Barca dilema: one spot for four players

FC Barcelona are facing a real dilema with the new season kicking off for the Catalan giants this evening at the Nou Camp against Levante. The club has four players for one spot up front with top guns Neymar and Messi.

The wingman will be either Alexis, Cesc, Pedro or Tello, and the four are having to go head to head in order to get the coveted spot up front. More on Barca’s dilema

Alexis Sánchez lays down gauntlet to Pedro for first team place

Alexis Sánchez has well and truly laid down the gauntlet to Pedro for a place in Barca’s starting lineup. After proving himself in the final stretch of last season, except for the tie against Bayern, the Chilean’s season is continuing where it left off.

Martino has two irreplaceable players up front in the shape of Messi and Neymar and Alexis could be joining them. More on Alexis Sanchez

Barca to face 5 games and 1 title over 2 weeks

The pre-season is over for the Catalan giants and the real deal begins this weekend. Although it’s a relatively easy game against Levante, Barca cannot afford any slip ups in the start to their new season.

After Sunday’s opener, the club face 15 days of tough games with the two legs of the Super Cup sandwiched between clashes against Malaga and Valencia. More on Barca’s start to the season

Jonathan Dos Santos would have left Barca under Vilanova

Jonathan Dos Santos acknowledged today in a press conference something that a lot of people knew about but hadn’t heard it officially from the player.

Barca’s Mexican midfielder admitted that if Tito Vilanova was still at the Catalan giants, he would have been leaving the club as a deal with Real Sociedad was almost struck. More on Jonathan Dos Santos

Carles Puyol back in training with good vibes

Barca captain Carles Puyol trotted out onto the grass at the club’s training ground and came away from a session with a smile on his face. He’s back training and feeling good and his reappearance is penciled in for the weekend of 14th and 15th September when Barca face Sevilla at the Nou Camp. Carles Puyol back in training

Bild say Barca have rekindled interest in Bayern’s Luiz Gustavo

According to German newspaper Bild, FC Barcelona have renewed their interest in the versatile midfielder, who was once touted to replace Seydou Keita who left the Catalan giants for China last year. The versatile midfielder is in Basel along with Alves and Neymar for the friendly between Switzerland and Brazil tonight at 20:45 GMT+1. More on Luiz Gustavo

Tottenham targeting Barca’s Marc Bartra

The young centre-back featured sparingly for FC Barcelona last season, despite a defensive crisis which saw numerous players used in the Catalan giants defense. According to several sources and most notably Goal.com, Tottenham Hotspur are considering the services of the 22 year old centre back. With all eyes on Gareth Bale’s movements and that of Vertonghen too, Batra could well end up in North London for a year. More on Marc Bartra and Tottenham

Advantage Alexis: Sánchez looks certain to be in first eleven

With the new season ready to get under on Saturday it seems that Tata Martino has found his first eleven. With three possible players pushing for the same position up front with Messi and Neymar, it seems that Alexis Sánchez has the edge to make the first eleven on Saturday against Levante at the Nou Camp. More on Alexis Sánchez