Watch Messi, Iniesta and Marquez score as Barcelona score four goals in the first half alone.


Video Highlights: Saturday 26/09/2007 22:00 hrs (GMT +1), La Liga Match Day 5
FC BARCELONA - REAL ZARAGOZA 4-1 ( 4-1 )


Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Capacity : 98,772
Referee: Velasco Carballo

Goals:


1-0 - Messi ( 5' )
1-2 - Zapater ( 9' )

2-1 - Messi ( 10' )
3-1 - Iniesta ( 22' )

4-1 - Marquez ( 45' )


Cautions:
Yellow Card :

FC Barcelona - Toure Yaya ( 49' ), Marquez ( 57' )


Real Zaragoza - Diogo ( 62' ), Chus Herrero ( 67' , Gabi ( 73' )


Possession:
FC Barcelona 67%

Real Zaragoza 33%


Corner Kicks:
FC Barcelona 12

Real Zaragoza 0


Shots on Goal:
FC Barcelona - 25

Real Zaragoza - 5


Line-Up:
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Zambrotta ( Oleguer, 20' ), Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Toure Yaya, Xavi, Deco ( Giovani, 73' ), Iniesta, Messi ( Bojan, 82' ), Henry

Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Real Zaragoza (4-4-2): Cesar, Diogo, Sergio, Pavon, Juanfran, Matuzalem ( Chus Herrero, 53' ), Luccin ( Gabi, 43' ), Zapater, Aimar, Oliviera, Diego Milito ( Sergio Garcia, 58' )
Manager: Victor Fernandez


Video Highlights:

Victorious Barca stars maintain positivity.


After the 4-1 bashing of Real Zaragoza, FC Barcelona players were in high spirit. All three players who got goals in the match were interviewed after the match, and so were defenders Gabriel Milito who played against his former team Zaragoza, and Oleguer Presas who also aired his views accordingly.


Lionel Messi :

We didn't start out as we wanted, but we all knew we could play like this. The team has shown that it's capable of great play. We enjoyed tonight a great deal. All I think about is the team, and how to help it.

Andres Iniesta :

The team's heading in the right direction, and to win like this can only boost out confidence. We're maintaining a line of ascension, and that's a good thing. I'm feeling in great form, and that's ideal. But if we want to gain the pick of the titles then we need to win away from home as well as here.

Rafa Marquez :

We must keep this up from match to match. The important thing is to finish matches in a positive way. Here, the team did very well in both halves. I've built up a good understanding with Milito, he's a great defender. And together we can carry out good work with Abidal, Toure and Zambrotta. Now we must face Levante with the same level of focus and aggression.

Gaby Milito:

It was a special game for me. I was very focussed on playing my best for the team. I enjoyed the the match. Zaragoza are quite an offensive team, but generally we have controlled the game. We were strong when it mattered. The three straight wins are important. They were against difficult opponents and were hard games but we have played well.

Oleguer Presas:

Slowly but surely the team is finding its rhythm. We have to continue working hard because there is still a long way to go. The league has a long way to run. We have asked people to be patient. We have not yet reached our best, but if we continue to play like that then the results will continue to come.

Nice words of akcnowledgement comes from FC Barcelona's coach as Barca fans move to quash hostility rumours.


Coach Frank Rijkaard has hailed Barca fans in their show of support for injured midfielder, Ronaldinho Gaucho, who was reported to have contemplated leaving FC Barcelona after a run-in with some of the fans who employed unsavoury tactics in expressing their displeasure with the performance of the entire Barca team in previous encounters. In the most recent match, Barca fans chanted Ronaldinho's name all through the stadium and urged the entire Barca team on with loud cheers and celebration. Frank Rijkaard says:

The show of support by the fans proved very valuable to the players during the game. That's what the players need. That kind of support encourages the players. Showing unity is what everyone wants. When more people are together, we are stronger. When we are stronger, we are able to win consistently.

Ronaldinho missed the match against Sevilla and also the one against Real Zaragoza, as the Brazilian international is yet to recover from a muscle injury likely sustained in Brazil's last two international friendlies against Mexico and USA.

