In 2009–10, Fútbol Club Barcelona started the new season with the prospect of becoming the first team to win six major competitions in one season. They will be contesting for the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Copa del Rey, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League. During the summer transfer window, the club swapped their top league goal scorer during the treble season, Samuel Eto'o to Italy's Internazionale in exchange for Zlatan Ibrahimović, along with €46 million, bringing the total to €69 million, which currently makes it second on the highest transfer fees in football history.
[edit] Overview
Over the summer of 2009, along with Ibrahimović, Barcelona reinforced their squad with the signings of Internazionale defender Maxwell, Brazilian club Palmeiras forward Keirrison (now on loan with Portuguese club Benfica), and Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy. Continuing its tradition of using canteranos on the first team, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola also promoted four players from the youth reserves, Jonathan Dos Santos, Jeffrén Suárez, Andreu Fontàs, and Marc Muniesa.[1] Barcelona player Henrique, previously on loan with German side Bayer Leverkusen, briefly rejoined the squad for the pre-season but was again loaned out, this time to Spanish side Racing Santander.
[edit] Off the field events
On 23 September, it was discovered by Catalan newspaper El Periódico of an investigation into the daily lives of four possible candidates for the Barcelona presidential election in 2010. The investigation was authorized by FC Barcelona’s director general Joan Oliver, who hired investigating company Metodo 3 to gather daily information on Vice President of Institution and Assets Administration Joan Franquesa, Vice President for Marketing and Media Jaume Ferrer, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Joan Boix, Vice President for Sport Rafael Yuste between late March and early April of 2009.[2] Oliver stated in a press conference the next day at the Camp Nou that "Barça did no spying but were just protecting the entity of the club."[3]
President Joan Laporta stated that "this happened five months ago. Certain events happened and when I found out about them, the corresponding explanations were given. These explanations were understood and accepted since no law was broken. He added that "it was understood that the reports that were asked for were within the limits of legality and were to protect the affected parties and the club. Therefore, the page was turned and the case was closed." Laporta also said that "we are better than we have ever been in our entire history in our methods of operation, and now, because they want to destabilise us, people drag up issues like these. We will continue the same way, because everyone does it as well. We are used to living under pressure and people trying to destabilise us… Barça is united and united we are unbeatable."
Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola stated that "he has shielded the squad from the scandal of the investigation" and that "the subject has not been spoken of in the locker room and even the captains have not mentioned it, there's total concentration."[4]
On 11 November, Vice-President Joan Franquesa handed in his resignation for "personal reasons". Continuing the turmoil in the Barcelona Board-Room.[5] President Joan Laporta took action by restructuring the board of directors and making Albert Perrín, the new Vice-President. Laporta stated "he was making changes for these individuals to get to know the best club better."[6]
[edit] Ballon d'Or
On 01 December, France Football Magazine announced that Lionel Messi was the winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or, thus making him the 9th player to win it while playing for Barcelona and the first Argentine & canterano from La Masia to win the coveted footballer prize.[7][8][9] Messi dedicated his triumph at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to "my family, who have always been by my side and my teammates at Barça who've done everything to ensure I could win the award". He also addressed his team-mates Xavi and Iniesta, who finished third and fourth respectively, "they've given everything for Barça and they deserve their recognition. If I'd had a vote I would have voted for any of the Barça players."[10]
[edit] Season friendly
On 06 November director general Joan Oliver confirmed that Barcelona will play a friendly in Kuwait on 21 December against Kuwaiti team Kazma Sporting Club at Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium. It will take place after the FIFA Club World Cup which is being hosted in the same region by the United Arab Emirates.[11]
[edit] Players
[edit] Squad information
Last updated: 30 October
Source: FCBarcelona.cat, Players in / out, Wikipedia players' articles, ESPN (for appearances and goals) and footballdatabase.com (for EU passport)
Ordered by Last season starting 11 and position on pitch (from back right to front left).
[edit] From youth system
[edit] Players in / out
Total spending: ▼ €92.5 million + Samuel Eto'o
Total income: ▲ €2 million |} Last updated: 1 September
[edit] Player statistics
[edit] Starting 11
4–3–3 Formation
[edit] Squad stats
Last updated: 09 December
Source: FCBarcelona.cat
Ordered by {{{o}}}
0 shown as blank
1 Other Competitions: Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
[edit] Disciplinary records
Last updated: 29 November
Source: Competitive matches
Only competitive matches
= Number of bookings; 
= Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.
[edit] Coaching staff
Last updated: 02 December
Source: FCBarcelona.cat
[edit] Competitions
[edit] Overall
As in nine out of the last ten seasons,[13] Barcelona is going to be present in all major competitions: La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey. The previous season's treble success means that Barcelona will also contest the FIFA Club World Cup, the European Super Cup and the Supercopa de España. The side will also be present in the Copa Catalunya, although this in the past, has been seen as a less important competition for the team, and a mix of the reserves and the youth squad is usually used.
Last updated: 21 October
Source: Competitions' Wikipedia articles.
[edit] Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away |
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 9 | +26 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | +15 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 4 | +11 |
Last updated: 06 December
Source: Competitive Matches
[edit] Results by round
| Round | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | D | W | D | W | W | | W | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Position | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Last updated: 06 December.
Source: Competitive Matches
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Lose; W = Win; P = Postponed.
[edit] UEFA Champions League
Group F
Last updated: 09 December
Source: UEFA Champions League
[edit] Competitive
[edit] La Liga
Kickoff times are in CET.
Group Stage
Round of 16
Round or 32
Round of 16
[edit] Pre-season
Last updated: 26 November
Source: FC Barcelona
1Barcelona goals come first.
National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different to that of Barcelona.
M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
