CHAPTER 234: Barcelona (4) - Valencia (0) [analysis]

Alternative Title: Henry’s Hat-Trick Highlight

This game, I kept thinking if only Xavi had scored from the shot he made in the first minute (when the ball rebounded off the post), the scoreline would have been bigger with another goal…..

Positives

• Win obtained, 3 points added to the points tally, and more importantly, maintain on top and in turn increases the gap against Valencia.
• A BIG win. BIG win.
• Beating Valencia.
• This was an impressive victory on all factors. The best has to be the team’s all out performance. Especially the constant pressure and pressing, and of course the hard work in winning the ball back at most times whenever Valencia had the ball!
• Henry. A hattrick, a Man Of The Match showing and value, and his first goal was an excellent lob over the rival keeper.
• Yaya Toure, apart from another great display in midfield, gave a great pass/cross to Henry for the Frenchman’s first goal that broke the deadlock. Great assist!
• Daniel Alves scores his first goal for Barcelona from an open play. And that was some excellent finishing nonetheless!
• On Barça’s third goal, not only was it a very good interplay between Xavi and Alves, the great thing was that the team took advantage of Valencia’s slip of concentration.
• Oh yes, and the third goal was basically scored in the opening minutes of the second half. Now talk about breaking the opposition’s spirit quickly…
• Bojan was very good in cutting through the Valencia’s defense and then giving that short pass (assist) for Henry resulting in the Frenchman’s third goal of the game.
• Abidal’s back in the squad. And I felt that he kept Joaquin in check throughout the game. Not bad considering that it’s his first game after injury and he did well against one of Spain’s dangerous wingers.
• I must say, a very excellent showing from Eidur Gudjohnsen in this game. I felt he added the extra muscle and steel to counter against Valencia’s midfield and attack. He hassled them a lot.
• Another thing I like to state is that in this game, Juan Manuel Mata was like virtually ‘invinsible’.
• And David Villa had a ‘frustrating’ game. Not much chances for the Asturian.
• Tourmalet; 2 down, 2 more to go!

Negatives

• The ball that rebounded off the post in the first half of the game, from Xavi’s shot. Had it gone in………..(it was too bad considering that Barça fantastically broke the Valencia defense at that time)
• Alexander Hleb screwed a great scoring chance for himself in the second half. Also, moments after that he should have done better in passing to either Henry or Messi who were in more dangerous position in scoring a goal.

Other things to say….. A lot of things are being said and written about Thierry Henry’s performance against Valencia, which in many minds believes that this was his best performance thus far in a Blaugrana shirt. Even though I would agree with that, personally I still think that his game and performance is not as realizing the full maximum potential as during his Arsenal days (which were his best period of his football career I believe). IMO, I would say Henry’s showing against Valencia would perhaps be around 60 to 75 percent of his actual that he showed back in England, although this is strictly my personal point of view regarding Henry and his performance. Although the doubt here is that Henry’s probably would not be able to match his Arsenal greatness as factors like age and passing his prime (if he hasn’t already), so one and many others could only hope for better things for Thierry Henry. For Henry’s sake, as well as for Barcelona’s. Gracias Henry.

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image source: SPORT