Important victory against Celta in the opener

FC Barcelona started their defence of the Spanish league title with a dramatic 3-2 vicotry Monday at hapless Celta Vigo. Their first game of the season was faced without Ronaldinho.

Indeed, the reigning Spanish champions needed a spectacular late volley from debutant Eidur Gudjohnsen to break the resistance of Celta de Vigo.

"It was a heart-stopping game," Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard admitted. "I think we just about deserved to win, but Celta made things really hard for us."

It's important to mention that the late win leaves Barca second in La Liga behind Getafe, who surprisingly won 2-0 Sunday at Osasuna.

A tight first half in Vigo saw few chances for either side. Five minutes before the break, Fernando Baiano opened the scoring for Celta after Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes had spilled a previous shot.

Then, Barca came out for the second half breathing fire and quickly turned the score around.

In a very good move, Samuel Etoo made it 1-1 with a shot from the left. It was the minute 55, and four minutes later Lionel Messi put Barca ahead from a similar position.

In the 65th minute, Gustavo Lopez made it 2-2 for Celta after the shaky Catalan defence failed to clear a free-kick.

However, Barca refused to settle for the draw and laid siege to the Celta goal, encouraged by the sending-off of local midfielder Jose Iriney.

The pressure paid off in the 86th minute, when Gudjohnsen - who had come on as a late sub - made it 3-2 with a powerful shot. It was a really good result in order to gain confidence.

Excellent victory over Espanyol to win Super Cup Title

The season is about to start but Barcelona already won an important title: they are the Spanish Super Cup Champions after defeating Espanyol 3-0 in the second-leg of the Final on Sunday.

It's important to mention that a goal from Xavi and a brace from Portuguese international Deco at Nou Camp gave Barcelona a 4-0 aggregate victory over the King's Cup winners.

It's also fair to say that Ronaldinho Gaucho's magic helped stun the visitors with an early opener.

The Brazilian talent bedazzled Espanyol defender Sergio Sanchez before sending an inch-perfect cross to Xavi who headed home the opener three minutes into the match.

And nine minutes FC Barcelona were up by two after some brilliant teamwork.

Brazilian defender Belletti raced down the right flank after connecting with a deft through pass from Xavi. The player cut back with a baseline pass to Deco who drilled home the second for Rijkaard's side.

Once again Deco connected with a Belletti cross to add Barcelona's third goal with a brilliant bicycle kick on the hour mark. It was the most spectacular moment of the encounter.

We must remember that this win gave Barcelona their second successive Super Cup title and seventh overall, matching the record of rivals Real Madrid. Good for them.

Barcelona tour in Mexico: 3-0 win over Tigres

In a very good game, Ronaldinho and Eidur Gudjohnsen both scored as FC Barcelona recorded a convincing 3-0 win over UNAM Tigres in Mexico for their second victory in the pre-season campaign.

We must keep in mind that a number of first team players have only trained for a few days, but the majority were given a run out as Barelona proved that they are as strong as ever. Coach Frank Rijkaard did use a number of youngsters as he fielded 22 players in the win. The Blaugrana's Mexican duo Rafael Márquez and Giovanni dos Santos were named in the starting line-up and were warmly applauded by the home supporters in a packed Estadio Universitario in Monterrey.

The Catalan team scored 6 minutes into the match following a free kick by Mexican Rafael Marquez, who plays for the Spanish team. Defender Marquez hit a soft ball past the Tigres' barrier into center of the crease where Balderas tried to clear the ball but kicked it into his own net.

And in a very good move, the second goal was scored with a free kick by Ronaldinho. At the 70th minute, the Brazilian sent the free kick over the Tigres' barrier and beyond the reach of the goalie into the net.

Ronaldinho Gaucho also assisted in Barcelona's 3rd goal at the minute 77. Indeed, he slipped a pass to Eidur Gujohnsen who put it past the Mexican goalie.

"This victory is positive because we won and managed to get almost all our players in the game," Frank Rijkaard expressed in the end of the game. "The Tigres had bad luck with their definition, but for us it was an interesting match and we had to work a bit."

Thuram joins Barcelona after Juventus scandal

The Italian scandal is over for him. French player Lilian Thuram has passed a medical and signed a two-year contract with Barcelona to enhance th soccer power of the European Champions.

"I am absolutely pleased. To play at this club is the best thing that could happen to a footballer," Thuram told the club's website.

According to unofficial sources, Barcelona have paid troubled Serie A club Juventus five million euros for the player.

We must keep in mind that Thuram has won a record 121 caps with France and announced his international retirement after losing in the World Cup final match to Italy earlier this month.

He was a key member of the French side that won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000, and we also know that Thuram can play in the centre of defence or at right back.

French Monaco and italian Parma are some of his former clubs, and Thuram won four league titles with Juventus alongside defender Gianluca Zambrotta, who has also agreed a move to Barcelona from Turin.

Edmilson trains again

He is back. Brazilian player Edmilson said he felt no ill-effects on his return to training with Barcelona after a knee operation that caused him to miss the World Cup.

"I felt really good and did not notice any pain," the 30-year-old was quoted as saying in Barcelona sports daily publication on Tuesday.

We must remember that Edmilson pulled out of Brazil's World Cup squad after suffering a torn knee cartilage in his right knee when the team were preparing for the championship in Switzerland at the end of May. The midfielder was operated on in Brazil on June 1.

The talented player, who can also play in the centre of defence, joined Barca from Olympique Lyon in 2004 but missed much of his first season at the team after tearing the cruciate ligament in his right knee during a league encounter in October.

It's good to mention that the Spanish and European champions returned to training on Monday with striker Eidur Gudjohnsen joining his new team mates for the first time since his 12 million-euro ($15 million) move from english side Chelsea.

"I know I've come to a really good team where there are a lot of quality players," said the Icelandic international. "I know that I won't be playing every game, but I'm determined to win myself a place in the squad."

Giuly extends blaugrana deal

According to official sources, French footballer Ludovic Giuly will extend his contract with FC Barcelona until June 2008.

"Ludovic Giuly, who had a contract until 2007, will extend his deal with Barcelona for another season," the club announced. "The buy-out clause on his contract will remain at 60 million euros ($76.87 million)."

The midfielder, who was dismissed by French coach Domenech for the World Cup, will sign a new deal on Wednesday.

As we know, Giuly joined Barca from Monaco in 2004 after helping the Ligue 1 club reach the final of the Champions League. He has won two league titles with the Catalans and was part of the side that defeated Arsenal in the final of the Champions League in Paris.

Lampard will not be "Blaugrana"

Barcelona board has denied romours about Frank Lampard's move to Cataluña.

The England midfielder has been constantly linked with a move to the Camp Nou in recent months, yet the Catalans' president Joan Laporta has denied such a possibility.

"Lampard is a really good player, one I admire," Laporta is quoted as saying in The Sun. "But I can say that we definitely will not be signing him this season. Our central midfield is closed now."

In fact, Lampard has become a key member of Chelsea side since moving from West Ham United under the reign of Claudio Ranieri, and has constantly assured that he is more than happy at Stamford Bridge.