Rijkaard is looking on to better days ahead after downing Zaragoza.


FC Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard is pleased that Barca 's performance is conforming more to expected standards as the days go by. Speaking in his post-match press conference after the 4-1 demolition of Real Zaragoza, the technical head viewed the players performance as one being of high standard, casting light on the psych, fitness and discipline of the squad to stick to technical instructions and pre-planned game pattern:

Hard work and talent went hand-in-hand tonight. I have seen a great team and a real togetherness. I was impressed by the work-rate, mentality and pressure shown by the team that allowed us to play some great football. The team worked well together and the fans reacted with enthusiasm. I thought the relationship between the players and the crowd was great to see. When the team plays well the technical side of the play is more noticable and everything has made this a very good night for Barça.

Rijkaard also praised the fighting spirit of his team, as they rallied within 60 seconds after Zaragoza equalised to get back in front after Iniesta sizzled home the second goal:

Their capacity to react after Zapater had equalised was great to see. Also when we were 4-1 ahead, we continued to try and extend our lead. Everything start with a good mentality, how we work and how we play together.

Lionel Messi secured another brace while Spanish international sensation Andres Iniesta and Mexican international, Rafa Marquez got a goal each to seal victory for the Catalan giants.

FC Barcelona will aim at grabbing 3 points tonight to bring their tally to 11 points.


Match Preview: Wednesday 26/09/2007 22:00 (GMT +1), La Liga, Match Day 5

FC BARCELONA - REAL ZARAGOZA
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Capacity : 98,772
Referee:


Probable Line-up:


FC Barcelona (4-3-3) : Valdes; Zambrotta, Marquez, Gabi Milito, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Deco; Messi, Henry, Iniesta.

Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Real Zaragoza (4-4-2) :Cesar, Diogo, Ayala, Sergio Fernandez, Paredes; D'Alessandro, Luccin, Matuzalem, Aimar; Diego Milito, Oliveira.
Manager : Victor Fernandez




Match Preview:
FC Barcelona must learn from last night's home defeat of mighty Sevilla by Espanyol after a brilliant Raul Tamudo strike. Big teams can indeed fall at home, notably in the La Liga where there doesn't seem to be an under dog.


The absence of Ronaldinho will be felt, but the likes of Messi, Henry, Giovani, Iniesta and Bojan will definitely make up for the Brazilian's role on the pitch, just as well as the team has managed without star striker, Samuel Eto'o. The biggest pressure on tonight for FC Barcelona will be their fans, who have voiced out ( and acted out ) their displeasure from the first day the La Liga commenced after the Blaugrana's 0-0 draw against Racing Santander. Nothing seems to be good enough since then.

Barcelona will come out with a formidable attacking force which will strive to eclipse the Zaragoza defence from the start, while the hunger of Thierry Henry to score more goals will an appetite Zaragoza will have to design a special force to deal with. Lionel Messi will seek to continue his brilliant showing against Sevilla and be more than a problem, while youngsters Giovani and Bojan are ready to make their presence felt more with each match played.


As for Real Zaragoza, a 2-1 win over Osasuna last weekend is a sure morale booster for Zaragoza. The Blanquillos have had mixed fortunes this season though the quad has been boosted by new signings in centre-back Roberto Ayala and Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem. The absence of Gabriel Milito is still being felt, but the midfield and defence have managed to hold their own in the absence of the Argentine. Ex-Getafe man Javier Paredes should be in top form today to make a good impression since his signing. He could start at left back instead of Juanfran. In midfield, Aimar is the focal point of the attacks and should start on the left wing, while either Gabi or D'Alessandro may play on the other side.


Zaragoza have not fared too well in continental engagement, and will look to a strong showing in the La Liga to have something worthwhile to show at the end of the season. Perhaps, starting this strong showing at the Camp Nou may not be the best place to do this, but such wishes are not outlawed, especially when a clash with FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou is unavoidable.


My Prediction:
It will be a hard-fought match with Zaragoza trying to match Barca man-for-man and move-for-move. I forsee a strong showing by Real, but a stronger showing from Barca. The score line at the end:

FC Barcelona - Real Zaragoza 2 - 0