Thierry Henry this morning received medical clearance to play in Sunday’s big game at Camp Nou with Real Madrid. Henry hasn’t played since Barça’s 3-0 win over Recreativo on November 25, and it is unlikely that he will be named in the starting XI, but he will certainly be a useful substitute to bring on with 20 minutes remaining. After the injury to Leo Messi, Frank rijkaard will want as many attacking options as possible. Keep reading →

Barça go into Sunday’s clasico on an unbeaten run of seven games, having lost their last game on November 10th at Getafe. The performance at Getafe was quite awful and there were many suggestions that only a complete change in the management structure could save Barça, Jose Mourinho’s name was mentioned as the only one who could turn things around. Keep reading →

With Thanksgiving passed and the much-hyped ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’ now behind us, the average soccer fans of the world can start looking for the perfect stocking stufferrs for Christmas. Look no further than leading online licensed soccer apparel provider SoccerPro.com.

For everything from the latest releases of soccer shoes and cleats, including firm ground cleats, indoor soccer shoes, turf soccer shoes, and sandals, to the most recent versions of the kits of the popular European clubs, SoccerPro is the place to go online. Top brands such as Adidas, Puma, Nike, Diadora and more are available in not only footwear and apparel selections, but for custom soccer teamwear and women’s and youth soccer shoes as well.

And in the warm spirit of Christmas, let us not forget the oft-criticized soccer referees. SoccerPro has a littany of ref’s gear including soccer referee OSI jerseys, ref cleats, referee jerseys and a cool kit that comes complete with a whistle (you know how refs love to blow onto those things). For my book, the Diadora Referee TF cleat is the best in the business.

Hot Christmas sale items will assuredly include anything and everything from the lads at Manchester United. Manchester United jerseys, both home and away, are always a top draw for a club with fans worldwide. SoccerPro compliments their inventory of Man Utd items by offering up Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo wallbangers, as well as shorts, long sleeved Man U jerseys, and more.

So for the little soccer player in your family or the rabid 40-year-old fan of a club like Barcelona or Man U., remember to stop by SoccerPro to fill the space beneath the tree.

The good news today is that Thierry Henry is improving rapidly and may finally be fit in time for El Clasico on Sunday. Henry began this morning’s training session doing his own special preparation, but he joined in with his teammates at the end of the session for a mini-match of half an hour. Henry could receive medicval clearance in the next day or two, in which case he could start Sunday’s game as a substitute and be used for 20/25 minutes in the second half. Keep reading →

Not a great deal of news today except the usual nonsense of who said what about the big game, so I thought I’d take a look at the opposition (or should I say enemy). Of course, some Culés will say that all Real Madrid players are rubbish and that Barça will win easily, but if Madrid won La Liga last season and currently sit four points above us, it must be for something. Keep reading →

Just a quick mention of this. As expected Leo Messi came second to Kaka in the Fifa World Player Award for 2007. Kaka received 1,047 votes, Messi 504 and Cristian Ronaldo was third with 426. Keep reading →

According to the Uefa webpage Frank Rijkaard has received a two-match ban for his sending off in Lyon - http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=512/newsid=639265.html?cid=rssfeed&att=uefa/index  Rijkaard already missed one match against Stuttgart so this means he will miss the first leg of the last 16 tie in February. Barça will know their opponents for this on Friday when the draw is made. Keep reading →

With just six days to go before Sunday’s Clasico, the big question on every Barça fan’s mind is who will fill in for Leo Messi. There is a small chance that Thierry Henry will be declared fit in time, but Barça are unlikely to take any risks with Henry as they want him at 100% in January when Samuel Eto’o is away at the African Nations Cup. Keep reading →

Having rushed my report I need to share a few more thoughts on yesterday’s victory. Firstly, Messi’s injury has been confirmed and he looks like being out for five weeks. This means that as well as the Madrid match he will probably miss three more league games: the visit to Mallorca and the home games with Murcia and Racing. Although he is obviously a big loss, I see no reason why Barça can’t win all these games. Keep reading →

Ex-Barcelona player Guillermo Amor is in a serious condition after suffering a car accident last night. Amor was returning from Valencia where he had been commenting on last night’s match when his car crashed at approximately 2.20am on the AP-7 motorway near Atmella del Mar. He was rushed to the Verge de la Cinta hospital in Tortosa where he underwent abdominal surgery at 5am. Amor, who is 40, also suffered thoracic trauma and a fractured pelvis, and though his life is not thought to be in danger he is being kept in the intensive care unit of the hospital. Keep reading →