It was not just another convincing win for the Blaugrana as it was much more for Eto'o who stole all the headlines after scoring four goals in less than forty five minutes. Gudjohnsen and Henry added one each in the second half to give Barca the necessary three points to remain on the top of the table.

It was the visitors who had the first chance though, as a free kick from Medunjanin was denied by Valdes. It was very soon to see Barca advancing and dominating possession.

Twelve minutes was enough for the home side to start the score line, when Alves deliver a fine ball behind the defense to find Eto'o who cut back onto his left foot and fired home through Asenjo's legs. Valladolid went forward as Barca had the lead, but this was for Messi just extra space to counter attack. Eto'o had a chance to add his second when he was set by Messi through on the keeper, but Asenjo did just enough to deny the Cameroonian.

Henry had a real chance to give Barca comfortable lead but his shot didn't seem powerful to pass through Asenjo. After thirty minutes Eto'o chipped a ball to Henry into the box area who failed to trouble the goalkeeper who palmed it back to Eto'o who finished home the play he already started.

In less than three minutes the Cameroonian striker added two more. While Eto'o had to pass over Asenjo before scoring in the 42nd minutes, it was easier for him to beat Valladolid goalkeeper in the 44th minutes with low shop near the left post.

Barca continued their attacking football in the second half, but were displaying less apparent intensity than in the first half. Pep Guardiola made his first change, introducing Caceres for Rafael Marquez to give the Venezuelan some valuable playing time.

Gudjohnsen the man who came back from injury put his name after Eto'o in the scoring list. After receiving the ball from Henry, the ice man chipped the ball over Asenjo to give The Catalan their fifth goal. The Icelandic international was replaced by Keita who also came from injury that kept him away for couple of weeks.

Eto’o was given the honour of a standing ovation after being taken off and replaced by Helb, who just came to assist Henry to score the sixth goal in the 83ed minutes.

Outstanding performance by the Catalan, beside Eto'o with the super hat-trick, all the players had good game and worked together as a team. Next game will be in the Spanish cup and will see many rested players. The game will be played in the middle of the week at Camp Nou.

The teenage sensation is all up for accolades from the older players and officials of FC Barcelona.


FC Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard was very pleased with the football skills displayed by young Bojan when the Catalan giants played a 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid in the La Liga. Bojan and Ronaldinho were among the players that stood out in the entire Barca squad for the evening, and Krkic caused a scare as early as the 6th minute with a face-to-face encounter with Valladolid keeper Alberto, made the home fans gasp with an effort in the 56th minute that sailed over the opponents cross bar, and then raised the hairs of the Valladolid bench in horror as they watched Bojan's great shot rocket off the post. An obviously impressed coach Rijkaard says of Bojan Krkic:

Bojan is such a fantastic player who has mobility, the ability to create spaces and to hold the ball up. I have never had second thoughts about his talents and for the fact that he will keep improving with time is another remarkable thing to consider. He is an asset to FC Barcelona.

Bojan hopes to continue his assault against Real Betis on Sunday 4th November, 2007 at Camp Nou. Kick off time is 19:00 hours ( GMT + 1 ).

Injured Thierry Henry highlights some of Barca's problems.


FC Barcelona’s French national team strike sensation, Thierry Henry has agreed that a lot needs to be done in Barca with regards finding the best way to unlock packed defenses especially at away games. Barca suffered yet another blow yesterday night against Valladolid who simply sealed off their defence and could even have won the match in addition to zoning out Barca’s strike force that was largely handicapped with the likes of Thierry Henry absent. About the pattern of play which more and more clubs are beginning to discover is a frustration for the Blaugrana strikers, Henry says:

We need to do better against our opponents when they pack up their defence. You play against a side such as Almeria or Rangers and it's a problem. It becomes difficult when you play against any side with tactics that emphasize on all-round defensive play.

Thierry goes on to speak on the general pattern in Barca and how the players are trying to adapt to the huge expectations from fans as well as playing against stubborn defences. The former Arsenal star also talks on his struggles to adapt to the Blaugrana’s football style as well:

When you play for good teams people aren't happy when you don't get a result and I can tell you the players aren't happy either. The football doesn't have to be to my taste. That's how Barcelona play and sometimes you feel frustrated but that’s what adapting to new club entails. It's normal that people aren't patient. Against Rangers with the score at 0-0 we all wanted to do something and could not. A player such as myself, Lionel or Ronnie all want the ball. It is a tough decision for the midfielders. That's it. I won't come back to that discussion any more. I have to adapt.

