FC Barcelona continued their unbeaten streak at the Camp Nou with a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad. Barça were already finding it tough with some of their players out with injuries but the cold weather was an additional factor for the club to overcome. Guardiola resorted to starting some Barça B players to compensate for the players absent from injuries or being rested for the upcoming Copa Del Rey tie. Coincidentally, it was one of the Barça B players who opened the scoring when Tello scored in the 9th minute. Barça doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Messi managed to score over the keeper from close range. However, Sociedad made this a close nervy game when they scored just minutes after Messi’s goal. Barça though managed to hang on for the victory but did lose another player to an injury. Busquets came in the second half but lasted only seven minutes before having to be stretchered off the pitch with a leg injury. Barça’s victory meant that the gap between them and Real Madrid was still seven points but they will have to switch their focus to Wednesday’s second leg of the Copa Del Rey Semi-Finals against Valencia.

FC Barcelona battled Valencia to a 1-1 draw away at the Mestalla in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey Semi-Finals. Both goals came in the first half with Valencia’s Jonas putting his side ahead in the 26th minute. Fortunately, Barça responded back in the 34th minute with Puyol scoring in consecutive away Copa matches. Just like he did against Real Madrid, Puyol scored a header goal during a corner kick to level the game at 1-1. The first half did have its share of controversy when replays showed that Pinto did handle the ball outside the box in the 18th minute and was fortunate not to have been sent off. Barça had more chances in the second half with Alexis seeing a goal ruled out for offside and with Dani Alves striking the far post. However, Barça had a golden opportunity to go up a goal when they were awarded a penalty after Migueli brought down Thiago inside the box. Messi stepped up to convert from the spot but saw his effort saved by the keeper. Replays showed that the keeper was off the line but the referee did not spot it and no re-kick was awarded. Thus, the first leg ended with Barça holding a one goal aggregate advantage heading to next Wednesday’s second leg. Up next for Barça is a home game against the team that caused them to drop their first points of the season, Real Sociedad.

Barça failed to score away to Villarreal despite a hard working display from the team in a hard fought game. Barça were the team with the better chances  with Cesc coming close twice  with one shot striking the woodwork in the 78th minute and then squandering a shot on an empty goal four minutes from time. This disappointing result means that Barça now find themselves seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who had earlier beaten Real Zaragoza 3-1. Next up for Barça is the first leg of the Copa Del Rey Semi-Finals away against Valencia on Wednesday.

Another Clásico came and went and once again, we got to encounter another controversy regarding Mourinho’s Real Madrid. Everyone saw Pepe’s intentional act of stepping on Messi’s hand and although no swift action was taken, it was expected that the RFEF would use video evidence to go after Pepe. Unfortunately, RFEF failed to punish Pepe and he was back in the starting lineup. This was just another example of how the RFEF have double standards and quite frankly it is getting to be pathetic.