Barca's Frank Rijkaard is always ready to take on tasks, and the match tonight against Racing Santander is no exception.
The Dutchman was eager to field questions from the press, warning that the Catalan giants were well focused and not taking their opponents, Racing Santander for granted. Rijkaard said of the visiting Santander squad:
It’s not surprising that they are doing so well. They are well-organised and work as a team. We have to take the game seriously.
Coach Frank also demonstrated awareness of the gap at the top with Real Madrid, and was very confident FC Barcelona will catch up and meet expectations this year. Read Frank Rijkaard's pre-match comments:
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I was just 2 days away and may things seem to hapen. Now is the time for rumours about all the players coming in or leaving FC Barcelona. May specultations are going on. The newest update:
Deco, FC Barcelona to Internazionale
Italian newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" reported that Internazionale have made an offer of € 6 mill. to FC Barcelona for midfielder and playmaker Deco and are waiting for a responds now.
The Italian report suggests that the Italian Champions Inter have made Deco their No.1 transfer target.
Barca´s Deco has already stated he is happy at Camp Nou and does not want to leave Barcelona. Also Barca seem to have a few different ideas about the situation. Spanish reports suggest that Barca is offering a contract extension worth about € 20 mill. until 2010.
Nicola Zigic, Racing Santander to FC Barcelona
Spanish Media and German Football Magazin "Kicker" reported that FC Barcelona have already sealed a deal for Serbian national striker Nikola Zigic from Racing Santander. Zigic came from Red Star Belgrade to Racing last summer and scored 9 goals in 26 matches for the Cantabrians.
The 2.02 m giant striker Zigic will be transferred for an approx. € 12 mill. fee. The 23-year old Zigic played 18 times for Serbia and still has a contract until 2010 with Santander.
FC Barcelona have not confirmed the transfer officially yet.
Match Report: Sunday 11/02/2007 19:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 22 FC BARCELONA - RACING SANTANDER 2:0 (0:0)
Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 78.000
Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto González
Goals:
1-0 Ronaldinho 51 min.
2-0 Ronaldinho 67 min.
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Belletti (Oleguer 85´), Edmilson, Puyol, Gio - Marquez, Deco, Xavi - Iniesta (Giuly 61´), Saviola (Messi 68´), Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard
Celta (4-4-2): Calatayud - Pinillos, Garay, Ruben, Oriol - Colsa (Antonio Tomas 77´), Scaloni (Cristian Alvarez 72´), Vitolo, Oscar Serrano (Momo 68´) - Balboa, Juanjo - Manager: Miguel Ángel Portugal
Match Report: Ronnie show with 2 goals seal superb Barca victory
Two Ronaldinho goals in the second half gave FC Barcelona a deserved 2-0 victory over Racing Santander at the Nou Camp on Sunday evening. A great Ronaldinho with 2 fantastic goals sank Racing who defended well and missed a penalty in the first half. Ronaldinho came back in style after missing last weekend's draw at Osasuna with an ankle injury.
Ronaldinho first goal came after a trade mark free kick, when he curled the ball over the Racing wall and it landed near the left post into the net. The second goal was unusual for Ronnie, a superb header after an excellent Deco free-kick.
FC Barcelona goes with a three point advantage over FC Sevilla into next Sunday´s La Liga clash with Valencia.
The team morale had been boosted by the return of Leo Messi and Samuel Eto'o. Expectations of the fans were even higher, with ronaldinho also back after being rested by Rijkaard last week after he picked up a minor ankle injury.
The Barca team was coming out on the pitch with the will to over-power their Cantabrian opponents and took control of the game right from the kick-off. FC Barcelona looked powerful, trying to go forward on any opportunity given but Racings defence battled hard and fought for every single ball. Barca was totally in control (ball posession 70%) but was caught by surprise when Santander was awarded a penalty after less than half an hour.
Juliano Belletti had his arms around Juanjo while the racing forward tried to head a ball in the penalty area. Ezequiel Garay stepped up but his spot kick was superbly saved by Barca keeper Victor Valdes when he dived to his right and palmed away the well-struck penalty shot.
But after this shock, there was one-way football in only one direction: the Racing goal.
Fast flowing football, combined with one touch football and superb combination created numerous chances.
In minute 20, Ronaldinho had the first real chance, but his free-kick flew straight at Santander´s goalkeeper Calatayud, who saved the effort.
Soon after Santander´s penalty, Barça were twice denied by an excellent Racing keeper Calatayud. Deco´s long distance shot was pushed away and Saviola could not convert the rebound, when a superb save by Calatayud denied the Argentine international.
