When Catalonia went to the polls eight weeks ago there was a sense among Barcelona fans that this was a defining moment for their club as well as the country.

Barcelona's Spanish league game against Las Palmas was played without fans at the Camp Nou Stadium amid the controversial referendum on Catalonia's independence.

Barcelona’s reaction to the news that it had been banned from making transfers by Fifa has shown yet again that the Camp Nou club’s directors operate at a level well below that of its football team.

The images of a heaving Celtic Park on Wednesday night as coach Neil Lennon, players and 60,000 fans celebrated the famous Champions League over Barcelona on the club’s 125th anniversary night will long be remembered, but one of the week’s most striking photos was that of Barca stars Xavi Hernández, Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta posing with Celtic’s 125-year anniversary kit.

BARCELONA vice-president Carles Vilarrubi has added to the criticism of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho following Wednesday night’s controversial end to the second leg of the Spanish Supercopa.