Super show at Glasgow as FC Barcelona produce 11-star performance.


Match Report: Wednesday 20/02/2008 19:45 hours , Champions League, Second Round

CELTIC GLASGOW - FC BARCELONA 2-3 ( 2-1 )


Stadium: Celtic Park, Glasgow
Capacity : 60,506

Attendance : 58,345
Referee: Peter Frojdtfeldt


Goals:


1-0 V. of Hesselink ( 15' )

1-1 Messi ( 18' )
2-1 Robson ( 38' )

2-2 Henry ( 52' )
2-3 Messi ( 79' )




Cautions:


Yellow Card:


Celtic Glasgow: Robson ( 20' ), Hartley ( 60' )


FC Barcelona: Deco ( 30' )


Corners:


FC Barcelona 8 - Celtic Glasgow 1


Shots on Goal ( On Target ):


FC Barcelona 24 ( 8 )- Celtic Glasgow 5 ( 3 )


Possession:


FC Barcelona 71% - Celtic Glasgow 29%


Line Up:


FC Barcelona (4-4-2): Valdes, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Toure, Deco ( Xavi, 65' ), Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldinho ( Eto'o, 73' ), Henry ( Gudjohnsen, 88' )
Manager: Frank Rijkaard ( Johan Neeskens )


Celtic Glasgow(4-3-3): Boruc, Naylor, Caldwell, V. of Hesselink ( Samaras, 55' ), Hartley ( Donati, 65' ), Robson, Nakamura, McDonald, McNamus, McGeady, Caddis ( Wilson, 60' )

Manager: Gordon Strachan


Match Report:


FC Barcelona brought the entire Scotland to its feet with spectacular football against Scottish hosts, Celtic in Glasgow. The Blaugrana were in total dominance of the encounter, having 71% of total ball possession compared to Celtic's 29% and out-shooting the hosts with 24 shots at goal compared to Celtic's 5. Celtic had only one corner-kick through out the match. Beyond doubt, Barca deserved to be winners for the night, and win they did, with a 3-2 scoreline. Even though the Catalan giants had their coach Frank Rijkaard on the stands as he served his suspension for being sent off against Lyon, the superstars boosted their confidence by having Johan Neeskens on the bench in Rijkaard's place.


Celtic looked impressive at the beginning of the encounter but it was Barca who got the ball to obey its pace, as the Catalan giants seized control of the game and dazzled Celtic. The build up from Barca was
almost rewarded in the 13th minute when Iniesta forced a great save from Celtic's keeper Boruc, and Henry curled the rebound towards the gaping corner of the net, only for Paul Curdis to save the moment by heading off the line.


In quick response, Celtic launched their own attack two minutes later and with some questionable positioning, Venegoor of Hesselink headed in the ball into Valdes' net for the opening goal of the day.


Trailing 1-0, Barca came out in full force and tore the Celtic defence apart. Their venom was effective just three minutes after the Celtic goal, when Lionel Messi made a beautiful one-two interchange with Deco and finished off the display with a beautiful goal to level things at 1-1.


But Rangers were not to be taken for granted, even though the hosts entered the match as underdogs. The team quickly reorganized itself and absorbed much of Barca's deadly attacks, as the Blaugrana were superior in all departments. However, it was Celtic again, who moved ahead by drawing second blood, this time through a goal from Robson in the 38th minute. Aiden McGeady's lob was effectively dodged by V. of Hesselink and Mc Donald, who made to draw away from the ball, leaving McGeady with a chance to send the ball over Barca's keeper Victor Valdes with a great header. It was 2-1 to Celtic and the home fans went wild and remained in that state through out the half-time period.


The second half resumed with FC Barcelona controling the pace like they did at the beginning of the first half. Just seven minutes into the half, Thierry henry showed why he was the undisputed French goal king , when the Frenchman received a great pass from Ronaldinho who had benefited from a gift of a pass from Caldwell. Henry sailed into the corner of the area and unleashed a stunning strike that curled itself into the far corner of the net. The goal was truly a beauty to behold.


With scores level once again at 2-2, Celtic seemed to concede to the fact that they may not be able to overcome the stronger and more talented hosts right on their home soil. Lionel Messi was let lose in the 62nd minute and the Argentine gave a warning of what was to come, when he released a shot that keeper Boruc saved. Thierry henry could have made it three goals for Barca, but the Frenchman's effort went narrowly off.


Lionel Messi, sensing Celtic never took his earlier warning seriously, reappeared in the 79th minute to punish the battling Celtic by burying the hopes of the Scottish team with his second goal of the night. The Argentine received a ball that had bounced off Celtic's defenders from a swift Eto'o pass, and Messi shook off a bedazzled Caldwell before placing the ball neatly into Boruc's net.


