Match Report: Wednesday 25/10/2006 22:00 (GMT +2): Copa del Rey, Round Last-32 (Barca TV/TV3)
CF BADALONA - FC BARCELONA 1:2 (0:0)

Camp del Centenari, Badalona – Attendance: 8.000
Referee: Clos Goméz


Goals:

1-0 Gudjohnsen (62´)
2-0 Gudjohnsen (76´)

2-1 Tarradellas (93´)


CF Badalona (4-4-2): Ralano - Oscar Ramirez, Cazorta, Macanas, David Sanchez - Pons, Prats (Tarradellas 69´), Casado (Puigdollers 61´), Blanco - Monty, Encinas (Isaias 79´) - Manager: Francisco Lopez Alfaro


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés - Zambrotta, Oleguer, Puyol, Gio - Motta (Edmilson 46´), Xavi, Ezquerro - Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Saviola - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Preview:
Icelandic international forward Eidur Gudjohnsen scored both goals for Barca in the 62th and 76th minute. Pedro Tarradellas converted a late and unjustified penalty for Segunda B team CF Badalona.

The Icelandic striker shared the striking responsibilities with Javier Saviola as Frank Rijkaard fielded a strong line-up on the plastic turf of the Segunda B side's Centenario ground.


Barça were desperate for a morale-boosting victory after the two consecutive defeats against Chelsea and arch-rival Real Madrid, to silence the critics and media. Barca coach Frank Rijkaard fielded a strong line-up but the under-dogs Badalona made the Barca players work hard on the unusual artificial pitch and caused some problems from time to time.


After having the opportunity to score on at least two occasions in the first half, Gudjohnsen found the net in the 63rd minute when he fired home a fine Saviola assist. In the 77th minute, Santi Ezquerro forced the Badalona keeper to save a good long distance effort but the ball fell to Gudjohnsen´s and had no problem to finish into an empty goal.


CF Badalona showed a spiritual performance, something we could expect from the lower league side in a derby. In injury time of the game, Badalona scored a deserved conselation goal through a penalty. the goal might have been deserved, but the penalty for sure not. Oleguer should have tripped over Isaias and Taradellas fired home the resulting penalty.



My Comment:

FC Barcelona did not score the 5 goals I was predicting but at the end we had the win that was needed. Barca took the match serious and did what they had to do: Win!
The team showed attitude but not good football. But what do we expect in such a match (except 5 goals!)?

The artificial turf was unusual and the lower league neighbour was running for their lifes, fighting for every centimeter on the field.
In the second half Barca was taking advantage of the spaces and scored twice.


The 2-1 win was just the deserved result, nothing more, nothing less.

barca got their win and there should be no doubt over the progress to the round of the last 16 teams in the Copa del Rey.


Positive also: Gudjohnsen scored twice, which should give the Barca forward a special boost of confidence for the upcoming games.


So, we should hook Badalona simply off our list and turn our attention to the next match against recreativo de Huelva next weekend.