Injury sidelines Gianluca Zambrotta for 4 weeks. The Italian defender will return to action in November.


An echography and magnetic resonance test on FC Barcelona's Gianluca Zambrotta confirmed the Italian ace defender has torn muscles in his right leg and will be out of action for about four weeks. Zambrotta lept off after just 20 minutes in the game against Real Zaragoza, replaced by Oleguer Presas. Gianluca had sustained the tear while wresting the ball off Zaragoza defender, Ricardo Oliviera. The absence of the Italian defender gives more homework for both FC Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard and the Italian national team coach, Donadoni, who both depend on the skillful defender's great contribution to the game whenever he's on the field. However, Rijkaard has repalcements like Lilian Thuram and returning captain Carles Puyol whose traditional role was the right-full back position before being shifted to the central defence area.

Catalan daily newspaper SPORT reported in today´s issue that FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has given the go ahead for a summer move of Diego and Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza. SPORT also claims that Barca are prepared to offer € 30 mill. for the Argentine brothers and that the offer is considered more than fair. Zaragoza are expected to accept this generous offer and the roports suggest that FC Barcelona are willing to offer some youngsters in a loan deal to speed up Zaragoza´s decision.

Video Highlights: Saturday 07/04/2007 20:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 29
REAL ZARAGOZA - FC BARCELONA 1-0 (0-0)

La Romareda, Barcelona – Attendance: 30.000
Referee: Medina Cantalejo


Goals:

1-0 D. Milito 57´


Real Zaragoza (4-4-2): Cesar – Diogo, Pique, Gabriel Milito, Juanfran – Aimar (Lafita 87´)), Celades (Movilla 58´), Zapater, D'Alessandro – Sergio García (Nery 77´), Diego Milito - Manager: Victor Fernandez


FC Barcelona (3-4-3): Valdes - Thuram, Puyol, Oleguer (Gio 72´) - Xavi, Marquez (Zambrotta 46´), Iniesta, Deco - Giuly (Gudjohnsen 66´), Messi, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Here are the Video Highlights of the match:

Match Preview: Saturday 07/04/2007 20:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 29
REAL ZARAGOZA - FC BARCELONA 1-0 (0-0)

La Romareda, Barcelona – Attendance: 30.000
Referee: Medina Cantalejo


Goals:

1-0 D. Milito 57´


Real Zaragoza (4-4-2): Cesar – Diogo, Pique, Gabriel Milito, Juanfran – Aimar (Lafita 87´)), Celades (Movilla 58´), Zapater, D'Alessandro – Sergio García (Nery 77´), Diego Milito - Manager: Victor Fernandez


FC Barcelona (3-4-3): Valdes - Thuram, Puyol, Oleguer (Gio 72´) - Xavi, Marquez (Zambrotta 46´), Iniesta, Deco - Giuly (Gudjohnsen 66´), Messi, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Report:
It was not the night of FC Barcelona in Zaragoza, when Barca was defeated by a sole Diego Milito goal in the 57th minute. Nothing went really right on this evening, starting with picking a offensive 3-4-3 tactics. Real Zaragoza was in charge of the game and unusual for Barca held even more possesion of the ball.


The goal came on minute 57th when Oleguer did not pressure Argentinian Andres D´Alessando enough outside the penalty box. D´Alessandro crossed the ball close to the touchline and Diego Milito slighty deflected the ball into the goal before approaching Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes could clear the ball.


The only good thing on this evening was that Valencia also lost in Bilbao, but it leaves Barcelona vulnerable at the top, while nearest rivals Sevilla could go top of La Liga, if Sevilla defeat Racing Santander today.


With Eto'o out of the encounter, Ronaldinho started as centre forward, with Messi on the left and Giuly on the right wing.


Former Barca player Sergio García was the danger man in the opening minutes of the game. Several times he caused problems down the right and he created the best chance after only 3 minutes when he crossed the ball to Argentine midfielder D´Alessandro who volleyed the ball wide and over the crossbar from a thigh angle.


