But Barca failed to fire before Gerard Pique's shot set up a frantic finale.
These are the players that have to fight, to play and to win for Barca.
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"Barca have no regrets over Beckham, " added Soriano, referring to the 32-year-old's decision to join Real.
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Then Jordi Alba pops up at the back post to score and Barca wins 2-1.
Barca is a possession based team, with great passers, change of offensive direction, high and midfield pressure.
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Conceivably, Real and Barca might become forced sellers, releasing a flood of talent into the European market.
But Barca pulled two goals back before half-time, Ronaldinho scoring from the spot after Paolo Ferreira handled.
Barca also finished top of their European Champions League group, suffering just one defeat in six matches.
He becomes the fourth Dutch coach at Barca following Johan Cruyff, Louis van Gaal and Rinus Michels.
Shakhtar had threatened early on when Douglas Costa and Jadson tested Victor Valdes, but Barca were always superior.
Barca hope to have Messi back for that match, as his injury is not as bad as feared.
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The 25-year-old recently signed a new contract with Barca which will keep him in Catalunya until June 2018.
But with Eto'o, 28, only having one year left on his current deal, Barca were willing to sell.
He also inked a contract extension with Barca last month that will keep him in Spain through 2018.
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Barca went 31 games undefeated, one short of Real Sociedad's record, with 16 successive victories from round seven.
It was the ideal riposte to the early United dominance and Barca were suddenly playing with their usual swagger.
Olympic spain only has 3 or 4 barca players and alba is new.
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Ugly as it was, it means Barca can equal Real's tally of 100 points by winning the last three games.
Barca's 2-0 victory over Manchester United in Rome handed the 28-year-old Cameroonian the second Champions League medal of his career.
Since taking charge of Barca, Vilanova has won 23 of his 27 matches in all competitions, suffering just two defeats.
"After negotiations with Barca, we have come to the conclusion we must take care of Messi, " said an AFA spokesman.
Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes picked up an injury in the match which will see him sit out training on Thursday.
Barca president Sandro Rosell said last weekend he hoped Vilanova would be fit to return to work in two-to-three weeks.
Mourinho found another solution, beat everyone else worse and outlast Barca. the question can that tactic work twice in a row.
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The Tannadice fixture comes 20 years after United beat Barca on their way to the final of the 1987 Uefa Cup.
Barca's winner came with 10 minutes to play, and was equally unrepresentative of the elegant play usually associated with the club.
While Bayern face Barca on Tuesday, Dortmund play Real Madrid -- the record nine-time winner in the competition -- on Wednesday.
However, Barca were rampant and Seydou Keita hit an unstoppable fourth before Xavi tapped in late on to wrap it up.
Barca's success was also a personal triumph for rookie boss Guardiola, who insisted that he should not appear in the movie.
Guardiola won La Liga, the Spanish Cup and the European Champions League in his first season as Barca manager in 2008-09.
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