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.
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.
