Match Report: Sunday 12/11/2006 21:00 (GMT +2): La Liga, Match Day 10
FC BARCELONA - REAL ZARAGOZA 3:1 (1:1)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Attendance: 75.000
Referee: Eduardo Iturraldo González


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta, Marquez, Puyol, Sylvinho - Iniesta, Edmilson (Motta 29´), Deco - Messi (Giuly 22´), Gudjohnsen (Saviola 68´), Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Real Zaragoza (4-4-2): Cesar - Diogo, G. Milito, Sergio, Juanfran - Celades (Ponzio), Zapater, Aimar (Piqué), D'Alessandro (Lafita) - Ewerthon, D. Milito - Manager: Victor Fernandez


Goals:

0-1 G. Milito 16´
1-1 Ronaldinho 30´

2-1 Ronaldinho 85´
3-1 Saviola 95´


Red Cards:

Motta 70´ (FC Barcelona) and G. Milito 71´ (Real Zaragoza)


Match Report:
FC Barcelona are back on top of La Liga following their impressive and exciting win over third placed Real Zaragoza. Ronaldinho scored twice and Javier Saviola sealed the win in the 95th minute, after Gabriel Milito had put Zaragoza into the lead, just after 16 minutes. Leaders FC Sevilla dropped to points at El Sardinero against Racing Santander and Barca therefore tops La Primera Liga again.


Unfortunately Leo Messi (out for 3 month) and Edmilson (10 days) did pick up serious injuries and are not available for the next upcoming matches.


FC Barcelona, driven by an impressive Ronaldinho had the better start into the game. Barca had all the ball possession and any action was coming from the Blaugrana team in the first 15 minutes.

Leo Messi had the first chance and Eidur Gudjohnsen, who worked hard followed with a couple of half chances.


Surprisingly, after a D'Alessandro corner, it was Gabriel Milito who put the ball totally unmarked by Rafa Marquez into the Barca net. Ith the lead in their back, Zaragoza became more confident but it was the Barca team that tried to push forward for the equalizer.


But it could not have come worse at that time. 0-1 down and Messi out for probably 3 month. Zaragoza tried to defend their lead but sometimes through in hard tackles above the limit. Leo Messi paid for it, when he was caught by a Zaragoza defender at his foot. In the 22nd minute Leo Messi had to limp off the pitch with a very serious foot injury. The Argentinian youngster Messi has broken a metatarsal bone and could be out for as many as three months. He was then replaced by French right winger Ludovic Giuly. And when you believe, it can not get worse, you realize it can! Just 6 minutes after Messi´s injury Brazilian Edmilson had to be substituted and replaced by Thiago Motta.


But after 30 minutes it looked that the bad luck was over and things changed to the better for Barca. After a corner, Ronaldinho uncharacteristically headed home for the deserved equalizer.


The last chance for Barca before haltime to take the lead had Giuly, but the agile winger took too long. Zaragoza´s excellent goalkeeper César was once more able to save.


The first twenty minutes of the second half did not produce any exciting moments really, but Barca, as usual was in ball position but failed to get a way through Zaragoza´s tough battling defensive line.
Rijkaard made a decicive tactical change, in bringing on the "Conejo" for a hard working, but finally unlucky operating Gudjohnsen.


Then, the most controversal scene of the entire match appeared in the 70th minute when Barca was reduced to 10 men. Thiago Motta tried to defend the ball and was moving his arms to shield the ball with his body. Motta did touch Diego Milito but the La Liga´s leading goalscorer made a real meal out of contact and sank down to the floor, like a sack of rice throwing from a lorry. To the disbelief of the Barca supporters, players and staff, referee Iturralde Gonzalez took his linesman's advice and sent off the Italo-Brazilian midfield player. The Camp Nou was boiling and the atmosphere really heated up.

But seconds later after the referee Iturralde Gonzalez finally restarted the match he levelled the amount of players on the pitch for each team by showing another red card to Zaragoza´s defender Gabi Milito. this time the red card was justified, because Milito let the ball slip over his foot and Javier Saviola broke through on goal only to be pulled back by Milito as the last man.


It seemed that the incidents on the pitch woke the players up again and sparked new live into the game. 5 minutes before the end, Saviola was brought down on the edge of Zaragoza´s penalty area and Ronaldinho stepped up for the free kick for one of his trademark free kicks. Uncharacteristically, this time he chosed the long corner on the far post and the ball just curled into the top right angle of the goal. What a fantastic goal again!


Barca tried to keep the ball in possession and the home crowd celebrated each touch with an "Olé". thinking, that the game should be secured, it was Diogo, the loan from real Madrid, that set up zaragoza for a final and golden opportunity. After a header from Diego Milito the ball fell to the feet of hat Zapater right at the 5 yard box who wasted this fantastic opportunity by kicking the ball over the goal.


Finally, the match was killed off by Saviola in the 95th minute. another fine Ronaldinho freekick hit the crossbar and the rebound was converted by a quick opportunistic move of Saviola. to be fair, for me Saviola looked offside, but who cares at the end! 3-1, 3 points and leader of La Liga!!! Enough reasons to celebrate!


My Comment:
Ronaldinho is getting back to his best. From the start to the end he showed a fine performance and was involved in all 3 goals. ronnie scored 2 himself and his freekick in injury time hit the crossbar just to bounce back to be converted by Saviola. This was Ronaldinho´s 8th goal of the season.

A top match with 4 goals and several highlights. It was a very exciting match. All in all, Barca had to work very hard for the 3 points against a direct challenger but the team deserved them all.


Saviola was decisive again. Not only did he seal the win in the final minute or reduced Zaragoza to 10 men, but it seems that his type of play suits his companions very well.
I am a bit sorry for Gudjohnsen, wo worked hard and tried everything but it seems that he is lacking a bit of luck.

Saviola or Gudjohnsen? After Messi´s long term injury, i guess the answer could be: Gudjohnsen & Saviola!


The upcoming week are important. Barca has to keep on winning, while all challengers play each other between match day 11-14 and will drop points. a good period to get a bit of a cushion. Let´s hope it works out well!