Dedications, emotional tributes and colourful display of soccer skills mark the 32nd Joan Gamper Tournament at Camp Nou.


Match Report: Wednesday 29/08/2007 22:00 (GMT +1), Joan Gamper Trophy
FC BARCELONA - INTER MILAN 5-0 (3-0)

Camp Nou, Barcelona
Capacity : 98,772

Attendance : 98,559
Referee: Iturralde Gonzalez


Cautions:

Yellow Card - Rivas ( 82' )


Goals:
1-0 Ronaldinho ( 6' )

2-0 Giovanni ( 11' )
3-0 Toure Yaya ( 7' )

4-0 Iniesta ( 56' )
5-0 Motta ( 81' )


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Jorquera ( Valdes 46' ), Zambrotta ( Sylvinho 46' ), Marquez ( Thuram,46' ), Oleguer, Abidal ( Milito 46' ), Toure ( Marc Crosas 66' ), Xavi ( Iniesta,46' ), Deco, Giovanni ( Messi,46' ), Ronaldinho ( Eto'o 46' , Motta 49' ), Henry


Inter Milan(4-4-2) :Toldo, Burdisso, Rivas, Chivu, Cesar, Cambiasso, Luis Jimenez ( Morrouffi,60' ), Pele, Solari ( Fatic, 66' ), Crespo ( Recoba 60' ), Adriano ( Bolotelli, 60' )

Manager: Roberto Mancini


Match Report:
It was indeed a night to remember not only because of good football, but because of the tributes paid to two soccer icons, Nicolau Casaus of FC Barcelona and Antonio Puerta of Sevilla. Barca players honoured both heroes, with the Blaugrana players all wearing Sevilla shirts with the number 16 and the name Puerta on the back before kick off and a banner that simply read 'We are playing for you' below Puerta's picture was laid on the pitch. Barca fans lifted placcards showing messages of condolence and tribute to both Casaus and Puerta. An announcement of a 10% donation to a heart research was made by Barca officials. An emotional and tearful one minute of silence was observed before the match kicked off in honour of both departed icons.


The match commenced at full swing with Barca eager to erode memories of the La Liga final day sadness of last season, and also the fresh memory of the draw with Racing Santander last weekend. The Blaugrana attack steamed to life immediately, rolling over the Inter midfield and quickly dismantling the Italian defence. It took five minutes for Giovanni Dos Santos to work his magic when he mesmerised ex-Roma defender, Christian Chivu, who instantly fouled the starlet for a clear penalty. Ronaldinho stepped up one minute later to convert the spot kick without qualms for the first goal in the 6th minute. Another five minutes after that saw the second coming of Giovanni Dos Santos. The Mexican magician once again, victimized Chivu by turning the Romanian out, and then firing a shot into the near post for the second goal on 11 minutes. Inter Milan's keeper, Toldo, was kept busy all through, forcing a great save in the 17th minute from a powerful Toure Yaya header.


Barca continued to rain attacks without mercy on the Italian Champions, forcing saves from Toldo and an over loaded schedule for the Serie A outfit. Toure returned in the 37th minute with a powerful 25 yeard bullet which Toldo, this time, failed to stop. The ball cannoned into the net for the third goal. Inter were thankful to go for break during the half-time, but not before Zambrotta and Deco came very close to increasing the tally.


The second half witnessed changes on the start, with Barcelona making seven changes in the 46th minute, including giving Gabriel Milito a chance to make his home debut at Camp Nou, after Toure Yaya, Thierry Henry and Eric Abidal had made their debuts. Milito replaced Abidal and Lionel Messi came in for Giovanni. Eto'o, who had come in for Ronaldinho, quickly created a chance and had a good shot at goal, only to have twisted his ankle in the process. The Cameroon international had to be substituted for Thiago Motta after just four minutes on the pitch.


Lionel Messi also made his presence felt at once, creating problems for Inter Milan. The young Argentine was resourceful in the 56th minute when he coordinated a good move and set up Iniesta, who raced down and outwitted Toldo before firing home the ball into the net for goal number four. More goals seemed obvious as the game wore on, and this finally came in the 81st minute when Motta headed home for the fifth and final goal of the encounter.


The match came to an end, with Barca winning 5-0, but with both sides emerging winners in the art of paying tribute to two departed football icons in a very grand and memorable way.


My Comments :

The strength and force of the tributes paid to both Nicolau Casaus and Antonio Puerta were reminders that FC Barcelona is more than just a club. Barca fans showed great sympathy and solidarity for the dead heroes, and the Blaugrana officials must be highly commended for the way organisation was scaled down, with the cancellation of festivities and the donation of 10% from the Gamper returns to aid research into cardiovascular and other heart-related ailments and conditions.


On the football pitch and in the match against Inter Milan, FC Barcelona were able to once more, convince us that they can play good football and get good results. This quality soccer and similar score lines only need to be reproduced when the La Liga continues, with the first test run in the post-Santander era coming against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday at Camp Nou, the same venue Inter were disseminated.