Match Report: Sunday 15/10/2006 19:00 (GMT +2): La Liga, Match Day 6
FC BARCELONA - FC SEVILLA 3:1 (2:1)
Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 92.000
Referee: César Muniz Fernández
Goals:
1-0 Ronaldinho, pen. 25´
1-1 Kanoute 36´
2-1 Ronaldinho 38´
3-1 Messi 81´
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Belletti (Zambrotta 29´), Thuram, Márquez, Sylvinho - Iniesta, Xavi, Motta - Messi, Gudjohnsen (Saviola 82´), Ronaldinho (Giuly 74´) - Manager: Frank Rijkaard
FC Sevilla (4-4-2): Palop - Daniel Alves, Javi Navarro, Escude, Puerta (Dragutinovic 46´) - Navas, Poulsen, Renato (Kepa 85´), Adriano - Luis Fabiano (Martí 46´), Kanouté - Manager: Juande Ramos
Match Report:
Barça is sole leader on 16 points after a fantastic 3-1 win over close rivals FC Sevilla. Ronaldinho scored twice, the first from the penalty spot and the second with a freekick. In between Freddie Kanouté levelled the score with a header. Young Lionel Messi sealed the victory and crowned his superb performance with a great goal of his own. This Barça team have pure class, quality and in my opinion is even better than Johan Cruyff´s dream team in the 90´s.
I do not want to get carried away too much because the season is long, but Barca can go all the way again, in Spain and in Europe!
this Barca team knows how and when to play attractive, exciting football but know, when they have to play hard and battle for the ball.
FC Barcelona coach Rijkaard surprised with a few unexpected changes in the starting line-up. Belletti for Zambrotta, Motta for Deco, Gudjohnsen for Saviola and Leo Messi for Giuly.
Barca was prepared and motivated from minute 1 after the kick-off and everybody in the stadium could feel that the team wanted revenge for the 0-3 defeat in August and prove a point. Barca´s superstar Ronaldinho was at the heart of any forward movement and it was the Brazilian attacker himself, who created the first warning shot on Sevilla´s goal. In the 13th minute, after a fantastic combination on the left between the two Brazilians on the left, Ronaldinho and Sylvinho, Barca could have taken the lead when Sylvinho´s shot only hit the post.
On minute 23, a shock moment let the Barca crowd suffer for a split second. Sevilla´s striker Luis Fabiano headed the ball into the Barca goal but fortunately the referee saw a foul from Escudé on Thiago Motta.
The same player, Escudé, brought down Belletti in Sevilla´s own penalty area and the referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez had no doubt and showed straight to the penalty spot. Ronaldinho gave Sevilla Palop no chance and the home crowd exploded with delight and celebrated the 1-0.
Juliano Belletti damaged his right shoulder in the challenge by Escudé and was substituted by Gianluca Zambrotta.
The 92,000 Camp Nou faithfuls saw an exciting encounter now. Sevilla had to give up their defensive tactics and had to opened up a little bit. This gave Barca´s creative midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi more room on the pitch and the pair created some fantastic passing display. But it was Sevilla´s Renato who had a great chance to equalize, only to be denied by an excellent save from Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
In the 36th minute, Freddie Kanouté finished good move, involving Navas and Renato, with his head.
It took Barca about 2 minutes to take the lead again. Ronaldinho was fouled just outside the penalty area and the Brazilian freekick specialist picked up the ball himself. Just as we know him and his trademark freekicks, he took three steps backwards, looked to the side and put the ball unstoppable for keeper Palop into the top left corner of the goal. Magic! Magnificent! Marvellous!
2-1 and a very exciting match from both sides was unfortunately interrupted by the referee with the half time wistle. this was first class entertainment and worth every cent for the ticket.
Once the second half started, Barca continued to control the game and looked very comfortable with their lead. Sevilla's coach Juande Ramos was sent off for consistently complaining about the referee's decisions in the 68th minute and just 1 minute later, Leo Messi put his teammate Iniesta with a fine pass through on goal, but Iniesta and after Messi on the lose ball were unable to score.
In the 74th minute Ronaldinho was substituted by Ludovic Giuly that earned ronnie the biggest applause and standing ovations from the Barca supporters. "Dinho" was back at his best and the Camp Nou faithfuls thanked him for a magical and outstanding performance.
Barca would not be Barca, if they could not be able to top this. This time it was young Messi who delighted the crowd with a very special moment of brilliance and got the 92,000 supporters again up on their feet for another standing ovation. After great work from Xavi down the right wing, Leo messi controlled his cross and like the master Ronaldinho himself, on small space with the ball at his foot, he got passed 3 Sevilla defenders to finish with a fine shot. 3-1 and what a goal!!!
The goal settled the score and although Sevilla worked hard to get back into the game, Barca kept most of the possession. At this stage FC Barcelona looked confident and they did not give this match out of their hands again.
FC Barcelona is sole leader on 16 points from 6 games, 3 points clear of Valencia and Atletico Madrid. Sevilla is now 4 points behind and Real Madrid even 5!!!
My Comment:
What a weekend! It could not have been better. Ahead of "El Classico" Real Madrid got hurt by minors Getafe and is out of the picture, at least until next Sunday. Valencia drop 3 points in Vigo and fall behind. Barca perform a magnificient show in front of 92,000 supporters and go top with a 3 points margin. This really made my weekend and now I am going very relaxed into the next week. Imagine, we win against Euro rivals Chelsea and destroy the Merengues in their own Bernabeu Stadium! A fanstastic scenario!
Good to know that Ronaldinho is back at his best. Ronnie was the inspiration and proved why he is the best footballer in the world.
We, the Barca fans got our revenge for the 0-3 humilation and Barca did it with style. The team was dominating throughout the entire match and showed it´s class. A comfortable win over a very strong opponent Sevilla.
Barca is 3 points clear at the top.
Ronaldinho and Messi sent their warnings to Chelsea and Real Madrid... A win this week at Stamford Bridge will silence Mourinho and the Chelsea fans. A win at Santiago Bernabeu will sent the Merengues and Fabio Capello into deep sh.. and with 8 points trailling, they can already start to forget the Spanish Championship as soon as October.
So, what are we asking for more? I do not. I will sit back very relaxed and enjoy the next matches. I bet, you do the same!
Visca el Barca!
