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.

Barcelona - Deportivo "Match Review"

After an early shock from the visitors, Barcelona found it so hard to get back into the game, obviously because of the pressure that have been done by Deportivo de La Coruna during the first half. Barcelona wasn’t seen as the unbeaten team at home for almost 30 minutes, but after all they got to save the match with full three points. Coloccini appeared the main character in Deportivo defense, but in general the whole defense line was impressive.

In the 2nd minute, Cristian surprised Valdes with a shot from 25 metres. This was bad news for Barcelona players, who took them almost the first half to pass over the goal surprise. Five minutes before the 1st half final whisle, Iniesta who appeared like usual with great shape wins a penelty after good run from the left side. Ronaldinho who started the match from the beginning after three matches starting on the bench, puts the ball nicely into the net giving Barca the full confidence to start the 2nd half as the dominant side.

As it was expected, Barcelona took the control of the match in the 2nd half, it was clear the will for the second goal. Deco who was away for more than 1 month, was Frank’s risk card in the center to give Barca more speed in pushing the ball forward. Xavi was the man who assured the three points, after crossed ball by Puyol stoped by Muna to find Xavi with a clear net who released the pressure by making it 2-1 for Barca. The tries for the third goal were available but the result remained unchanged, and Barca remained as well unbeaten at home.

The good news for Barcelona wasn’t just the victory, Eto who was enjured for more than 2 months got to enter the field from the start, the way he appeared, was good sign for Frank who had problems with lots of enjured players. This great news comes before 2 weeks from facing Real madrid.

The remarkable point was Sylvinho who replaced Abidal for healthy reason, his attacking mentality to support the front line, specificly from the left side was good option to give Ronaldinho enough space to play better football. Meanwhile Milito was the responsible man for the gap that was left behind Sylvinho, it was clear that he was standing more on the left side in case of any counter attack from the visitors.

Espanyol - Barcelona "Match Review"

After great start by Barca which reminds us with the last game against Lyon, Espanyol reaction was late one half, especially in the first 20 minutes from the second half. After the game was opened, there were lots of chances for both sides to change the final result.

In the first half, after six minutes, Messi makes successful run breaking through Espanyol defense passing the ball to Iniesta who scored the first goal. This goal put Barca in control, the players missed easly in many occasions the chance to make it at least 2-0, propably the ball that was denied by the post twice was the biggest opportunity for the visitors.

After the break, Espanyol took off the control from Barca, and they forced Barcelona players to remain mostly in their half. Corominas on the 68th minute from his first touch, he scored his first goal in the season making it 1-1. The game was on fire in the last fifteen minutes, fortunatly we could see very nice football from both teams.

In general, Barcelona gave very good show performance, all the players appeared the way the fan expected them to be. But the player who was on top of his performance was Messi. Even Frank after the end of the match mentioned how impressed he was by the way Messi controled the ball, "The way he controls the ball is incredible, he is spectacular," Frank said.

The only thing to be said about Barca tactic was în the second half. We saw exactely the opposite of what was in the first half, the defense line was mainly standing almost behind the center line with few meters, which gives Barcelona the ability to control the field with giving no chance for Espanyol to catch the ball and to cause any damage. In the second half, after the way that Espanyol entered the field, Barcelona renounced on the middle area, because Espanyol was pushing them back. Barcelona was focused on not receiving any surprise, neglecting the fact that by dominating the match they could avoid Espanyol scoring.


    1st Half


    2nd Half

Espanyol vs Barcelona "Match Preview"

Without Henry, Eto, Deco, Thuram, Edmilson, Oleguer, Giovani and Sylvinho, Frank Rijkaard calls up each of Marc Crosas, Alberto Botia and Victor Sanchez to join the list facing Espanyol this Saturday. This will make the mission harder for Barcelona players while they are willing to prove themself away from the Nou Camp after successful night in the Champions league.

The start line up will not be different from the one played against Lyon, the only thing is that we might see Ronaldinho starting the match. But beside this, Frank Rijkaard will apply the same strategy.

Taking into account the history of both teams, Barcelona has better chance to win the game. But Espanyol has never been the easy opponent in the derby. Last year as we all remember Espanyol beat Barca 3-1.

