Match Report: Sunday 29/04/2007 19:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 32
FC BARCELONA - U.D. LEVANTE 1-0 (1-0)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 75.000
Referee: Clos Gomez


Goals:

1-0 Eto´o 28´


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


Levante (4-4-2): Molina - Descarga, Alvaro, Alexis, Rubiales - Camacho, Berson (N´Daye 72´), Kapo, Tommasi (Ettien 58´) - Salva (Reggi 77´), Riga Mustapha - Manager: Abel Resino


Match Report:
Spanish Champions FC Barcelona earned a hard fought 1-0 victory at home to UD Levante. A Samuel Eto´o goal in the 28th minute was enough to earn Barca 3 points and to stay at the top of La Liga.


FC Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Madrid all won their matches on Sunday, so there have not been any changes at the top of the table before Real Madrid and Sevilla will meet next week in the Santiago Bernabeu.


Barca started, as predicted, with an offensive, creative midfield Iniesta, Deco and Xavi, who controlled the match right from the start. FC Barcelona obviously did not want to fall for the counter attacking tactics of Levante and therefore passed the ball around without creating too much danger for Levante keeper Molina in the opening quarter hour.


In the 19th minute, Barca scored through Deco, after Eto´o took the ball off Levante defender Alexis, who started to dribble in his own penalty box. Unfortunaltely the assistant flagged the effort down due to offside.


In the 28th minute Barca took the lead through Eto´o. a superb team effort and a final combination between Iniesta and Ronaldinho, set Dinho free in front of the goal, but an outstanding Molina got his hands to the ball. But the ball went loose and Samuel Eto´o hit the ball past several defenders and goalkeeper Molina into the net. It was a deserved lead at this time.


Just minutes later, Eto'o scored again. Ronaldinho forced Molina again to make an excellent save but the ball deflected to the side with Eto´o just tapping it in, but the goal was ruled out for another offside.


At this period Barca was clearly dominating and counting on nearly 70% of the ball possession. Chances were created but like so often in the past weeks, not taken. Ronaldinho then sent Eto'o through with a wonderful pass, but his lob over Molina went wide.


Levante´s first chance came through Rubiales, who beat Zambrotta and shot a low effort at Valdes, who had no problems to save.


In the second half, Levante battled in midfield, willing to create some chances for themselves, but it was Barca who marched forward trying to strike the decisive blow.


Eto'o came through on the left and passed the ball inside the penalty box. The approaching Ronaldinho was clearly held back by Alexis but the referee let the game play on. This was a clear penalty but the Ref did not point to the spot, which left Ronaldinho and the Camp Nou supporters furious.


The pressure was mounting on Levante, who were just to weak upfront to create any danger for Valdes goal.


In the final minutes, Messi showed his class when several times he run through the entire Levante defence and who could only be stopped by some nasty fouls. The worst ones resulted in deserved bookings for Alvaro and Alexis. But it was also Messi, who wasted the biggest chance of them all on this evening, when he missed the open goal from just 5 m hitting the top of the crossbar.


Then, the shocking moment 2 minutes into injury time. A high cross towards the Barca goal was misjudged by Victor Valdes who dropped the ball to the feet of N´Daye, who missed this fantastic opportunity.


Another great run from Messi could only be stopped by another foul in front of the box. But Barca did not even try to score but short-passed the ball in the dying seconds until the referee whistled for the end.


My Comment:

Barcelona reclaimed top spot after Sevilla build a 2 points lead in the afternoon. It was definitely a deserved win but like the Mallorca and Villarreal game, the biggest opportunities had been wastefully missed.


Even Levante did not show any danger during the game, I felt very inconvenient with the narrow 1-0 lead. I just had the feeling that one silly mistake could punish the team´s efforts.


and so, it nearly happened, when in the 92nd minute Valdes, who for me has an outstanding season for Barca dropped and easy ball to the feet of N´Daye. This could have easily been the equalizer, which would have sent both, Sevillianos and Merengues, all into a Fiesta for the rest of the night.


Not sure, why it happens, but all the strikers, Ronaldinho, Eto´o and Messi have to take at least their big chances, to reduce the danger of heart attacks between the Culés in the upcoming weeks. This was nothing for the faint hearted.


Next week is probably the most important weekend, when Barca plays in San Sebastian against struggling Real Sociedad and Real Madrid plays Sevilla, for, who will stay in contention for the title. I hope for a draw or a Sevilla win, which would probably sent Real playing for the golden Banana in the rest of their games. The Merengues seem to be in good form and therefore I would prefer a bit more margin between Barca and Real.


My conclusion for the evening: 3 more points - 1 game less!