The LFP have given the kick off times for next weekend's games and our home game with Almeria has been set for Saturday 25th at 10pm local time. Last season we also played Almeria at the end of October and won the game 2-0 with goals from Thierry Henry and Leo Messi (click here for full report).

It seems we are going to play a lot of Saturday night football this season. Take advantage of this weekend's Sunday game by asking out that nice girl or boy you fancy for Saturday night!

As is so often the case we get a player back injured after an international break. This time it is Eidur Gudjohnsen who will miss the games with Athletic Bilbao and Basel due to a muscle injury in his left leg. On the positive side Alexandr Hleb is fit to return to action after being out injured since September 13.

There was a supposed leak in one of the papers this morning which gave the provisional list of the 30 finalists for this year's Ballon d'or. There was a place of course for Leo Messi, and Xavi and Puyol were two of a handful of players from the Spanish team that lifted the Eurocopa at the end of June. However, there was no place for Andres Iniesta who I'm sure most readers here believe merits a place.

Tonight in Belgium, Iniesta scored Spain's equalizer in a game Spain won 1-2 with a late goal from David Villa. Iniesta's goal is pure class; it proves what a cool head the young man has, and hopefully we will see many more like it in the future. Iniesta was...

There were six Barça players on international duty yesterday and the star of the night was Thierry Henry who scored twice in France's 3-1 win in a friendly against Tunisia. Tunisia took the lead after 30 minutes but France hit back with goals from Henry in minutes 40 and 49. Karim Benzema scored France's third just before the hour. Henry played 83 minutes before being substituted by Malouda. Eric Abidal played the full 90 minutes in central defence.

Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets and Bojan Krkic were all in action for Spain's under-21 team who beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to qualify for the under-21s European Championship. Piqué and Bojan played the entire...

Not a bad night for the Barça players as Puyol, Busquets, Messi and Keita all scored to add to the two goals scored by Samuel Eto'o earlier in the day (see previous post). Spain won 0-3 in Estonia with good performances from Xavi, Iniesta and Puyol who scored Spain's third goal (Click here to see). There was not such good fortune for Pique, Bojan and Busquets playing for Spain's under-21 team who lost 2-1 away to Switzerland though Busquets did score Spain's goal.

Leo Messi followed up his headed goal against Sporting Gijon by nodding in Argentina's first goal after five minutes in the 2-1 win against Uruguay...

Up to 17 Barça players are on international duty this weekend and things have started well with big wins for Samuel Eto'o's Cameroon and Toure Yaya's Ivory Coast. Eto'o scored the first two goals in Cameroon's 5-0 win at home to Mauritius, the first goal came in the 26th minute while the second was from a penalty at the start of the second half. Toure played all 90 minutes in Ivory Coast's 3-0 victory over Madagascar. Both Cameroon and Ivory Coast have now qualified for the following stage in the qualifying stage for the 2010 World Cup. Also on international duty was our 17-year-old promise Gai Assulin who played for Israel's under-21 in this afternoon's 0-0 draw away to Italy.

Ok, not much to do with Barça except for one clip, this will at least make you feel better if you have ever missed an open goal - Click here

The draw for the last 32 of the Copa del Rey was made today and Barça have been paired with Benidorm CD. The first game will be played on October 29th with the return at Camp Nou on November 12th. The date could vary a day either way depending on the TV companies.

Barça last played Benidorm in the 1998/99 Copa del Rey winning 3-0 at home and 0-1 away. Benidorm play in Group III of the Segunda Division B and are currently third from bottom with 6 points from 7 games.

Here is the full draw: 

Poli Ejido - Villarreal
Real Unión - Real Madrid
Benidorm - Barcelona
Orihuela - Atlético
Portugalete - Valencia
Ponferradina - Sevilla
Elche...

The LFP have announced next week's kick off times a day early this week. Barça's away game at Athletic Bilbao will take place on Sunday 19th October with the kick off time set for 7pm local time. The Madrid derby between Atletico and Real Madrid will be played on the Saturday at 8pm. A good week to go three points above our biggest rival.

Bad news for Pedro Rodriguez who was injured yesterday training with Spain's under-21 team. Tests today showed a torn muscle in his right thigh and the estimated time for recovery is four weeks. Let's hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.