasons, giving great stability to the spine of the team. And it is a testament to the depth of their squad that Iker Casillas, one of the greatest goalkeeper of all time, has been struggling to cement a place in the first team. But Ronaldo is the man that could decide it all. His talent and phenomenal record this season could propel Madrid to the European triumph that they so desperately crave.

It is a very big task, but this could finally be the year that Madrid end their European drought. And after a performance like last night’s, it would be a brave man who bets against them doing just that.

Messi vomiting not normal admits Barca boss

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has voiced his concern for star player Lionel Messi after the Argentine was seen vomiting during his country's goalless draw with Romania on Wednesday.

Messi was also sick on the pitch recently in Barca's 3-1 defeat at Real Sociedad and Martino admitted the player has visited specialists to try and resolve the problem.

"It is not a normal situation, but there is no alarm. He has been to see specialists but as yet they haven't found a solution.

"The important thing is that it doesn't affect him from doing his job. It is something that he has had for a while now."

Messi was just one of a number of Barca players away on international duty in midweek with Brazilian duo Neymar and Dani Alves only returning to training on Friday having represented their country against South Africa in Johannesburg.

And Martino lamented having such little time to prepare for the Catalans visit to relegation threatened Valladolid on Saturday.

Barca currently trail leaders Real Madrid by a point, but can take top spot for 24 hours with a win as Madrid are not in action until Levante visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

"It has been a short week. The majority of the players arrived back on Thursday and some not even till Friday.

"We have only been able to speak about the game for one day, but that should not be an excuse. We need to concentrate, play well and win.

"The game worries me because of what it means for our opponents. They are fighting in the bottom part of the table, but they have only lost two games at home. They are very strong at home."

Martino hinted that Neymar is likely to rested from the start having completed the 90 minutes against South Africa and with Tuesday's Champions League last 16, second leg against Manchester City in mind.

Gerard Pique is included in the squad for the first time in three games, though, as he has overcome a calf problem.

Sheff Wed V Macclesfield live Stream FA Cup third round- Preview 14th Jan 2014

Match Preview: On Tuesday, 14 January 2014,There Is One of the important match Sheff Wed V Macclesfield of FA Cup third round Live High Quality Streaming, Sheff Wed V Macclesfieldstreaming is available here Sheff Wed V Macclesfield Live Stream online video FA Cup third round Video Free The match will take plcae at Hillsborough 1/14/14 Preview Pictures and Wallpapers its mean all things are available in my blog please see and check here for latest things.Preview Pictures and Wallpapers its mean all things are available in my blog please see and check here for latest things Sheff Wed V Macclesfield   Live Stream, Sheff Wed V Macclesfield  live streaming TV Coverage / Live Streaming, Sheff Wed V Macclesfield  online free, Sheff Wed V Macclesfield Live High Quality Streaming video,Sheff Wed V Macclesfield  at Hillsborough Tuesday, 14 January 2014, kick-off 19:45 (GMT). Sheffield Wednesday will be without strikers Caolan Lavery after Connor Wickham as both were unable to take part in the initial tie.
Caretaker Stuart Gray has confirmed Damian Martinez will start in goal.
Macclesfield Town manager John Askey should have a full squad to select from with no new injury concerns from the first leg at Moss Rose.
The Silkmen are unbeaten in five games, with the winners facing Rochdale at Spotland in the fourth round.

MATCH STATS
These sides drew 1-1 at Moss Rose on Saturday, 4 January.
Sheffield Wednesday have won the cup three times, though their last triumph was in 1935. More recently they were runners-up to Arsenal in 1993.
Macclesfield are looking to follow up on their best ever FA Cup run which they achieved last season when reaching the fourth round, beating Cardiff City in round three before bowing out to the eventual cup winners Wigan Athletic.  

Competition: FA Cup third round   
Match:  Sheff Wed V Macclesfield       
Date: Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Kickoff: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Hillsborough  

Z Alkmaar v Ajax Dutch Eredivisie live Stream Preview

Match Preview: Sunday,11 August,2013, One of the important match AZ Alkmaar v Ajax of  Dutch Eredivisie 11 August,2013 HD Quality Live AZ Alkmaar v Ajax  streaming is available here.AZ Alkmaar v Ajax Live Stream online Dutch Eredivisie 11 August,2013 Video Free The match will take  Preview Pictures and Wallpapers its mean all things are available in my blog please see and check here for latest things.AZ Alkmaar v Ajax Live Stream AZ Alkmaar v Ajax ,AZ Alkmaar v Ajax  online free, AZ Alkmaar v Ajax live stream video

AZ Alkmaar welcome AFC Ajax, Eredivisie champs three years running, to the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar this Sunday. After a 4-2 defeat the previous week AZ will be looking to limit their opponents shot attempts and possibly not lose possession so much. Ajax on the other hand… well, they’ll want more of the same please.

Although the season is only in its second week we may already know what to expect from these two clubs. With Ajax not yet losing any of the big names that were discussed this summer they can only continue on the same path. Of their 747 passes last week, 87% (655) were short passes, at an average unbroken pass streak of 7. Admittedly this was against a weaker opponent than AZ. Yet the fact that they were only dispossessed 5 times boggles the mind. Meanwhile AZ faced a club that isn’t nearly as proficient in close quarters and rely more on crosses than Ajax do. Combine that with the unfamiliarity of AZ’s new center back pairing and the Amsterdam squad could run riot on Sunday.

Something else that could be very significant, AZ’s forwards and midfield only made 2 interceptions in their previous match against Heerenveen. They relied on their defense to stop the Super Frisian’s attack. Allow Ajax’s forwards to roam free into the final third of the pitch like that and the only logical result will be goals.

Alkmaar did find some positives within last weeks 4-2 loss. American forward Aron Jóhannsson has scored a goal and assisted on another. Couple that with the goal he scored against Ajax two weeks ago in the Super Cup and he looks the real deal. The other bright spot for AZ has been twenty one year old midfielder Nemanja Gudelj. Joining from NAC Breda in July he has slotted right into a starting position. He was the only non-defender that attempted more than 30 passes and finished with an 82% success rate.

Luckily there are no key injuries being reported for either squad, this will allow us to see the two clubs as they are meant to be this year.