Match Preview: Saturday 05/05/2007 20:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 33
REAL SOCIEDAD - FC BARCELONA 0-2 (0-0)

Anoeta, San Sebastian – Capacity: 32.000
Referee: Fernando Teixeira Vitiens


Goals:

0-1 Iniesta 47´
0-2 Eto´o 88´


Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1): Bravo - Lopez Rekarte (Diaz de Cerio 59´), Juanito, Lopez, Garrido - Garitano (Rivas 63´), Aranburu - Xabi Prieto (Estrada 75´), Mikel Gonzalez, Savio - Kovacevic - Manager: Miguel Angel Lotina


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Gio - Iniesta (Gudjohnsen 85´), Xavi, Deco - Messi (Oleguer 92´), Eto´o, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Report:

Two second-half goals from Andres Iniesta and Samuel Eto'o gave FC Barcelona a crucial 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Real Sociedad. Barca moved clear at the top of La Liga with 4 points ahead of Sevilla and 5 points ahead of arch-rival Real Madrid, who play each other at Santiago Bernabeu tonight.


The Blaugrana took control from the first minute but could not take their chances in the first half. a furious start in the second half saw Barca talking the lead when Ronaldinho spotted midfielder Iniesta and feeded him with a genius pass. Iniesta then rounded the approaching goalkeeper Bravo and put the ball in the empty net.
Barca produced great football in midfield and many chances. Etoó sealed the win only few minutes before the final whistle. Again, "El Magico" Dinho put the ball through the Real Sociedad defence and Eto´o finished cooly of, when he sent Bravo into the wrong corner and fired the ball home.


This was a priceless win. Barca can now watch relaxed the evening match and probably hopes for a draw.


My Comment:

as I predicted, a comfortable 2-0 win for Barca. Real Sociedad were harmless and playing like this, deserve to go down to Segunda A. Ronaldinho was instrumental in both goals as he supplied the opener and then sent Samuel Eto'o clear for the second goal in the closing minutes. His passes were undoubtedly pure genius and so important.


Barca again failed to finish too many of the created chances, but who cares when they come howm with 3 points in their bags. this win was so important.


after all this noise from Madrid over the last 2 weeks and all the predictions about who will be champions at the end, Barca set the pace and has got it in their own hands. the pressure is now on Sevilla and Real. a draw would be great and would allow Barca even to lose one more match. Great situation.


Today´s match report is a bit shorter than usual, due to the fact that I will have a beer or two and get prepared to see one of the two rivals at least to lose points. Marvelous!


Cheers!