Ernesto Valverde

Manager says ‘there is optimism from winning’ as 4-0 victory sees them rise to third in La Liga

Barca are top of La Liga and into the Champions League last 16, while they begin their tilt at the Copa del Rey

55-year-old Spanish manager is the first coach the club has sacked mid-season since Louis van Gaal in 2003

Former captain could yet resume negotiations in the coming days or in the summer once the current campaign is finished

Spanish media had earlier reported that the Catalans had asked former captain to take over from the Ernesto Valverde

Real's Karim Benzema has nine goals in his last eight games while Barca’s Lionel Messi has scored 14 in 12

Winner will pull three ahead of the loser, with one round Liga matches left before the two-week winter break

Catalans play Dortmund at home next and will hope progress is secured before their final game against Inter Milan

Valverde predicted a physical game against a team that "does the most running in the whole Champions League"

Together, the pair scored 76 goals for Barcelona last season

The Spanish champions are in an unlikely eighth position after five Liga games on seven points

German keeper saved a penalty from captain Marco Reus and repeatedly frustrated the hosts as his own side struggled

Transfer window closes in France, Spain and Italy on September 2, meaning time is running out for a deal to be done

Coutinho has traveled to the US but wasn't in the squad having been granted extra time off following his Copa campaign

The Frenchmen, who signed from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid earlier this month

Catalan’s disappointing end to the season took another turn for the worse as they were beaten 2-1 in Seville

The defeat against Liverpool has left the manager’s future in doubt but he insists he wants to continue

32-year-old insisted the coach Valverde should not face criticism for another European meltdown

Catalans were blown away at Anfield as Liverpool won 4-0 to overturn a three-goal first-leg defeat

Messi stood on the pitch at the start of the season and pledged to bring that "beautiful cup back to Camp Nou"

Only a matter of time before Messi’s side is crowned Spanish champions for a 26th time

Man United have now failed to score and have lost in four of their last six home Champions League games

Five-times Ballon d’Or winner has scored more than 50 goals for eight of the last nine years

Spanish midfielder is expected to move to China at end of season

Catalans rip apart Olympiakos on night of personal landmark for their new manager

Former Athletic Bilbao manager signs two-year deal with Catalan giants