Xavi: No-one is playing better than Barcelona

Barcelona playmaker Xavi believes the Liga champions are currently performing better than any of their rivals.

The Catalan giants top the Spanish top-flight standings, having won all but one of their domestic games this season.

Barca are also guaranteed of a spot in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with 10 points from their first four Group H fixtures.

Despite this, they have been accused of lacking fluidity under new coach Gerardo Martino and, although he accepts his side can still improve, Xavi believes Barca are still outperforming all of their competitors.

Puyol nears Barcelona comeback

The Catalans' skipper is still some distance from reaching full match fitness, but is delighted to have returned to the training pitch.

Carles Puyol has moved a step closer to making his Barcelona return after resuming training following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The experienced defender, 35, was limited to just 22 games in the 2012-13 campaign due to a string of injuries and went under the knife in June in an attempt to rid him of a persistent knee problem.

Chelsea turn down £35m Barca bid for David Luiz

Barcelona submitted their formal bid for the Brazilian yesterday, much to the annoyance of Blues manager Jose Mourinho, who insists that the player is not for sale.

The Catalan club have made a new central defender their priority this summer and are likely to return with further bids. They have missed out on Thiago Silva, who has signed a new contract at Paris St- Germain, and are determined to land a top target.

Luiz is happy in London and signed a five-year contract only a year ago, but the temptation to play for Barca is also great. That does not look an option this summer, however, as Chelsea insist the 26-year-old is going nowhere.

Barcelona Attacker Set To Stay In Spain Despite Napoli And Inter Interest

After receiving serious attention from Serie A clubs Inter and Napoli, it appears likely that Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez will stay  with the Catalan giants for the upcoming season.

After reports linking the Chilean with a move to Napoli in recent days, a conflicting story out of Il Mundo Deportivo has reported that the 24 year-old is going to be a main feature in Gerardo Martino’s Barcelona side.

Martino has previously spoken highly of Sanchez, praising him in 2011 while he was the coach of the Paraguayan national team.