The Blaugrana´s best chance of the first half came just minutes before the break when Xavi superbly passed the ball to Iniesta on the right of the area and Iniesta´s strong shot hit the right post.
0-0 at the half time break but the crowd saw an exciting game and a fantastic performance from the team. The goals just seemed to be a matter of time!
It was the same procedure than in the first half and Barca was going for it. Finally, after 6 minutes into the second half Barca took the well-deserved lead. Ronaldinho took the free-kick and lifted curved the ball over the wall and inside santander´s goal, just next to the near post. A superb goal, but it should not be the end of Ronnnie´s show!
Iniesta had a nother chance when he brike through into the penalty box and lifted the ball over the Santander keeper, but his effort was blocked by the Santander defence.
Former Espanyol winger Oscar Serrano wasted a free-kick, when his attempt flew far over the Blaugrana goal.
In the 67th minute, Deco instead of ronaldinho took a freekick from outside the edge of the penalty box. It seemed that sanatander´s defence was so surprised by this move, so they left Ronaldinho totally unmarked. ronnie took advantage of this situation and beat Calatayud to the ball and head home from close range.
Just after the second goal of Ronaldinho, Messi came on and was welcomed back with a standing ovation of the Camp Nou crowd. The young Argentinian wonderkid showed some nice moves and touches and enjoyed his more than 20 minutes run on the pitch but unfortunately we did not see the R.E.M (Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi) for the frst time since September as the Cameroon forward controversially did n ot want to enter the pitch just for the last 5 minutes of the game. Instead, Oleguer was warmely welcomed by the Barca faithful after his controversial political article in a Basque newspaper and his dispute with his sport equipment provider Kelme. Oleguer replaced Belletti.
Barça could have scored more goals, when Ludovic Giuly shot on target, but racing´s keeper deflected the ball with his right foot and was quickly enough up again to stop Ronaldinho from converting the rebound.
Every spectator could see that Ronaldinho was enjoying the game on this evening and was near of scoring a hat-trick. He almost came close after one of his magical runs. It is just a delight to see his first touch and then when he goes past his marker. Ronnie then ran along the goal-line before curling the ball onto the near post from an acute angle. Unfortunately the ball deflected from the inside of the near post, then past the far post and wide. Unlucky, but sensational!
In the last moments of the match, Ronaldinho went through the entire defence of Santander and lifted the ball over the approaching Racing keeper to Giuly to simply head home. If Giuly could only be a few centimetres taller... The little french winger flew in to head home from very close range but landed inside the goal while the ball went over the crossbar.
My Comment:
What a great match. Barca was back at their best. Fast flowing, one touch football excited the crowd. Ronaldinho put on a show and really deserved the had trick. The team was out on the pitch, from the first minute and over-powered Racing with a commanding display.
The only issue that could have been critized on this evening, was the fact that Barca should have taken more advantage of the superb opporti nities they had to score.
It was great to see Messi back. It is a delight to see his technical skills and he connects very well his Ronaldinho.
Unfortunately, we did not see Eto'o coming on, who refused to enter the pitch for only the last 5 minutes. I am sure, Blaugrana coach Rijkaard will have to say one or two word to the inspirational striker.
Ronnie and Barca at their best. Messi back playing and fired up Eto'o soon back in action.
FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard explained in the official pre-match press conference that Barca will have to work hard and battle for the 3 points. Despite of the absence of Zigic and Munitis, Racing Santander can not be taken lightly. Zigic and Munitis will miss Sunday's clash due to yellow card suspension and Rijkaard admitted that they were important players for Racing. The Dutch coach also demanded patience with the star players Messi and Eto'o, who have come back from injury. Rijkaard believes that Sammy could need more time to get back to his best than young Leo.
Rijkaard also felt, that dropping Gudjohnsen is a big deal.
They are two important players, which is something we are aware of, but just because those two players are absent, it doesn't mean that the others will be sleeping.
You have to consider such injuries carefully, as a knee injury is very complicated for a player. I see Eto'o improving every day and working hard to get back into form as soon as possible. Messi, meanwhile, is not having any more trouble, is improving physically, and is ready to help the team. He is a high quality player. Skills-wise he is exquisite, but we shouldn't forget that he needs time to get back into the rhythm of things. So playing a whole game or just a part of it is not as easy at it seems.
When selecting 18 players, somebody has to be discarded. It is something we decide from game to game. I have three forwards and we need them all to be in form.
It’s not surprising that they are doing so well. They are well-organised and work as a team. We have to take the game seriously. 