The deed was done.


My Comments:


With a 3-2 win over Celtic, FC Barcelona will go into the second leg of the Champions League encounter as almost certain victors, especially as the match will be played in Camp Nou. Celtic must be preparing for next season's Champions League event, as this will be the most advisable thing to do after the 3-2 loss to Barca right in Scotland. It will be easier to walk from the north-pole to the south-pole than to salvage the scoreline in Camp Nou.

Match Report: Sunday 20/01/2008 21:00 hours (GMT +1), La Liga, Match Day 20

FC BARCELONA - RACING SANTANDER 1 - 0 ( 1 - 0 )
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Capacity : 98,772
Attendance : 60,039

Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo


Goal:


1-0 Henry ( 30' )


Cautions:


Yellow Card:


FC Barcelona: Deco ( 83' )


Racing Santander: Luis Fernandez ( 23' ), Jordi ( 48' )


Corners:


FC barcelona 5 - Racing Santander 2


Shots on Goal ( On Target ):


FC Barcelona 12 ( 2 )- Racing Santander 9 ( 1 )


Posession:


FC Barcelona 67% - Racing Santander 33%


Line Up:


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Sylvinho ( Abidal, 82' ), Milito, Puyol, Zambrotta, Deco, Gudjohnsen ( Marquez, 58' ), Iniesta, Giovani ( Messi, 66' ), Henry, Bojan
Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Racing Santander(4-4-2): Coltorti, Sergio Sanchez, Cesar Navas, Oriol, Luis Fernandez, Tchite ( Pinillos, 76' ) Serrano ( Colsa, 62' ), Jorge Lopez, Duscher, Jordi, Bolado ( Pablo Alvarez, 46' )

Manager: Marcelino Garcia Toral


Match Report:


Barca entered into the match with a lot of pressure, especially after learning that Real Madrid were already two goals up away to Atletico, which meant a ten point gap had been opened at the top of the table. A win now meant more than it had even been considered before the match started.


The Catalan giants breathed down heavily on the resolute Santander squad, who held on and absorbed all the attacks that were thrown at them by the eager hosts. Thierry Henry and Zambrotta were the early goal seekers, as Zambrotta kept up pressure by running deep into the Racing half and looking great in display. A cross that was floated to Thierry Henry in the 20th minute was nearly in, after the French man headed just wide, and then Sylvinho emerged from the left flank to flick another crosss to Bojan Krkic, who narrowly missed the opener for Barca. It was only a matter of time. Ten minutes after his headed miss, Thierry Henry returned and this time, got the header right on target. Iniesta sent a well delivered corner into the Santander area, and the ball bounced of a bewildered Racing defence to go Henry's way. The goal king wasted no time to nod home for 1-0 to FC Barcelona.


The remaining fifteen minutes of the half didn't produce any more goals, but saw one half-hearted attempt by Racing to even things. The game also started in the second half in much the same way as it had started in the first, but this time, the visitors were not able to hold on without being broken for too long. Deco sent a fierce shot which the Racing keeper was at his best to save and Gudjohnsen soon raced down to meet a pass, and the ice man volleyed a ball that was luckily deflected away from goal. Santander also responded with close misses of their own through Oscar Serrano, exposing some lax in the Barca defence and prompting coach Rijkaard in the 58th minute to bring on Marquez who came in for Gudjohnsen in order to solidly the defensive midfield area.


FC Barcelona maintained control of the game, with Lionel Messi coming in at 66 minutes on the clock to replace Giovani dos Santos in the to mark the return of the Argentine magician since his injury in the 3-0 smashing of Valencia. Messi was immediately running at the Santander defence, being called of by the referee for an offside and also upsetting the defence with god football and another chance that the visitors had to foul the Argentine whizzkid. Sensing clear and present danger, Racing's Coach Marcelino quickly withdrew most of his men and formed a tight defence wall that stayed guard till the end of the match, but not without a surprise counter attack from the scared visitors in what would have been a heart breaking equalizer. In the closing seconds, Jordi managed to head narrowly off target as Zambrotta bravely kept the ball out of danger to ensure Barca secured all three points at stake.


My Comments:


Great football played, though not the best that we have seen from Barca this season. Zambrotta was great and in top form while once again, Thierry Henry proved he was simply a master in what he knows how to do best - good football and good goals. It was good to see Lionel Messi back in action and still with the threatening form he had when he left. Madrid may have won 2-0 at the Calderon, but FC Barcelona look more likely to maintain the winning streak as the league takes an all win dimension for the two top teams.