Uruguayan right full back Carlos Diogo produced the next two chances. First he run all the way on the right but his shot was saved by Victor Valdes. His second shot moments later went over the goal and caused no problem for the Catalan keeper Valdes.


Messi had the first chance for Barca on minute 23 but his shot went straight into Zaragoza goalkeeper Cesar.


D´Alessandro then had two free kicks, the first going close over the goal and the second into Valdes arms.


After 30 minutes, Sergio García had the biggest chance so far, when he cut across Barca captain Puyol and hit the ball next to the post but outside the net. Moments later he put a cross from the right outside the penalty to the far post and Zaragoza´s inspirational captain Gabriel Milito missed it only by inches to take the lead.

Just before the break, again Sergio Garcia shot over the target and Ronaldinho fired a long distance free kick next to the goal.


After the break, FC Barcelona came out with a lot more determination and will to turn the match into their favour. Giuly, with the first chance, fired a ball high at Cesar and Deco had his excellent opportunity deflected by another former Barca player, Gerard Pique, over the Zaragoza crossbar.


As Barca pushed forward, Zaragossa tried to counter attack. On minute 57th, it was Real Zaragoza who took their chance. D´Alessandro approached Oleguer and Lilian Thuram on the left touch-line outside the penalty box. the Barca defender´s did not pressurize the Argentinian midfielder who crossed the ball along the touchline and the approaching Diego Milito just deflected the ball inside the Barca goal before the approaching Valdes and Puyol could clear the situation. Lucky and surprisingly at this moment, but not undeserved Zaragozza took the lead.


Barca continued their passing game and tried to push for an equalizer but the match was often interrupted by some strange referee decisions that left the Blaugrana frustrated. 6 Barca players were booked in total.


Then Barca had the their biggest chance to equalize. A nice combination left Messi inside the penalty area firing a shot towards the goal. But the shot was blocked by 3 Zaragoza defenders on the line. The rebound fell to the feet of late substitute Gudjohnsen, but the Icelandic international was not able to convert this great opportunity. It just went inches wide.


The final whistle ended an evening, when nothing really went right. A bad day for Barca that should be quickly forgotten.


My Comment:
It was definitely not the Blaugrana´s night and with the defeat at La Romareda, the door to the Spanish Championship has been pushed open much further than I hoped for. The only good news of the evening was Valencia´s defeat at San Mames against Atletico Bilbao, which means they only have a chance to keep up their title hopes when they beat Real Madrid and Sevilla in the next upcoming weeks.


Again, we realized how important Samuel Eto´o is for the team and why we anticipated his return after the injury. Ronaldinho, Messi and Giuly have not been very effective up front and hardly threatened the opponents goal.


Discussions will come up about the 3-4-3 tactics implemented in the first half, but to me it is not so much the importance of the tactics but a lack of desire and determination on a similar level shown by the host Real Zaragoza. Once Barca was 1-0 behind, the team was not able to change this and put a gear more up.


We have known before that Real Zaragozza would be a difficult team to beat, but I expected a bit more last night. With a win, Barca would have made a major step forward to defend their Spanish Championship title and surely would have damaged the rivals morale. Instead we have to look at Sevilla and Real Madrid today, hoping them to drop points (a possibility) as well.


We have to forget this evening as quick as possible because there is no time to mourn about the 3 lost points. The next weeks are the decisive ones, when all the Championship rivals play each other in the upcoming weeks.


The team needs our support in the upcoming weeks!



Visca el Barca!

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard warned in yesterday´s pre-match press conference of Real Zaragoza´s strength and feels that the Copa del Rey victory is history now.


Here is a selection of his comments in the official press conference:

That all belongs to the past now. Zaragoza is a very dangerous team that play especially well at home.

Zaragoza are a very dangerous opponent, made up of very talented players that form one of the strongest squads in the league. Every time they play us their mentality has been brilliant and they are playing for a place in Europe.

This will definitely be an interesting game, and the way it ends will be important for both sides. But the squad has the correct mentality to put on a good display.

We have two options in this sense. We still have to think about tactical things and tomorrow we’ll see what decision we come up with.

Every league game is difficult, you can’t afford to relax. Every game is important and tells its own story.