Lyon 2 - 2 Barca "Match Review"

With fantastic Goal, Barca started the match very nicely after very well counter attack started from Messi then to Bojan and finished by Iniesta. Four minutes later from freekick Lyon brings the game again to the start point. In the secomd half from a penalty kick, Messi makes it 2-1 for Barca after he himslef had been brough down in the Box. Almost twenty minutes later Juninho from a penalty kick committed by Abidal, the home side equalises the game.

Xavi and Toure were the main characters in Barcelona performance, Toure appeared the way he did in the last weeks, being successful in cutting the balls from the opponent giving the freedom to Xavi to play more in the front line. The defense line didn't have so many problem, with Puyol and Milito, both were focused quit well. The only gap was coming from the right side, with Zambrotta mistakes, Frank found himself forced to replace him with Marquez, who stands next to Milito, moving Puyol to the right side. The only negative point that came from Abidal was the penalty kick in the second half, but in general his left side was not an easy path for Lyon. Bojan didn't get to touch the ball so often, but he was the main reason for the two goals that gave Barcelona the qualifying and the 1st place with 11 points.

Barca start line up didn't include Ronaldinho and Henry. Iniesta played in the left side while Bojan was in the front line as striker. Gudjohnsen took Iniesta place in the middle. But even so Barca didn't change 4-3-3 tactic.

No new tactics to be mentioned, the same way of players movment depending like usual on the wings from both side. One point was missed from Barca, shots from outside the area was not applied, except one in the first half was well done by Yaya, was saved by vercoutre. The team in general was fast enough but in the other hand side Lyon still is not Lyon last year.

Barcelona plays away in Champions League

Away from the Spanish league, Barcelona play away from home, but this time against Lyon. The French team is still far from the team that appeared last years, even if in the last weeks with better results they got to show good performance.

Everybody knows the difficulties Barca had in La Liga when they were playing away from the Nou Camp. This Game for Barca is a matter of solving the problem with playing away more than winning the three points. Especially that they need psychological preparation for the game against Espanyol.

Generally speaking, the media started talking about tactics change. From the other hand side, we all know Frank and 4-3-3 start line format. The same attack mentality will be applied, and beside the players will be asked for more effort.

Barcelona - Recreativo "Match Review"

The match was obviously between two teams who had different goals, Barcelona willing to score early to catch the match as soon as possible, Recreativo players were just kept focusing in keeping their goal empty.

First half was completely dominated by Barcelona. We could rarely see Recreativo having the ball. The main problem, that however, remained unsolved for Barca was in the Box area. With too many defenders it was hard for Henry to make any run. Messi hoped with presonal effort to open the score but he didn't get it right. While XAVI was moving forward in some occasions, he was also one of the reasons of Barcelona domination tonight. Yaya Toure could keep the balance between the lines, he was able to delay Recartivo attacks during the match. Barcelona players with too small spaces was forced to end the first half with no goals.

In the second half Messi made great run but his ball was just abit far from the right post. Barcelona was not able to use any of the corner kicks untill Milito after 64 minutes scored his first goal from corner kick was taken by Xavi. From here the match took another curve. The goal was just enough to free Barcelona players and we could see Henry moving better with more spaces. After Bojan replaced Gudjohnsen, Iniesta moved to his normal position where he could find more spaces. Three minutes after the first goal Henry received long ball from Xavi delivering it to Bojan who controled it nicely and put it in the goal making it 2-0 for the host. Barcelona after that took off the pressure and it was clear that they gaind the 3 points. In the last 10 minutes Messi won a penalty and he was able to score the 8th goal this season that he deserved, Before the final whistle Barcelona had some chances to make the score bigger but 3-0 was the final result.

From my point of view Barcelona's problem tonight was “moving without the ball”, this what made it easier for Recreativo to cut the balls especially in the first half. This also happens when Barca plays away, like Frank said "he wants more effort from the players".

Pushing Bojan was Good option for Frank, the player wants to fight for a place and he moved nicely all the time, he still has to work much more but tonight he really got to show good performance. Barca fan were happy to see him scorring at Nou Camp.

The defense was stable for Barca tonight, Puyol, Milito and Marguez had no problem in stopping Recreativo from scoring. Abidal was standing well with the defense line, but he still has to improve when he moves to the front line, same thing with Zambrotta, especially when they play against team like Recreativo.