Match Report: Sunday 17/06/2007 21:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 38
Gimnastic de Tarragona-FC BARCELONA 1-5 (0-3)

Nou Estadi, Tarragona


Referee:Undiano Mallenco


Goals:
0-1 Puyol ( 20' )

0-2 Messi ( 35' )
0-3 Ronaldinho ( 38' )

0-4 Messi ( 51' )
1-4 Grahn ( 83' )

1-5 Zambrotta ( 90' )


Yellow Card: Naves ( 42' - Gimnastic de Tarragona )


Possession: Gimnastic de Tarragona - Barcelona 30%-70%


Shots at Goal: Gimnastic de Tarragona - Barcelona 10-23


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés; Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram (Oleguer, 72'), Gio; Iniesta, Deco (Motta, 71'), Xavi; Messi (Ezquerro, 81'), Eto'o and Ronaldinho.
Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Gimnastic de Tarragona (4-4-2): Rubén Pérez; Calvo, Navas, Matellán, Marco; Generelo (Pinilla, 56'), Chabaud, Morales (Merino, 71'); Irurzun, Cuéllar (Grahn, 63') and Portillo

Manager: Paco Flores


Match Report:
FC Barcelona (2nd/76 points) met Gimnastic de Tarragona (20th/28 points)


As expected, Barcelona came out in full force from the blast of the whistle, overwhelming their Nastic opponents and taking control of the game.

Sizzling striker Samuel Eto'o wasted no time in scoring just after five minutes, only to have his goal unjustly ruled offside from an unjust spotting on Zambrotta. this did not deter the Catalans from raining attacks on Nastic. In the 10th minute, Ronaldinho's saw his free-kick sail over the bar, and the returnee Brazilian midfielder set up Eto'o in the 13th minute only for the Cameroonian striker to miss target narrowly.
Nastic offered a first response with David Cuellar sending the ball over the bar.

Barca responded near the 20th minute mark with Eto'o heading a goal bound ball that unlickily hit the bar and bounced back into play. Barca picjed up the ball again and relaunched a 20th minute attack through Messi who cruised down the right side of the Nastic area, sending a cross in which located Captain, Carles Puyol. The enthusiastic Captain smashed home the ball for Barcelona's first goal.


Samuel Eto'o was in maximum killer mood as he ran down the Nastic defence, positioning himself for a Ronaldinho cross in the 26th minute and made no mistake heading the cross into the net. It was however not to be his night as the goal was ruled offside again.
Messi mesmerized the Nastic defence in the 35th minute and finished off his great effort by curling the ball into the far corner of the Nastic net for the second goal.

Brazilian counterpart, Ronaldinho increased the tally in the 38th minute with a shot from well taken free-kick that even Nastic's Ruben Perez touched but couldn't prevent from going into his net.
The first half came to close with Barcelona leading by three goals.

In Madrid, Varela had put Mallorca ahead with a stunning goal and Barca went into the half time period as Champions.


The second half commenced with little difference to the dominance of the Barcelona. Messi enthused this by finishing off a Samuel Eto'o effort in the 51st minute to make it four goals for Barca.
Nastic were simply overwhelmed at this point. In Madrid, an equalizer came through substitute, Reyes off a Robinho-Higuain move and despite the scoreline, Barcelona were still champions for the moment.

Nastic continued to hold on, and made a good effort which resulted in a goal, though against the run of play. The goal was disallowed.


Nastic scored their only goal in the 83rd minute from Grahn but paid for it with another goal from Barcelona, this time from Italian defender, Gianluca zambrotta in the 90th minute.
This re-insured an expected victory for Barca, but events at the Bernabeu in Madrid had turned around.

Madrid were lucky as Mallorca defender scored an own goal after getting in the way of his keeper's parry from a Diarra header. That was their second goal, which meant Madrid had ascended back to the top and another goal from Reyes put the match further away.
Mallorca didn't level scores, and Real maintained their lead in the La Liga.

Barcelona ended the match as 5-1 victors, but this impressive final day performance was not enough to enable them retain their title and win it for the third straight time.


My Comments:
Barcelona played a clinical game, but paid for the past errors committed in previous matches, particularly the last one against Espanyol. Last minute goals cost Barca the title they could have wrapped up as far back as even the Betis game.

This may have its good side, though, as Barcelona will commence next season with the lessons learnt fresh on thier minds. A strong awareness of the implications of maintaining a well deserved lead till the end will act as a haunting psycology to the Catalan giants and likely see them end next season in a much more higher note befitting of the 18-time La Liga champions.


Barcelona were runners-up this season, and ended the season with their pride still intact after a gallant final day showdown.