Sevilla - Barcelona "Match Review"

Both teams have shared the points and the performance. After Sevila being the better part in the first half, Barcelona could pull the game to their side in the second half, they even had real chances to come back with the three points.

After Messi trying his luck from distance, Barca were completely away from the game, when Sevilla took the game forword showing their will to score, with many chances were mostly denied by V.Valdes, finally in the 34th minutes they were able to put themselves one goal ahead after very good play started from Alaves and finished by Capel who was also the goal scorer in the cup game. Barca reaction didn’t seem coming, the same game style continued leading to the half time.

Marquez and Ronaldinho were the two substitutions, they replaced each of Edmilson and Thuram. The center line now shaped by Iniesta, Xavi and Ronaldinho, leaving each of Gio, Henry and Messi in the front line. Barcelona were finally capable to control the ball the way they should, while Sevilla they seem just to counter attack the visitors. Gudjohnsen replaced Henry who had physical problem on his left leg obvioulsy caused him leaving the field. The main chances were created by Xavi who sent the ball from distance twice but his ball was not directed to the goal. In the 75th minutes, Messi put Xavi face to face with Palop, who finally gave Barca the equaliser. Sevilla problems continued after being left with ten men, when Keita committed a foual against Messi on the edge of the penelty area causing him the second yellow. Barceona appeared more dominant and pushing for the winning goal, but the result repeated itself again to remain 1-1 draw.

Frank didn’t have many choices to make his start line, nine players were absent from the first squad, he even called some extra players from Barca B. It was announced before the match that Marquez and Ronaldinho are not fit for 90 minutes. The problem was obvious in the center line with Edmilson poor appearance, he was the weakest link causing lack of ball control giving Sevilla more space to push against Barca defense.

All in all, 1-1 wasn’t bad result for the visitors under these conditions, they are five points behind Real Madrid, who are willing to make the gap to eight points tonight against Valladolid.

Barcelona - Osasuna “Match Review”

Barcelona came to the match willing to close the gap at the top of the table after Real Madrid failure against Almeria. Thanks to Xavi who finally gave the fans what they have come for before three minutes from the finall whistle. In the other side Osasuna didn’t give any sign that they wanted to win the game.

Barca went out from the beginning for the opening goal, they were able to reach Ricardo in many occasions, and even passing him when Iniesta chipped the ball over him but Osasuna defender cleared it into a corner kick. The attacking football was continuously done by Barcelona, they tried hard to push forword but the result remained the unchanged.

After the break, Barcelona kept on dominating the game, the will for an opening goal was no more the players desire, the only desire for them became a winning goal, but still Osasuna wall couldn’t fall apart. Henry and Messi were obviously exhausted after playing the last game in the spanish cup, both of them left the field giving the way to Giovani Dos Santos and Ronaldinho. Barcelona not scoring didn’t please the fan, in the same time Osasuna was keeping the same defending style, moreover they were into wasting time and complaning to the referee. The last substitution came on the 81th minte when Xavi replaced Deco. On the 87th minute, after good work from Giovani, he set the ball for Iniesta who tried his luck but his ball was reflected by Osasuna defense, then finding Xavi who gave Barca the winning goal to assure the three points.

In general, Barcelona played their attacking football style. One thing remains unsolved for Frank which is the lack of goals, he already mentioned this fact to the media asking his players for more goals, adding that being the side who deserve to win doesn’t bring the three points. In the other hand side, Barcelona defense still shows quality in keeping their goal clean giving them the title of the best defense line in La Liga this season, thanks to the additional services provided by Milito and Abidal.

Barcelona - Racing "Match Review"

With only one goal, Henry gave Barcelona one of the hardest three points this season. Even if the game was played at Nou Camp, but things were not going easy for the home side. Racing came to visit not only to defense, but they were well organised from all the lines, starting from solid defense line and beside, they were able to reach Valdes in many ocassion in the second haf.

The fact that Barca were expecting some difficulities from the visitor, Frank started the game with alittle bit risk card as his start line-up didn’t include Defensive Midfielder, which is under Yaya absent, it was filled by Marquez, but Frank knows the hardest job for his team is to score an early goal. By starting with Deco, Iniesta and Gudjohnsen, the team would have better control on the ball, willing to push the ball more forword hoping for an opening goal. Some how they managed to make it 1-0, after a gift from Racing defense, T.Henry makes them pay in the 30th minute. Things didn’t change much leading up to half time.