Barca will need to step up their game against Villarreal as the yellow submarines host the Blaugrana in the Copa del Rey quarter final first leg. It was Villarreal who beat Barca 3-1 few months back in the La Liga, and the match will be played at the same venue. Villarreal also showed warning signals by thumping Valencia 3-0 same time as Barca were beating Racing Santander 1-0. A lot of work needs to be done, even as the Barca stars say they prefer results to good football these days.

FC Barcelona see off defending champions Sevilla.


Match Report: Tuesday 15/01/2008 22:00 hours, Copa Del Rey, Round 1/16 ( 2nd Leg )

FC BARCELONA - SEVILLA CF 0 - 0
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Capacity : 98,772
Attendance : 75,917

Referee: A. Perez Bull


Goals:


None


Cautions:


Yellow Card:


FC Barcelona - Dos Santos ( 46' ), Marquez ( 54' )


Sevilla CF - Mosquera ( 54' ), Duda ( 91' )


Line-up :


FC Barcelona (4-4-3): Valdes, Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Sylvinho, Marquez, Xavi, Gudjohnsen ( Bojan, 50' ), Iniesta, Dos Santos ( Deco, 68' ), Henry
Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Sevilla(4-4-2): De Sanctis, Alves, Mosquera, Dragutinovic, Adriano, Renato, Poulsen, Navas, Capel ( Alfaro, 81' ), Chevanton ( Duda, 74' ), Fabiano ( Kerzhakov, 68' )

Manager: Manolo Jiménez


Match Report:


Hostilities began very early in a match that did not produce any goals, but was more interesting than some matches that did.


In the very first minute, Dani Alves delivered a cross that Ernesto Chevantón connected with, but this narrowly missed target. Barca responded with an Iniesta effort in the 4th minute. The creative one curled a ball that sailed across the far post of Sevilla. Iniesta returned in the 17th minute to set up Thierry Henry, who kicked the ball a litttle too hard, sending it wide.


Sevilla closed up the middle, as the visitors feared an incursion into attack by Barca. Fabiano made a brief scare when he nodded a corner over at the Blaugrana goal area, while Eidur Gudjohnsen rattled Sevilla keeper Morgan De Sanctis' with a stormy shot from 25 yards, ensuring that the first half ended goalless.


On resumption of play, the coaches kept their first-half players and pattern intact as no early chnages were made. Dani Alves again caused early scare by testing Valdes, but the Barca keeper did well to put the ball into his safe custody. A change did come in the 55th minute when hardworking Gudjohnsen was replaced by sleeky Bojan Krkic, who immediately added more vitality and creativity to the game. Giovani was also replaced by Deco who was just returning from injury.


FC Barcelona continued to dominate the game, with some good football and scares coming from Thierry Henry and Bojan, who the Sevilla defenders tried to cut off. The Blaugrana were however a bit too relaxed and unmindful of their defence, not until Sevilla had another surprise in store for Barca, as an 82nd minute free-kick shot by Dani Alves rattled Valdes, who spurn the ball unto the Barca cross bar and away from danger. A disaster was averted. However, Sevilla surged forward again and this time, Navas got the ball into the Barca net, but the effort was disallowed as Duda was well placed in an undeniable ofside position.


Bojan signed off the night with an effort that would have resulted into goal, but the young goal machine was not lucky to his angular effort go in. The match ended goalless as the hosts, FC Barcelona knocked out the defending champions Sevilla on away goal rule after a 1-1 draw in Seville during the first leg.


My Comments:


FC Barcelona confirmed their superiority over Sevilla CF, as the defending champions of the Kings Cup bowed to the team of the moment, a star-studded and revived Barca squad. The quarter finals is Barca's next port of call, and it looks more and more likely that the Blaugrana will get to the final...and eventually win the trophy.

Two giants share honours in top of the range Copa Del Rey clash.


