Match Report: Sunday 20/05/2007 21:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 35
ATLETICO MADRID - FC BARCELONA 0-6 (0-3)

Vicente Calderon, Madrid – Attendance: 55.000
Referee: Cesar Muniz Fernandez


Goals:

0-1 Messi 38´
0-2 Zambrotta 41´

0-3 Eto´o 45´
0-4 Ronaldinho 57´

0-5 Messi 80´
0-6 Iniesta 90´


Atletico Madrid (4-5-1): Pichu - Seitaridis, Fabiano Eller, Zé Castro, Antonio Lopez - Galletti (Aguero 52´), Luccin, Maniche (Maxi Rodriguez 41´), Petrov (Mista 71´), Jurado - Fernando Torres - Manager: Javier Aguirre


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Gio - Edmilson (Motta 77´), Xavi (Gudjohnsen 81´), Deco (Iniesta 66´) - Messi, Eto´o, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Report:

A roaring FC Barcelona humiliated Atletico Madid at the Vicente Calderon with a 6-0 victory. Barca showed an inspirational performance and made it clear that they are top contendors for the title. Goals from Messi (2), Zambrotta, Eto´o, Ronaldinho and Iniesta ended a 7 year run without victory at the Calderon.
The Blaugrana dominated from the first minute and the Rojoblancos were not able to cope with the consisting attacking pressure piled on them from a determined Barca side.


A stunning period in the last 10 minutes of the first half killed the whole match off and Barca went with a 3-0 lead into half-time. The first goal came from Leo Messi after a great 1-2 with Eto´o. Messi had no problems to finish for the lead.

On minute 41, Zambrotta after chesting down a nice Thuram pass, simply lobbed the ball over Atletico goalkeeper Pichu (What the hell was the keeper doing?) to extend the lead to 2-0. In the 45th minute, Deco entered the penalty area on the left side, ran down to the touchline and passed the ball into the middle. Again, an unlucky Pichu, who anticipated a ball back to the penalty spot only deflected the ball near to the goal line where Eto´o finished superbly before Antonio Lopez could clear the ball off the line.


After the break the Barca show went on and in the 57th minute the team showed pure class. A team effort involving Xavi, Deco and Samuel Eto’o produced a sensational goal, that even the atletico fans started to applaude. Xavi, with a nice technical stunt lifted the ball over his opponent and after running towards the Atletico goal passed the ball to Deco. The Portuguese international then picked out Ronaldinho at the left edge of the penalty area. Dinho then found Eto´o in the centre with one of his magical trademark passes. The Cameroon international Eto´o simply touched the ball ones before he put the ball in the back of the defence. Ronaldinho coolly finished for the 4-0 by sending the keeper in the wrong corner.


The game was already over at that stage but it came even worse for Atletico. First Fabiano Eller was sent off for a second yellow card and brought his team down to 10 man in the 72nd minute and then, with 1 man less in defence Gio used the space simply to lift the ball into the space where Messi picked up the ball. The argentinian forward ran towards the Atletico goal and lobbed the approaching goalkeeper Pichu.


It could have come worse for Madrid, but Pichu made a few saves before he was beaten for the sixth time in the last minute of the game. Substitute Gudjohnsen saw Andres Iniesta running into the free space and passed the ball superbly into his path. Iniesta himself then picked out Eto´o who unselfishly passed the ball back to Iniesta who simply had to tap into the empty goal.


We saw a great Barca show on a fantastic night. Without doubt this was the best performance this season and showed the pure class that is in this team.


when the final whisle came, the stadium was already half empty and some of the remaining supporters even applauded the Blaugrana, something seen only once before in Madrid at the Bernabeu when Barca beat Real 3-0.


My Comment:
What a terrific thrashing for Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon. this is beyond all dreams that I had before the match. A fantastic team display finally proved by 5 different players scoring the 6 goals.

There was no better time to wipe out the poor record since 7 years at the Calderon and WOW! what a victory.
The Blaugrana knew all the scores before their match and had been under pressure. Real Madrid´s lucky last minute win (like last week) put them at the top and only a win would leave Barca in touch. And how well did the team respond to this pressure!


6 goals in Madrid and a demonstration of the finest football. This was great enjoyment and it could not have been better (except Real dropping some points).


On this evening we saw the face of the team that we wish for. This was pure determination and a battle to win the third title in a row.

Even the result leaves Barca in second place behind Real Madrid, the game must have been a real confidence injection for all, the team and the supporters. We can all dream of the 3rd title in a row!


Forca Barca!