Match Report: Saturday 09/09/2006 20:00 (GMT +2): La Primera Liga, Match Day 2
FC BARCELONA - CA OSASUNA 3:0 (3:0)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 65.000
Referee: Julián Rodríguez Santiago



Goals:
1-0 Eto´o (1´)

2-0 Eto´o (27´)
3-0 Messi (37´)


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Zambrotta (Oleguer 80´), Marquez, Thuram, Sylvinho - Edmilson, Xavi, Deco (Iniesta 61´) - Messi, Eto´o, Ronaldinho (Giuly 71´) - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


CA Osasuna (4-2-2): Ricardo - Flaño, Cuellar, Josetxo, Corrales - David López, Muñoz (Nekounam 55´), Puñal, Delporte (Héctor Font 69´) - Raúl García, Soldado (Valdo 79´) - Manager Jose Angel Ziganda


Match Report:

FC Barcelona crushed CA Osasuna 3-0 in Camp Nou yesterday night. Two goals from a leathal Samuel Eto'o (1´, 27´) and one from youngster Lionel Messi (37´) settled the score already before halftime and gave Barcelona an easy win. Osasuna was no match for the Champions at all and were swept aside by a rampant Barca side in true style. In this form Barca is definetely hunting a third consecutive Primera Liga title under coach Frank Rijkaard and will challenge for european glory again.


Barca dominated right from the kick-off in a one-sided first half. The pace and power of star striker Samuel Eto'o was phenomenal and paired with Ronaldinho´s magic as well as Messi´s technical skills, the match was already finished off before the half time whistle.


Barca coach Frank Rijkaard rested captain Carles Puyol and fielded Lilian Thuram at the center of the defence. The French international had a fantastic debut and also Xavi made his first start of the season having been left on the bench against Celta.


Barca got off to the perfect start. Samuel Eto'o opened the scoring just after 1 minute, finishing off a great team effort. Ronaldinho and Deco exchanged passes on the left and it was the Barazilian wizzard who presented the ball on a silver plate for Eto´o who finished from closed range.


In the 21st minute, Samuel Eto'o almost finished a fine move from Leo Messi but 6 minutes later Sammy scored his second goal of the evening. The "Pichichi" of last year, Eto´o, took his opportunity superbly after an error was forced by Deco. Eto´o was quickest to react and lobbed over Osasuna goalkeeper Ricardo, who was without chance.


Eto'o's work rate was phenomenal and in the 37th minute, he turned from goalscorer to provider, as he set up young Leo Messi, who coolly put the ball through Osasuna goalkeeper Ricardo´s legs, just to send the Camp Nou crowd into ecstasy. All 65,000 spectators rose up their seats with the half time whistle to give this extraodinary Barca team a standing ovation while the players walked off the pitch for their well deserved break.


The second half was a little lesson for Osasuna taught by FC Barcelona. With the game won, Barca kept Osasuna under total control but still created some magical football that delighted the home crowd. The best chance of the second half came in the 60th minute when wonderboy Messi played a fine one-two with Xavi before penetrating the penalty area. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ricardo came off the line to confront the Barca striker but Messi shot the ball past him only for the right post to deny him of a great goal.


Between the 61st and the 80th minute, coach Frank Rijkaard substituted some of his key players to rest them for the midweek Champions League encounter against Levski Sofia. Rijkaard brought on Iniesta (61´), Giuly (71´) and Oleguer (80´) for Deco, Ronaldinho and Zambrotta.


My Comment:
Barca´s display was great! Barca showed similar football, as seen on the pre-seasan tour in the US, in the two legs of the Spanish Super Cup against Espanyol and against Bayern Munich. It was football from a different star and extraodinary class.

I expected much more form Osasuna and I did not believe that it could be that easy. A comfortable win. Barca were dominating the match against an Osasuna team that was a pale shadow of the team of last season. Osasuna did not have one chance worth mentioning in the first half and spent most of the second period chasing the shadows of Ronnie & Co.
Barca delighted their fans again. It was a familiar Camp Nou show and Barca were rampant. Samuel Eto'o was in lethal form, Ronaldinho showed his unselfish magic, providing his companions several time with opportunities.


If the first half was all about Samuel Eto'o, the second was about new signing and veteran Lilian Thuram. The French centre-back was a rock at the heart of the defence and had a fantastic full-time dedut. I always mention the exciting, attacking style of Barca but Barca´s defence looks outstanding this season. Zambrotta and Marquez looked very solid and Sylvinho, especially in the first half, had some great runs on the left and showed great class. With such a performance, I can not see a team in La Liga so far, that could threaten Barca and stop them from winning the third Spanish championship title this year.

Eto´o was the star of the evening, Ronnie at his best, a defence solid as a rock and 3 points more towards winning another title.
What do we want more? ...ok, iI know, the Merengues to lose today!

What a wonderful day, today!

Visca el Barca!