Match Report: Tuesday 06/03/2007 20:45 (GMT +1): Champions League, Last 16, second leg
LIVERPOOL FC - FC BARCELONA 0:1 (0:0) (2:2 aggregate)

Anfield, Liverpool – Attendance: 45.000
Referee: Herbert Fandel (GER)


Goals:

0-1 Gudjohnsen 75´


Liverpool FC (4-4-2): Reina - Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Arbeola - Xabi Alonso, Gerrard, Sissoko, Riise (Fabio Aurelio 77´) - Kuyt (Crouch 89´), Bellamy (Pennant 67´) - Manager: Rafa Benitez


FC Barcelona (3-4-3): Valdes - Oleguer, Thuram (Gudjohnsen 71´), Puyol - Marquez, Xavi, Deco, Iniesta - Messi, Eto´o (Giuly 61´), Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Report:


FC Barcelona win at Anfield but Gudjohnsen´s goal on minute 75 was not enough to overturn the 1-2 defeat at Camp Nou in the first leg. Liverpool is through to the quarterfinals due to the away goal rule after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.


It was expected that Rafa Benitez would field the same starting eleven as at Camp Nou and would apply a defensive tactic, to sit back and try to take advantage of any error made by Barca in midfield or defence to counter attack.
Als Frank Rijkaard started with an offensive 3-4-3 tactics, knowing that receiving a goal would not change the situation too much. Barca had to score 2 goals at least to win the match. Anything else would not be of any help.


After the kick off, it was Barca who had the ball passing it among there defence players looking for a whole in the tight defending Liverpool line-up. May be it was not the most attractive football that Liverpool displayed but it worked for them. Barca could not find the face they needed to carry the ball forward to set up their attackers and every little passing mistake seemd to be punished right on the spot. But Barca knew that they had to risk this and that they will grant chances for the opponents. The game turned out to be exactly like this.


Liverpools left midfielder John Arne Riise had the first chance of the game, when his long range shot went just wide of Valdes´left post. On 11 minutes, it was the Norwegian international Riise again when he rattled the crossbar with another long distance shot.


About 20 mnutes into the game Rafael Marquez seemd to have the first chance when he headed narrowly wide after a superb Deco free-kick, but the referee had seen an offside position anyway.


Barca keeper Victor Valdes became a real hero on 26 minutes, when he saved a double effort by Bellamy and Kuyt, first stopping Bellamy´s shot and then Kyt´s rebound before Barca captain Cales Puyol cleared Riise´s header from the goal line.


But is was Valdes himself then, who offered Sissoko a golden opportunity, after a poor clearance with his foot. the ball landed straight at the feet of the Liverpool midfielder, who missed an open goal from long distance only to touch the top of the crossbar.


Ronaldinho had his first opportunity after 36 minutes, but his long distance volley went high over the crossbar.


0:0 at halftime, but Barca could have been behind.


After the break it looked like Barca was granted a bit more space and looked to take their fate into their own hands. Ronaldinho had the first chance with a long range free-kick but Reina had no problems to save this effort.


It was Ronaldinho again, who had a flash of magic, probably the only one on this evening. He superbly controlled the ball, followed by an excellent run with the ball at his feet and entering the pealty area with just Reina approaching from his line. The Brazilian international curled the ball around Reina, who was left without any chance, just to hit the post. This could have been the decisive moment for Barca but it was not to be.


Messi had another excellent opportunity but hios low shot was just not strong enough to beat Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.


Gudjohnsen came for Eto´o on in the 71st minute and just 4 minutes later he put Barca in the lead. Icelandic international Gudjohnsen was set up nicely and the former Chelsea forward broke into the box, rounded Reina and tapped the ball into the empty goal. 15 minutes time to get another goal!


Unfortunately the time was running away and Barca tried everything. But their unfamiliar long balls trying to force their luck did not work and just played into the hands of Liverpool who had another great chance to eqalise by Peter Crouch in the dying minutes after 2 attemts from Steven Gerrard.


The final whistle just confirmed that Barca blew it at home and now can fully concentrate on the Spanish Championship and the Copa del Rey.


My Comment:

The current European Champions are out! We all know that Barca blew it at home. After the 1-0 lead at Camp Nou, the team did not close the game when they were clearly superior. But Liverpool took their chances well at Camp Nou and the shock equaliser of Bellamy just before halftime blocked the Blaugrana completely. After Riise´s lead, there were a few unlucky incidents not to eqalise (e.g. Deco´s freekick) but overall the team were not able to display their exciting fast flowing football and pressurise the Liverpool defence.
In the second leg it was Liverpool who could have sealed the tie in the first half an hour of the game and at that stage, considering football´s laws punishing everybody who does not take their chances, I was absolutely convinced, that Barca would do it in the second half. Ronaldinho´s chance and Gudjohnsen´s goal added to my optimism but they just could not do it on this evening. Liverpool was battling strong and defending very well.

It was a lucky win and may be an unlucky way of not progressing but finally it goes alright that Liverpool qualifies.
It was a very close encounter and the 2-2 on agregate shows this exactly.

Barca can keep their heads up, even they did not play at their best.


I personally believe it is vital in this competition to play first away and then the second leg at home. I would have liked to see the same encounter with Barca first playing away and Liverpool having to apply a different tactics.


Tacticians and pure result orientated people might believe this was a great performance of Liverpool but I personally do not want Barca to play this kind of football. I simply prefer the attacking minded football with the spectacular moments. Barca has not played on the same level like last year, which was a dream for any Barca fan, but after all it still entertains me, week after week.


Next Entertainment: Saturday, against the Merengues!


Visca el Barca!