There are indications that Thierry Henry will be missing more of FC Barcelona’s matches after the scorer has finally put a stop on over-labouring his injured ankle. Henry picked up an ankle injury while playing for his country France against Lithuania in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, and has secretly struggled to play ever since, forcing himself to remain relevant to Barca’s campaign:

I have played the past three games with an Achilles injury, picked up with France against Lithuania. But still I wanted to play against Villarreal, Rangers and Almeria. I'm feeling way better but I'm not right coming out of a dribble and I'm missing a bit of speed in the last 20 minutes.

FC Barcelona’s coach Frank Rijkaard is not happy with the outcome of the Valldolid match.


The clearly downcast coach showed he wasn’t satisfied with the quality of football played by the Blaugrana, on an evening the pressure was very high after Barca went down with a five point gap between they and league leaders Real Madrid. Once again, Barca failed to take advantage and this has put the entire team in a more difficult position as the Blaugrana loose more ground to their rivals, despite having the best collection of players in Europe. Rijkaard agrees:

Indeed, we have a lot of quality at Barca, but your quality will do nothing for you on the pitch if you do not work like your opponents are. Valladolid worked better as a team in the second half. They had some luck, and used that to create chances. That Milito and Victor Valdes have been our best players today just about says it all. We should be winning such games, though Valladolid have shown that they are strong on their home turf. What we lacked was collective work, sacrifice. We have to look at that and work to improve. There’s still work to do.

We at Barcelona need to work on our away record. We have played very well at home and unimpressively at away games. The notion that Barca can always make up at Camp Nou for any bad away result has to be done away with.

Coach Frank Rijkaard makes his pre-match comments even as Madrid victory puts pressure on FC Barcelona against Valladolid.


FC Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard has sounded a note of caution about Barca's opponents, Vallodolid in the coming La Liga clash away at Jose Zorilla, indicating it won't be an easy match for the Blaugrana. This comes in the light of League leaders Real Madrid extending their lead by three additional points after they secured an away victory over Valencia. FC Barcelona have an opportunity to close that gap by securing victory against Valladolid, a feat coach Frank is conscious of the fact that not achieving might greatly harm Barca's La Liga title hopes. Showing knowledge of Valladolid's game style, Rijkaard said:

Valladolid are a well organised team that are capable of pressurizing the opposition in their own half or in the midfield. They always play as a unit. I do not know how they will line up against us, but I know that always play as a team.

The Barca coach openly expressed his disappointment at the injury sustained by Thierry Henry and Eric Abidal, which meant the two players will be absent from the Valladolid match and perhaps even after that as medical reports are beinga waited. Rijkaard rued:

Henry and Abidal will be missed. Henry scored against Almería and created a lot chances while Abidal always to play, but neither are 100 per cent fit. Henry suffered a knock in a place where he already had some bother while Abidal has a sprain. It is a shame, but it has to motivate the rest of the team to obtain a good result. It is more important that the team maintain their style of play whoever plays. The aim is to make use of the space that our opponent leaves in defence when they lose possession by playing directly. That does not mean that we are giving up our style, which is based on control of the ball and on not allowing the other team any space.

Rijkaard also payed tribute to Ronaldinho, the Brazilian superstar who has been envied by the press in recent times:

Ronaldinho is working very hard and training well. I have complete faith in him and hope he stays at Barça for many years to come. I do not like talking about any one player in particular as it is better to look at the team, but Ronaldinho has given this club so much and the fans still see him as a player that can make a difference and that is key for the side.

Rijkaard ended the pre-match comments in a dramatic way by giving his own version of how he sees his club, after being asked about what or who he can compare FC Barcelona to in relation to the comments made by Real Madrid's coach, Bernd Schuster in which the German said his club Real Madrid is comparable to Swiss Tennis star, Roger Federer. About FC Barcelona, Rijkaard said:

I would like others to compare themselves to Barcelona and not the other way around. I want Barça to be the model and I do not think we can be compared to anyone particularly.

Indeed, Barca is bigger than anyone person and is an exemplary role model in every sense !