Lionel Messi returns to Barca in style by nicking the winner in Germany.


Match Report: Wednesday 15/08/2007 (18:00,GMT+1)Franz Beckenbaur Cup

Bayern Munich - FC Barcelona 0-1 ( 0-0 )
Allianz Arena, Munich

Capacity : 66,000
Referee: Felix Brych


Goal :

0-1 Messi (84')


Line-up:
FC Barcelona: Valdés; Zambrotta (Márquez 46), Oleguer (Belletti 88), Thuram (Milito 60), Abidal; Touré, Xavi, Iniesta (Deco 46); Eto'o (Messi 46), Henry, Ronaldinho (Giovani 46)

Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Bayern Munich: Kahn (Rensing 46); Lell, Van Buyten, Lucio (Demichelis 46), Lahm (Jansen 46); Altintop, Ottl, Van Bommel (Ze Roberto 46), Schweinsteiger (Wagner 69); Scholl (Ribéry 53), Toni (Klose 46).
Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld


Match Report:

FC Barcelona recorded the sixth straight win this season after a 1-0 victory over German giants, Bayern Munci in Germany.
The highly intensive match commenced with both teams being well aware of each other's capability, but at the same time, eager to show their superiority. Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho started the match for Barca uofront, and the tridente cordinated well, with Henry having a very good chance to put Barca upfront but being unlucky to have missed after responding with a rebound shot from a save of his shot by Oliver Khan. The ball went off target. Bayern themselves were not to be left out of the action as the enterprising Hamit Atlintop was not ready to allow Barca keeper, Victor Valdes any hoilday. However, Valdes was equal to the task and did not allow any balls from the Germans into his net. The first half went without any goals.


At the beginning of the second half, changes were made by both sides, with Bayern Munich bringing in two notable names in Miroslav Klose and Brazil's Ze Roberto for two other notable names, Luca Toni and Mark Van Bommel. Goalkeeper Oliver Khan was also replaced by with Michael Rensing, while Barça replaced Ronaldinho and Eto'o with Giovano Dos Santos and also Rafa Marquez for Zambrotta and Deco for Iniesta. The match continued in free flowing football, and one of the highlights of the encounter was in the 53 rd minute when the stadium roared into applause for the change which was made. Veteran, Mehmet Scholl was substituted and this marked his send-off and farewell from the soccer scene. Scholl was replaced by another new signing, French revelation, Frank Ribery. Scholl hugged each member of the Bayern technical bench, then was roundly applauded by the Barcelona bench and entire players as well, before embarking on a lap of honour round the field of the beautiful Allianz Stadium after which the legend left the scene amid claps, roars and waves from all.


The match continued after the Scholl honour-break with Barca's new man, Gabriel Milito getting his first feel of competitive soccer in the Blaugrana when the Argentina defender was introduced in the 60th minute to replace Lilian Thuram. Series of misses characterised the second half, with Deco missing out of putting Barca ahead after tippin the ball beyond the goal net, and Thierry Henry also missing another chance to write his name in German by heading and not suceeding in netting the ball set up by young gun, Giovanni Dos Santos. Bayern's aggressive player, Ribery shot from an ambitoius 25 yards but missed, while the troublesome Antlintop tried Valdes one more time with another shot that went off-target. Oleguer who was the only player reprimanded in the game, was cautioned in the 82nd minute with a yello card.


In the 84th minute, the pressure was on the Munich residents. The Blaugrana attack was steaming to life and needed to prove their mettle. A quick lob into the Bayern area was supposedly nodded away from the area by Munich's Demechelis, but was headed on to the dangerous path of the prowling Argentinian, Lionel Messi who made no mistake in firing a bullet into the net from the far post. The resistance was broken and the deed was done. Barcelona held on to the one goal advantage to win the maiden edition of the Franz Beckenbaur Cup.


My Comments:

Barcelona proved they have been well assessed by pundits who have all predicted the Catalan giants will crush all samll and big teams alike this season to conquer Spain and Europe. This victory of Bayern Munich is the right first sign and first step toward achieving those goals. The success story must continue with consistency and discipline along with steady focus till the end. Lionel Messi has not lost any of his magic from the post-Copa America holiday, and combined well with Giovanni Dos Santos and Thierry Henry. Milito was good and looked stable in the rear guard of the Blaugrana and so did returnee, Rafa Marquez. Valdes has been sound so far and will be a nightmare to attackers if he continues to improve at this rate. FC Barcelona must keep getting better with every match until a sound rythm is struck by the team, at which stage there will be no stopping.