http://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/FC_BarcelonaFind stories, videos, and photos about FC Barcelona from CNN.com.en-usCable News Network LP, LLLP.Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:46:58 GMT5http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/1.0/logo/cnn.logo.rss.gifhttp://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/FC_Barcelona14433Find stories, videos, and photos about FC Barcelona from CNN.com.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/world_soccer/08/27/spain.preview/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/world_soccer/08/27/spain.preview/index.htmlEven the proudest of Spaniards had to accept defeat; even the most enthusiastic La Liga cheerleaders were forced to pack away their pompoms. The warm glow of the European Championship success still endured -- but the national team was one thing, the nation's teams quite another. The lineup for the 2008-09 Champions League semifinals brought Spain crashing back down to earth.Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:02:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/08/25/ibrahimovic.qa/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/08/25/ibrahimovic.qa/index.htmlIt's decided: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's new nickname is "Elite Status."Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:05:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gregory_sica/07/01/libertadores.stars/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gregory_sica/07/01/libertadores.stars/index.htmlThe 50th edition of South America's Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, is set for a thrilling climax, with the return legs of both semifinals scheduled for this week. With Nacional of Uruguay taking on Argentina's Estudiantes de La Plata and an all-Brazilian affair of Grêmio up against Cruzeiro, fans will be treated to two matches embroidered with history and still wide open after the first-leg results. Between them, the four semifinalists have won the competition 10 times (Cruzeiro was the last, 12 years ago).Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:34:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/world_soccer/06/02/transfer.market/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/world_soccer/06/02/transfer.market/index.htmlThe summer transfer market is a few weeks away from opening and already the signs are that the global financial crisis is forcing clubs to rethink their annual spending.Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:46:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gabriele_marcotti/05/28/championsleague/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gabriele_marcotti/05/28/championsleague/index.htmlROME -- The Eternal City was the most appropriate of backdrops for what we witnessed on Wednesday. It was supposed to be a case of the true believers: Barcelona and its quasi-fundamentalist, possession-oriented credo thrown to the lions of Manchester United's top-to-bottom combination of strength, athleticism and quality. It was dogmatism versus pragmatism.Thu, 28 May 2009 22:04:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/05/27/champions.league/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/05/27/champions.league/index.htmlBarcelona vs. Manchester United: Chime with your thoughts on the Champions League final hereWed, 27 May 2009 22:38:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gabriele_marcotti/05/27/cl.mag/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gabriele_marcotti/05/27/cl.mag/index.htmlOne is the kind of athlete you might design in a lab: tall, lean and muscular, with a seemingly inexhaustible arsenal of skills. The other is a throwback, a scrappy little player whose abilities are more difficult to pin down because they border on the metaphysical. At 6'1" and 172 pounds, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's Magic Johnson: a big man with skills usually associated with smaller players. At 5'7" and 148 pounds, Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks more like somebody's kid brother and plays like Pete Maravich, with an otherworldly touch that allows him to do the unthinkable with the ball.Wed, 27 May 2009 15:31:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gabriele_marcotti/05/26/champs.final/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gabriele_marcotti/05/26/champs.final/index.htmlSI.com's Gabriele Marcotti breaks down Wednesday's Champions League final matchup between Manchester United and FC Barcelona (ESPN, 2:30 p.m. ET).Tue, 26 May 2009 17:24:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/greg_lalas/05/25/champions.final/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/greg_lalas/05/25/champions.final/index.htmlIt's safe to say Wednesday's Champions League final is the most anticipated title match since UEFA created the platinum edition of Europe's top tournament. From Rome to Rochester to Rangoon, everyone with even a modicum of soccer in his blood is planning on watching the game live, regardless if that requires skipping an important sales call at work or losing a few hours of sleep.Tue, 26 May 2009 14:25:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/world_soccer/03/18/spain.race/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/world_soccer/03/18/spain.race/index.htmlIf a week is a long time in politics, it can be forever in soccer. Seven days was all it took to completely change attitudes on both sides of Spain's great divide and reopen a title race that appeared all over.Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:39:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gregory_sica/01/14/messi.barca/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gregory_sica/01/14/messi.barca/index.htmlAfter a couple of years with nothing to show, FC Barcelona has finally been transformed into the most feared club in Europe. The Catalan giants have been nothing short of extraordinary this season, and if their magnificent form continues, they could be on track for a rare triple.Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:40:00 ESThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/gabriele_marcotti/12/18/euro.clubs/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/gabriele_marcotti/12/18/euro.clubs/index.htmlWith the European seasons just about at the halfway mark, there seems to be one overriding theme. Every one of the big boys (except Barcelona) is generally stinking it up. Some more so, some less so, admittedly.Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:14:00 ESThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/luis_bueno/12/12/barcelona.miami/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/luis_bueno/12/12/barcelona.miami/index.htmlOn Saturday, Barcelona and Real Madrid will renew their bitter rivalry in a match that, as usual, has captivated the world's attention. Poor form, league standings or injuries can't take any interest away from the game.Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:09:00 ESThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/gabriele_marcotti/11/06/barcelona/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/gabriele_marcotti/11/06/barcelona/index.htmlA few years ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with Pep Guardiola. At 33, he had chosen to end his career in Qatar largely because, as he saw it, the modern game had no room for a guy like him.Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:02:00 ESThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/world_soccer/09/22/spain.etoo/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/world_soccer/09/22/spain.etoo/index.htmlRonaldinho swapped Camp Nou for San Siro, roared on by 30,000 delirious AC Milan fans as he performed tricks, flicks and that trademark thumb-and-little-finger waggle, dripping with bling.Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:20:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/soccer_america/06/03/us.spain/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/soccer_america/06/03/us.spain/index.htmlAfter a lackluster 2-1 win over Peru last Saturday, Spanish national-team coach Luis Aragonés is likely to make several changes when his troops face the U.S. in their final pre-European Championship warm-up on Wednesday in Santander (live on espn360.com at 4 p.m. ET; on delay on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m.).Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:34:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jonah_freedman/05/19/puyol/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jonah_freedman/05/19/puyol/index.htmlBARCELONA, Spain -- I never thought I'd travel 6,000 miles to talk MLS with Carles Puyol. But that's exactly what happened last week, purely through coincidence.Tue, 20 May 2008 00:37:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jonah_freedman/05/08/madrid.barcelona/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jonah_freedman/05/08/madrid.barcelona/index.htmlI've lost count of how many times I've heard friends and family whine to me about how foreign a sport soccer is. It's futile to get defensive because they're wrong and right at the same time.Mon, 19 May 2008 16:12:00 EDThttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/world_soccer/04/16/real.madrid/index.htmlhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/world_soccer/04/16/real.madrid/index.htmlReal Madrid's antiquated private jet, La Saeta, will remain grounded at Barajas airport. Not, as the Catalan media gleefully pointed out, because it breaks noise pollution laws and is prohibited from flying over Germany to get to Moscow, but because Real Madrid won't be traveling to the Russian capital at all.Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:43:00 EDT