Match Report: Saturday 26/05/2007 22:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 36
FC BARCELONA - GETAFE 1-0 (1-0)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 65.000
Referee: Alfonso Perez Burrull


Goals:

1-0 Ronaldinho 2`


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Belletti (Oleguer 61´), Thuram, Puyol, Gio - Edmilson, Xavi (Iniesta 91´), Deco - Messi (Motta 88´), Eto´o, Ronaldinho (red card 40´) - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Getafe (4-4-2): Abbondanzieri - Contra, Belenguer, Pulido, Paredes - Mario Cotelo, Celestini, Casquero, Nacho (Albin 60´) - Verpakovskis (Pachon 60´), Manu - Manager: Bernd Schuster


Match Report:
FC Barcelona´s superstar Ronaldinho Gaucho was the key person in last night´s tough battle that saw the Brazilian international scoring the only goal in the 2nd minute and being sent off minutes before the break.

A 10 man Barca fought bravely throughout the second half and with the 1-0 win in front of a furious crowd kept the heat on Real Madrid, who have their crunch match against Real Zaragoza in two weeks after the international break.


FC Barcelona dominated the exciting game right from kick-off and were even most of the time in charge when the team was down to 10 men. A perfect start brought Barca the lead, when Leo Messi set up Eto´o who fought of 2 Getafe defenders with a brilliant physical performance just to pass the ball across Ronaldinho as Getafe keeper Abbondanzieri approached. Dinho simply had to finish the great move simply by sending Pulido who ran on the goalline into the wrong corner and the ball into the net.


Ronaldinho again fired fired an incredible missile-like shot from a long distance freekick. Abbonanzieri hat problems to react and got hit on the chest, from where the ball got deflected over the goal.


Getafe´s Casquero had the only first half chance for Getafe when he shot the ball low at Victor Valdes´ goal who saved without a problem.


Barca captain Carles Puyol could have made it 2-0 up but headed a superb Deco free-kick just wide of the right post.


Eto´o forced Getafe keeper abbondanzieri to a fine save after the Cameroon international striker tried to take advantage of the rebound of his first attempt on the goal from outside the penalty area.


The guests from the suburb´s of Madrid could only respond with hard tackles that got more and more over the limit, mostly young Messi and Ronaldinho the victims. The key situation of the match approached on minute 40´ when Ronaldinho once more was held and kicked by Getafe´s veteran defender Belenguer and as the Gaucho fell to the ground and Belenguer stepped over him, Dinho lashed and kicked out. fell under a challenge from Belenguer and as the Getafe player stepped over him, the Brazilian kicked out. Match referee Alfonso Perez Burrull was not in control of the game at this stage allowing Getafe to stop Barca´s fast flowing and continuous attacks by simply kicking and fouling the Blaugrana players. Ref Perez Burrull showed Ronandinho the red card to the disgust of the furious Camp Nou home crowd. The white handkerchiefs came out and the ref as well as his assistants were accompanied with whistles and booes into the half time break.


Without Ronaldinho in the second half and down to 10 man, you thought Getafe would pile some pressure on the Blaugrana but the home team was up for a tough fight and still intend to attack the Getafe goal.


In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Eto´o came close on a couple of ocassion, when he first had a great chance from close range after another great Deco free-kick and a second chance was cleared by getafe defender Polido off the line. Then Messi then had his shot blocked by the Getafe defence.
the only half chance for Getafe came again from Casquerro who fired a long distance effort far over the Barca goal.


After 60 minutes Bernd Schuster reacted and brought on Pachon and Albin. Rijkaard also had to do change tactically, and brought the more defensive Oleguer for Belletti in responds to Getafe´s forward pair.


The dangerous Pachon than had a good chance just minutes after he came onto the pitch. He fired a good low effort at the Barca goal but Valdes saved brilliantly.


On the other side it was Deco who stroke a brilliant free kick into the short corner of the Getafe goal and brought Abbondanzieri into difficulties. Unfortunately the Argentine international goalkeeper just manged the scrap the ball of the line.


Now Getafe came better into the game, realizing that Barca got more and more tired. Fabio Celestini had the biggest chance for Getafe so far when he could not connect very well to a cross and put the ball over the goal from just 6-7 meters. Just a little later it was Oleguer who managed to get to the ball a split second before approaching Casquerro and cleared with the back of his heal.


The remaining minutes were simply a tough battle but even without producing any more real chances, Barca looked comfortable and in control.

When the final whistle was blown, there was a moment of relief.


My Comment:
3 points more on the account and Barca rehabilitated for the embarrassing Cup exit against Getafe yesterday with a hard fought battle and a great fighting spirit. From the first minute on the Blaugrana were willing to prove that the 0-4 defeat was just a one off accident. I even saw Ronaldinho slidding and tackling, with my own eyes!


Getafe came to Camp Nou with great motivation and determination, but was over the limit many times. The Getafe player´s were assisted by referee Perez Burrull, who did not punish them for the bad treatment they gave the Barca player´s. Especially young Leo Messi and Ronaldinho suffered a lot, which led to the red card 5 minutes from the break, after a frustrated Ronaldinho reacted to one of several fouls of veteran defender Belenguer. This was the key situation of the game, that sent the Camp Nou faithfuls furious and brought Barca into trouble.

But with 1 man less, Barca showed a courageous performance and did not just simply sit back. They tried to play and score to finish the match off.
Remarkable was the work rate of Eto´o again, for me, the man of the match. He set up Ronaldinho unselfishly after a great physical move and simply passed the ball accross, when Abbondanzieri approched, leaving Ronaldinho simply to tap the ball home.


Real won and this buggers me! It will probably all come down to the Merengues key match at La Romareda against Zaragozza in 2 weeks.

I am also a bit worried that Ronaldinho (red card), Eto´o and Edmilson (both on 5 yellow cards) will miss the derby. Not that I would miss Edmilson too much, but still he was part of the last 2 successful matches. It will be the time for the 2nd line with Saviola, Giuly, Gudjohnsen or Motta to shine.


2 more matches to go...! 2 more wins to go for...! Still waiting for the Merengues to slip!