Match Report: Wednesday 10/01/2007 21:30 (GMT +2): Copa del Rey, Round Last-16, First Leg (TV3/Barça TV)

DEPORTIVO ALAVES - FC BARCELONA 0:2 (0:0)
Mendizorroza, Vitoria – Attendance: 8.000

Referee: Fernando Texeira Vitiens


Goals:
0-1 Saviola 57´

0-2 Saviola 80´


Alaves (4-4-2): Ardouin - Uranga (Angel 63´), Gaspar, Pablo Casa, Corominas (yellow/red 77´) - Carpintera (Elton 52´), Lucen, Gabri, Arthuro (Ogbeche 67´) - De Lucas, Aloisi - Manager: Fabri


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Joquera - Belletti, Marquez, Puyol, Sylvinho - Iniesta, Edmilson (Motta 78´), Xavi - Giuly (Gio 58´), Saviola, Ezquerro (Gudjohnsen 71´) - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Report:
Yesterday night Barca had, as predicted, an easy 2-0 win at Alaves. Late, but not too late, Javier Saviola's sealed a formidable 2-0 advantage following their first leg tie away at Alaves. The "Rabbit" Saviola struck twice on 57´ and 80´ minute. the second leg at Camp Nou should be something a formality now and Frank Rijkaard has a good opportunity to rest key players or introduce and test injured players that are coming back into the action. While the match was a onesided event due to Barca´s dominance on the pitch, the home supporters showed again their anger and disagreement with controverse president Dimitri Piterman who demanded strongly for Piterman to step down and relinquish the control of the club.


Barcelona was controlling the game and dominating the opponent and therefore should have got a lot more from a first half that ended goalless. You coulkd feel that Barca wanted the win from minute 1. A series of great moves down the wings by Santi Ezquerro and Ludovic Giuly, who where brilliantly supported by the two Brazilian full backs Sylvinho and Belletti, put Alaves under pressure right from the beginning. Both, Sylvinho and Belletti were playing in very advanced positions to mount constant pressure on Alaves, who barely were able to get the ball out of their own half, but desperate defending and a great fighting spirit did not allow Barca to score and kept Alaves in the game.


The first chance came from a Xavi free kick, but unlike against Getafe, the balllanded in the wall and not in the goal. On 11th minute, Andres Iniesta tried with a long range effort but the ball went just close. Just 2 minutes later Santi Ezquerro went close with a long distance shot but again failed to hit the target. A delightful one-two set midfielder Xavi up with another good chance to score, but Alaves goalkeeper Ardouin was able to deflect the ball for a corner.

Alavés only chance in the first half an hour came from a counter attack that saw Australian international Aloisi hitting the ball just wide.
A very active Saviola and Giuly produced a few more opportunities but it was Alaves´ De Lucas who almost scored but his shot in the 38th minute went over the crossbar.


Same procedure after the break: Alaves sitting back and defending as Barca moved forward trying to break through the tight Alaves defence. Sylvinho had a great game and had powerful runs over the left flank and created several opportunities, the biggest was missed by Ezquerro after a perfect Sylvinho cross. The unlucky Barca forward Ezquerro could not head the ball into the Alaves goal from close range in the center of the goal.


Argentine Javier Saviola was the finally the man who reliefed the Blaugrana when he finished off an excellent combination, with a great strike into the left top corner.


Barca coach Rijkaard now brought on Gio for Giuly and moved Iniesta on Giuly´s position to place Gio in a more central, defensive midfield position. Iniesta immidiately responded on his new position and toe poked the ball from the penalty area after a nice run through the Alaves defence, but goalkeeper Ardouin managed to touch the ball in the last moment and the ball went over the bar for a corner.


Then Alavés were reduced to 10 men when Coromina was sent of for arguing with the referee 13 minutes before the end after having received a yellow in the first half when he fouled Saviola before penetrating the penalty area on a good effort to score.


The second Saviola goal came from a Xavi corner. Barca´s defender Rafa Marquez headed the ball on for Saviola to shoot home. Motta, coming on for Edmilson in the final 10 minutes almost scored with a fine long distance shot that hit the cross bar.


The attention later in the game turned to the home crowd that clashed with the police inside the stadium and demanded owner and club president Dimitri Piterman to resign. The referee did the best thing in blowing the whistle exactly on 90th in a game that had already been decided to save Alaves from more embarrasement.


My Comment:

The return leg is a formality and I strongly suppose that Barca booked already a place in the quarter finals.
After the game I come to two conclusions:

First, Saviola showed his quality and should have reminded Barca coach Frank Rijkaard that he is more than just an alternative. He is a classy striker, who can actually score goals.
Second: As we probably all know, Santi Ezquerro is not up for it. I have given up my hope that one day he shows why Barca got him 2 years ago. Ezquerro had his opportunities to show what he is worth but in my eyes, he has not taken one of this opportunities to shine and show that he can be an alternative. He tries hard, but in his case trying is not enough. I am sorry for him because I like the guy, but his football skills are not good enough to play for Barca. I really feel that his place is wasted now and Barca should be filled with one of the promissing youngsters, hot and waiting to get a chance to play.


On Saturday, we play city rivals Espanyol and we are all looking forward to beat the "Pericos" at Montjuic!


Visca el Barca!