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FC Barcelona came back into reckoning with a well deserved 2-0 away victory over Mallorca. Eto'o capped up his brilliant return with a back breaker of a goal against his former team.
The match commenced amid clear knowledge by the Blaugrana that they needed to win the match to stay in contention for the La Liga, but that thought did not put any tension on the experienced Catalans. An early scare however made Barca step up their game, after Mallorca's top scorer Guiza fired a shot that missed target in the 9th minute. Iniesta quickly responded with an attack in the 14th minute which Keeper Lux did well to save. In the 22nd minute, the hosts made to jerk Valdes when Basinas footed a low drive that narrowed away from target.Mallorca returned in the 28th minute through Arango to try Barca keper Valdes, and the keeper wasn't found wanting.
It was then a series of close misses from Barca until the first half ended, when three chances that should have put the Blaugrana up were missed. Marquez showed signs of what was to come with a 36th minute header that didn't locate target, while Xavi's freekick flew above the crossbar before Iniesta's distant effort failed to make hay.
The second half was more productive. Bojan Krkic came in to replace Gudjohnsen and the young teen aded great pace to the Barca attack. In response, Mallorca became more daring and nearly took the lead just past the hour mark when the visitors' defence had trouble dealing with a Jonas Gutierrez effort. This was the tonic Barca needed as the Catalans launched an attack that forced a corner from Iniesta's effort. Xavi swooped the corner to a lurking Marquez who made no mistake this time, nodding on target. FC Barcelona had gone 1-0 up in the 63rd minute.
Spurred on by the effect of the substitution, Coach Rijkaard brough on returning French super star, Thierry Henry who immediatelt stepped up the atack further and scored after just ten minutes of coming on the pitch. His great effort was hoever ruled out by the Referee. Unpertubed, Henry stroked a trademark effort after outwiting three Mallorca defenders, only for the powerful curl to be parried away by an overstretched Mallorca keeper Lux.
In injury time, Henry finally made his point, when two minutes into injury time, the Frenchman received a ball off a wizadry effort from Bojan Krkic. Thierry tapped the ball onto the path of danger man Eto'o who slammed in the ball for the second and final goal of the match. The deed was done.
My Comments :
As we rightly predicted before the match, it was 2-0 to Barca. Yeah, we saw it coming ! A good showing by Barca, and an impressive return from Thierry Henry. The Frenchman can not only score, but always renders invaluable assists. He's been sorely missed. Eto'o proved he's stil as hot as ever. He just can't stop scoring, can he? Bojan has some magic with him. He always steps up the entire game whenever he comes in, and Barca always scores after he's introduced. This is one teenager that is already ruling the world!
Through out this new year, Barca must maintain a 100% record both at home and away, cos only the Blaugrana can attain such a feat in the La Liga if only they play to their full potential. Real madrid will always slip up, just like Villareal has done, falling 3-0 to Espanyol on same night Barca thrashed Mallorca.
Moment of truth as Barca face Mallorca in first La Liga cracker of 2008.
Match Preview: Saturday 05/01/2008 20:00 hours, La Liga, Match Day 18
RCD MALLORCA ( 10th/21pts ) - FC BARCELONA ( 2nd/34pts ) Stadium: ONO Estadi (Son Moix), Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands
Capacity :
Referee: Ramírez Domínguez
Probable Line-up:
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Gudjohnsen; Henry, Eto'o, Iniesta.
Manager: Frank Rijkaard
RCD Mallorca (4-4-2): Lux; Varela, Nunes, David Navarro, Fernando Navarro; Borja Valero/Jonas, Basinas, Ibagaza, Oscar Trejo; Arango, Guiza. Manager: Gregorio Manzano
Match Preview:
FC Barcelona have a lot at stake in tonights show. The Catalan gaints can't afford to lose, as if such occurs a likely win by Real Madrid on Sunday against Real Zaragoza will definitely spell doom for the hopes of the Blaugrana in the La Liga, as Madrid will go 10 points clear at the top. Even a draw is not sufficient for Barca tonight. A win is the only option left for the Catalan giants and with the return of pearl striker Thierry Henry and the smoking form of Samuel Eto'o and Andres Iniesta, a victory for FC Barcelona looks very likely against struggling Mallorca.
The absence of Ronaldinho will be filled by Iniesta in the attack, as Barca aim at maintaining a possible 4-3-3 away formation. Gudjohnsen should hopefully start in the midfield. An alternative formation of 4-4-2 will see Iniesta drop to the middle and edge out Gudjohnsen to the sub bench. Either way, Mallorca are not in for a good time with a very angry visiting team to contend with.
The hosts will have their cup of problems overflowing with accomdating a haunted and victory hungry Barca. Mallorca can do without this visit, as the club has won only one match since October 7th last year. Coach Gregorio Manzano will have to over-task his brains to figure a way out of a bad result today, and will almost totally rely on the form of Dani Guiza. The young striker has scored eight goals so far in the La Liga, and will try to increase that tally against the visitors if only to keep his hopes of a pichichi alive. However, he'll have to pass through the likes of Toure and Xavi in midfield before contending with Milito and Puyol in Barca's central defence.
Coach Manzano also may likely miss the services of goalkeeper Goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya, but something to cheer about in the return of Nunes as well as an inspirational 4-0 bashing which Mallorca handed Osasuna in the Copa Del Rey will act as reference points for Manzano and the entire Mallorca team as they hinge hopes on a favourable result in their own back yard.
My Prediction:
Mallorca will put up a strong fight and even look to cause early scares which may expose them to the lethal firepower of a prowling Thierry Henry and a rampaging Eto'o.
Iniesta should have another fine evening.
FC Barcelona will win the match, but not without a struggle. In the end, I forsee:
Tendonitis rules Ronaldinho out of 2008 La Liga opener.
Ronaldinho will not be present when FC Barcelona take on Real Mallorca in the Blaugrana's first La Liga match of 2008. Ronnie is absent due to tendonitis on his left knee. Barca's team Doctor, Pruna, confirmed the injury on the Brazilian ace and has commenced specific treatment to ensure Ronaldinho is back in action as soon as posible.
Another Brazilian Edmilson is back in the team after a long lay off, and so has Thierry Henry, who was also given a medical break in order to fully recover from his back pain.
Ronaldinho will not be present when FC Barcelona take on Real Mallorca in the Blaugrana's first La Liga match of 2008. Ronnie is absent due to tendonitis on his left knee. Barca's team Doctor, Pruna, confirmed the injury on the Brazilian ace and has commenced specific treatment to ensure Ronaldinho is back in action as soon as posible.