Match Report: Sunday 21/01/2007 19:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 19
FC BARCELONA - NASTIC 3:0 (1:0)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Attendance: 75.000
Referee: Antonio Rubinos Perez


Goals:

1-0 Saviola 17´
2-0 Giuly 67´

3-0 Iniesta 81´


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Oleguer, Thuram (Marquez 82´), Puyol, Zambrotta - Edmilson, Deco (Iniesta 57´), Xavi - Giuly, Saviola (Gudjohnsen 65´), Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Nastic (4-5-1): Bizzarri - Calvo, Matellan, César Navas, Mingo - Juan (Pinilla 65´), Abel Boades, Generello (Merino 57´) Cuellar (Campano 65´), Ángel Morales - Portillo - Manager: Paco Flores


Match Report: Winterchampions and the Conejo bites again!


Barça returned to the top of the La Liga table and claimed the winter champions title after defeating Gimnastic Tarragona 3-0 at camp Nou.
It was a hard fought victory and the visitors, bottom of the table side Nastic made it more difficult than the result shows. The "Conejo" bit again and scored the opener (his 7th goal in the last 4 matches) after only 17 minutes. Second half strikes from Giuly (67´) and Iniesta (81´) sealed the victory in a game with relatively few scoring opportunities.

FC Barcelona has got it in their own hands to extend the lead when they face Betis in Sevilla on Wednesday, the match in hand that had been postponed while Barca had to play in the FIFA Club World Cup Competition in Japan.


FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard made quite a few changes to his starting line up. Oleguer started on the right, Thuram in the centre for Rafa Marquez and Zambrotta was shifted to the left for Gio/Sylvinho. Deco started for Iniesta and Saviola took Gudjohsen´s place, after having scored an amazing 6 goals in only 3 matches.


The champions showed 5 changes in the starting line-up, including the return of Thuram at centre-half, Oleguer and Zambrotta in defence and Saviola in attack. Tonight's win earned Barça the title of winter champions although they had to work hard to break down a Gimnastic side that played well and looked a far cry from being the first division's bottom side.


Nastic started very well into the game and even they did not manage to create a chance to score they kept possesion of the ball and put enough pressure on the Barca midfield to force errors.


But it was Argentine striker Javier Saviola who destroyed Nastic´s hope after only 17 minutes when he scored on Barca´s first chance of the game.
It was a game of little chances and while Nastic did not produce even one thread to Victor Valdes´goal, Barca had one more chance in the first half when Saviola headed the ball against the crossbar after a great Deco cross from the right.


In the first 10 minutes of the second half there were no changes. Gimnastic was trying to make spaces narrow with a well organised defence and a tough fighting 5 men midfield, while Barca were waiting patiently to unlock the defence lines. But Barca coach Rijkaard got his substituions right. In the 57th minute and 65th minute he brought on Iniesta (for Deco) and Gudjohnsen (for Saviola) to mount more pressure on Nastic´s back four.


On 64th minute we saw the best move so far in the second half. Ronaldinho´s fantastic pass could not be converted by Oleguer and Tarragona goalkeeper Bizzari saved the good effort.


Only 2 minutes after Gudjohnsen was on the pitch he headed a magnificient cross from Ronaldinho past the goalkeeper but former Barca player Mingo tried to clear the ball before the line. He accidently hit the ball against his own crossbar from where it fell to Giuly´s feet. Giuly took advantage of the situation and hit the ball directly which past a Nastic defender and goalkeeper, just to be deflected by another defender near the goal line and into the net.


Iniesta then sealed the victory in the 81st minute when Ronnie´s shot was saved by goalkeeper Bizzari, but the rebound just fell to Barca midfield player Andres Iniesta who easily finished with a strong low shot with his right into the left corner of the goal.


3-0 sounds a clear result but the game proved to be much more difficult for Barca than the final score would suggest. Over a long period of time it did not look like that the Spanish and European Champion was playing the bottom of the table team at home.


It was an encouriging match for Nastic, despite the 3-0, who is still on only 9 points from 19 matches.


My Comment:

This was a tough battle and not as easy as the result shows. At present Barca is lacking a little bit the fantasy and creativity to unlock a tight defence with an over crowded midfield. In every game this season Barca found it difficult to play teams with this strategy and sometimes it feels that a spark is missing.


It was not a convincing win but Barca was patient enough to look for their chances and took them, when it was needed. May be we call it efficiency over brilliance, but sometimes you need it to win such games.


I do not care so much about the way how Barca won, for me it is more important that Barca took the 3 points.


FC Barcelona are winter champions, which is not an official title but gives the bit of psychological edge over the challengers. We are back were we belong and this is the top of the table. Barca is in command again and has got it in their own hands to extend the lead at the top by another 3 points on Wednesday against Betis.