Match Report: Wednesday 09/01/2008 22:00 hours, Copa Del Rey, Round 1/16

SEVILLA FC - FC BARCELONA
Stadium: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville

Capacity : 45,000
Referee: Dauden Ibanez


Goals:

0-1 Henry ( 24’ )
1-1 Capel ( 43’ )


Cautions:

Yellow Card:


FC Barcelona:Marquez( 13’ ), Giovani ( 30’ ), Milito ( 59’ ), Abidal ( 77’ ), Puyol ( 93’ )


Sevilla: Dragutinovic ( 7’ ), Capel ( 43’ ), Navas ( 90’ )


Line-up:


FC Barcelona (4-4-2): Valdes, Puyol, Milito, Marquez, Abidal, Edmilson ( Thuram, 75’ ), Xavi, Iniesta, Giovani ( Bojan, 92’ ), Eto’o ( Gudjohnsen, 85’ ), Henry
Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Sevilla(4-3-3): Da Sanctis, Alves, Dragutinovic, Mosquera, Crespo, Maresca ( Navas, 54’ ), Poulsen, Capel, Adriano ( Renato, 54’ ), Luis Fabiano, Chevanton ( Kerzharkov, 65’ )

Manager: Manolo Jiménez


Match Report:


The encounter lived up to its pre-match billing. Two goals, eight yellow cards, two balls hitting the woodwork, lots of scoring chances and lots of fireworks.


The match commenced in its intensity, with both sides assessing each other with body testing movements and gritty tackles that made the centre Referee clutch to his box of yellow cards hoping that would help tame the excited players. Barca had the first good chance with Giovani Dos Santos escaping ten yards from the Sevilla goal post and sending the ball just wide of Morgan De Sanctis' near post. Sevilla tried to take the warning but couldn't hold on as the defence caved in to the rampaging Barca attack in the 24th miunte. In form Rafa Marquez lifted a pass over the Sevilla defence and located Thierry Henry who after two touches, rested the ball in the net. The first touch calmed the ball and the second sent it sliding through and into the Sevilla net. FC Barcelona had gone one goal up.


The goal fully awakened Sevilla to the pre-match possibility of losing to the Blaugrana in Seville. This terrible thought spurn the hosts into action, but the FC Barcelona lads were not to be easily subdued. Milito and Puyol held well in defence, with Marquez and Thuram playing well also. In the 41st minute, Alves sent a cracking shot towards Barca keeper Valdes, who did well to palm the shot over the bar for a corner to Sevilla. The desperate hosts crowded the Barca goal area hoping the corner will make amends just before the first-half ended. Their wishes were granted, when the incoming ball was scampered over while still in mid-air, only for it to land on Diego Capel who repeated what Thierry Henry had done by using two touches - one from a fellow Sevilla player and the second by him - to send the ball, this time, into the Barca net. Scores were drawn at 1-1.


The second half did not produce any goals, but produced enough drama to make the fans feel they earned their money's worth. Crunchy tackles were made, yellow cards were freely flashed by Referee Ibanez, all three maximum substitutions were used up by each side and Chevanton nodded Alves' cross against the FC Barcelona woodwork, while Barca's Edmilson responded by sending a low drive from 30 yards against the woodwork of Sevilla.


Giovani and Chevanton lost dying minute chances to ensure the highly publicised match was settled evenly after Dauden Ibanez blew his whistle to end the match.


My Comments:


Sevilla and FC Barcelona gave us a great match which ended 1-1 as already forseen from pundits on this website. The result puts Sevilla in a great disadvantage as they return for the second leg of the tie in Camp Nou. It's hard to envision Sevilla going through to the next round. I don't see that happenning. Once the Sevilla hurdle has successfully been crossed, FC Barcelona will likely go all the way to lift the Copa Del Rey.

Bright start for 2008 as Barca overpower hosts Mallorca to close gap on Real Madrid.


Match Report: Saturday 05/01/2008 20:00 hours, La Liga, Match Day 18

RCD MALLORCA - FC BARCELONA 0-2 ( 0-0 )
Stadium: ONO Estadi (Son Moix), Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands

Capacity :
Referee: Ramírez Domínguez


Goals:


0-1 Marquez ( 63' )


0-2 Eto'o ( 90' + 2' )


Cautions:

Yellow Card :


FC Barcelona - Giovani ( 10' ), Toure Yaya ( 60' ), Puyol ( 86' )


Mallorca - Trejo ( 83' )



Possession:

FC Barcelona - 61%
Mallorca - 39%


Corner Kicks:

FC Barcelona 5
Mallorca 2


Shots on Goal ( On Target ):

FC Barcelona 15 ( 4 )
Mallorca 10 ( 2 )


Line-up:


FC Barcelona : Valdes, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Toure Yaya ( Edmilson, 68' ), Xavi, Gudjohnsen ( Bojan, 46' ), Iniesta, Giovani ( Henry, 63' ), Eto'o

Manager : Frank Rijkaard


RCD Mallorca : Lux, Navarro, Varela, Basinas ( Trejo, 71' ), Pereyra, Arango, Ibagaza ( Borja, 71' ), Jonas, Guiza ( Victor, 48' )
Manager: Gregorio Manzano


Match Report:


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.