After the break, Racing were not giving any sign that the team and their defense is ready to collapse, more over they were brave put the pressure on Barcelona players. Here comes the time for Frank to do something. They have scored, they are not able to show a real chance to score another one, Racing is coming over and over, time to put thing back to normal. Frank pulls back Gudjohnsen, and Marquez comes in instead, now they have triangle in the center starting from Marques who has defensive ability. Gudjohnsen wasn’t the weakest link in the middle line, but Frank wouldn’t risk by taking out Iniesta, and beside he would prefer keeping Deco who comes back from an injury to have him in form for the rest of the league. Another player came back from injury, in fact this was the happiest moment for the fan when Messi entered the filed replacing Giovani, with less than half of an hour for Messi to play, he still seems the key man for Barcelona. Even with messi arrive to the field, the score remained unchanged, which brings to the dutch coach the last substitution by pushing Abidal instead of Sylvinho who was more in attacking duty than keeping his left side safe.

To conclude, even with Barca not playing very good football, their defense remain the best defense in the league, thanks to Poyol and Milito, especially the last one who was the key man for Barca last wall. With this three point Barca still seven points behind Real Madrid the leader.

Barcelona - R.Murica "Match Review"

With 4 goals came from Gudjohnsen, Bojan, and Eto in 2 occasion, Barca have beaten Murcia without producing good football in the first half but with amazing football in the second half. Without him scoring T.Henry put his name as the player of the match, he was the most effective player from the left side, he was able to assist 2 of the golas in the same way.

From the other side Murcia was solid enough in the first half to keep his net clean, they tried also to make some counter attack but without any real chance. The only big chance they got was from Baiano in the second half when he faced Valdes, it was possible to be 1-1 but Baiano was denied by Barca Goalkeeper. Beside this Murcia in the second half was completely off the game.

Away from the result, Barca showed very good football, the whole team was on top, but still with Henry and such a performance, he gave the fans what they were waiting for since he arrived at Nou Camp, his physical fit was impressive while he didn’t have any problem passing through Murica defense. Marquez was also another key player, he continoue being in good shape that he appeared in the last few weeks. He played in the center line behind Gudjohnsen and Xavi, but having him there didn’t stop him from going back to cut most of the long balls from Murica players.

Tacticly Frank entered the game with the same format, 4-3-3 was applied very well by covering almost the whole filed, with being carefull in going to attack by keeping each of Zambrotta and Sylvinho not exagerating in going to suppport the front line.

Very good performance and big result, this comes before facing Sevilla in the middle of this week.

Valenica - Barcelona "Match Review"

It seems that Barcelona finally got to win full three points away from home, even if this time the oponent was Valencia who struggled the whole season inside and outside Spain.

After the kick-off, Barcelona was the better side, they took control of the ball not giving Valencia any chance to make any answer. Eto was the Barcelona’s key player, it was somehow clear that he will score for Barca. This comes true on the 12th minute, when Messi put him inside the area, he passed through two defenders and drove the ball into the top corner of the net. The second goal came after 26 minutes by the same player after very good team work, again, Messi put Eto in the area, Eto with one hit left Canizares with frozen legs. Every thing seemed to be well for Barca. The first half for Barca was supposed to be perfect but yet, Messi picked up an injury before 3 minutes from the break, putting him away from the field and away from El Classico next week.

The second half was more or less on the same rhythm, with Barcelona the dominant side and Valencia the broken side. With Barca having comfortable lead, things went so well for them. Gio was the main character with his try also when he put Gudjohnsen with clear net making it 0-3. Barcelona enjoyed the rest of the match while Valenica looked rarley willing to cause any danger.

From another side, it is hard to say who was the man of the match when as long sa we saw all the players giving all they could for the team. But the man who should be mentioned is Gudjohnsen, who after the failure from last year, we could see him now in new position giving good performance completely different from the last season. Of course we give also the credits to Frank who is the best man that can take the best from his players.

Great Victory came on the right time for Barca, with high confidence they will be able to face Real Madrid even without Messi. Barca has lotS of solutions for this, and with many players on the top of their performance, Frank will find himself in a position where he has to choose from the whole squad just eleven men. Another challenge will be waiting for the Dutch Coach next week.