FC Barcelona adds 33 games unbeaten

While, Lionel Messi's second goal against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 was important for history of the club.

FC Barcelona took a giant step towards the Champions League quarter-finals in London. On top of that, the 2-0 victory at the Emirates put the Catalans on the brink of equalling the longest unbeaten streak in Spanish football history, which Luis Enrique's men can draw level with this weekend.

Dutch coach Beenhakker's Real Madrid side of the 1988-89 season, with the famous ‘Quinta del Buitre’ at their heart, went 34 consecutive competitive fixtures undefeated. Following their win over Arsenal, FC Barcelona are just one away on 33. The Catalans will have the opportunity to match this historic mark at home to Sevilla on Sunday.

Although they have yet to reach Real Madrid's tally, the breakdown of Barcelona's run already makes for more impressive reading than the sequence of results put together by Beenhakker's side. Luis Enrique's charges have chalked up 27 wins and six draws in 33 games, while that Real Madrid team managed 25 victories and nine draws in 34.

On the other hand, Lionel Messi's second goal against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 was important for his club's current European aims, but also because it was in fact the 10,000th goal that the Catalan giants have scored in competitive games since their very beginnings.

These 10,000 strikes have been garnered from 4,375 matches, making for an average of 2.28 goals per game. This is a record that kicked off back in 1901 with the Copa Macaya.

Since then, the Catalan club has managed to win 126 trophies. The first was the aforementioned Copa Macaya (1901-02) and the last the Club World Cup that was captured in Japan upon beating River Plate in the final.

With 440 goals under his belt, Leo Messi is the greatest goalscorer that 'Los Azulgranas' have ever had, way ahead of the likes of César Rodríguez (232), Ladislao Kubala (194), Josep Samitier (184), Josep Escolà (167) and Paulino Alcántara (143).

FC Barcelona scouts are looking another player

The FC Barcelona is looking for new players to strengthen their squad.

FC Barcelona scouts went to watch AC Milan beat Genoa 2-1 according to Sky Sports. The rumours suggest they were there to watch young goalkeeper Gianluigi Dounarumma, but the reality is they were there to keep an eye on Milan centre-back Alessio Romagnoli, one of the defenders with the highest potential in world football, and a target for many European clubs. 

Romagnoli is close to turning 22 years old, but has played at the top level for a while and is an Italian international. It's just a few days since there was speculation that Bayern Munich could make an offer for him, under instruction from soon-to-be coach Carlo Ancelotti. Romagnoli is on the list of candidates to reinforce FC Barcelona's central defence, which is an absolute priority for Luis Enrique. 

The Italian centre-back has a value of 25 million euros and the good relationship between the clubs could make the operation easier. FC Barcelona are also following other centre-backs, including Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, of Athletic Club and Everton respectively. In the coming weeks there will be a meeting to evaluate the options and take decisions.

On the other hand, Mesut Özil's future could very well turn out to be next summer's big transfer saga and FC Barcelona are shaping up to be one of the clubs in the running for the Germany international, having made tentative overtures to his agent. The playmaker is looking for a change of scenery, but Arsenal are very unlikely to bow down to any possible suitors.

Mesut Özil is having a tremendous season in North London, which has prompted the Gunners to offer one of their prized assets a contract extension. The ex-Real Madrid star penned a deal to remain at the Emirates until June 2018 and a two-year extension is currently on the table. However, Özil is not keen on committing his future to the Gunners, something that he's said to have made clear to the club.

In theory then, FC Barcelona have more than enough options in midfield, but the opportunity to sign a player like Özil simply isn't one that crops up every day. Barcelona are likely to face quite a struggle to secure the services of the man whom the British press have labelled "the assists-king" as several of Europe's heavyweights will be looking to improve the spines of their sides this summer.

Luis Enrique rotate his players to face Valencia

On the other hand, defender Dani Alves has no plans to leave FC Barcelona for now.

Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta will not travel to Valencia on Wednesday to take part in the Spanish Cup semi-final second leg at Mestalla. 

These four players, along with Leo Messi, who on Tuesday morning had a procedure to remove kidney stones, are some of the players Luis Enrique will rest for the game after the 7-0 win at Camp Nou in the first leg. 

Those five - along with any others who are eventually given a break - will head to the Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Joan Despi on Wednesday for a training session instead, with Sunday’s Liga BBVA match against Celta Vigo in sight. 

One of the main reasons is Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta are in danger of missing the Spanish Cup final. All of them are one booking away from a suspension. For that reason, all four will stay in Barcelona. 

On the other hand, Dani Alves has no intention of leaving FC Barcelona to follow the exodus to Chinese football. The Brazilian full-back has a contract with Barcelona until 2017 and has not considered leaving at any moment. 

Brazilian media have reported he has a huge offer on the table from a club who play in China - where players can still be signed at this time of the year, unlike in Europe. The reports detail a three-year deal which would be worth around 30 million euros. 

Sources close to Dani Alves have effectively confirmed the interest from the Far East, with contact being made with his agent, Dinorah Santana, a few weeks ago. 

The answer on Alves’ behalf, though, was clear. He only wants to focus on life at Camp Nou and is not ready to up sticks and move at this stage of the season. He wants the debate over his future, at the very least, to be parked until the summer. 

Since the initial contact, there has been no more news. Dinorah Santana has not kept contact with the representatives of the Chinese club and the topic is off the table for now.

FC Barcelona 7–0 Valencia

Four goals from Luis Suarez, three from Leo Messi and Barcelona are virtually in the final.

FC Barcelona are now in their first final of the season. The 7-0 win over Valencia FC at Camp Nou sentenced the Spanish Cup semi-final and the game at Mestalla next week will be a formality. This was a spectacle. On the pitch and in the stands, where they shouted “Cheryshev, we love you”. And the ovation the former Real Madrid player received when he came on to the pitch…

Luis Enrique’s side’s first half performance was almost perfect. And I say ‘almost’ because Neymar once again missed a penalty. But away from that error, the team shone. They scored three goals, two from Luis Suarez and one from Lionel Messi, and they could have gone into the break with an even bigger lead. 

This after three games of suffering more than necessary. They won against Malaga, Athletic and Atletico, but with more problems than they had planned for. Important wins, but wins which were a long way from Barcelona’s ‘style’.

With Sergio Busquets imperial, he would be a worthy occupant of the Ballon d’Or podium one day, and the trident in form, FC Barcelona deleted Valencia from the pitch. During some moments, the Blaugrana were playing their best football of the season. They were brutal in their execution and killed the two-legged tie off before the break. 

The second half will be remembered for Cheryshev’s entrance. His presence, when suspended, led to one of the most ridiculous situations in Madrid’s history when they were thrown out of the cup earlier this season. However, FC Barcelona’s play meant he was soon forgotten again. Suarez finished with four and Leo Messi with three. Simply brutal.

On the other hand, the Uruguayan Luis Suarez suggested FC Barcelona’s win over Valencia was possibly their best performance of the season.

The Uruguayan scored four in an emphatic 7-0 win, with Leo Messi also weighing in with a hat-trick. "It is one the best games we have played all season in every sense,” he said after the game to Movistar TV. 

“From the first minute to the last we showed a great attitude, we were good on the ball and we have a good advantage [in the tie].” Continuing, with FC Barcelona now firmly in the final, the 29-year-old said this is the exact reason he came to the Catalan club. He’s now onto 35 goals, too, which is certainly helping the club’s quest for titles. 

"I have been at FC Barcelona for a year-and-a-half and I came here to win titles,” he added.