Alternative title: SIX-STARS EXHIBITION
Positives
- Game was a complete and utter domination from Barcelona.
- Another victory for the team, three more points, and maintained that 6 points advantage ahead of Real Madrid.
- Big, big win: 6 goals scored.
- And none conceded. Another clean sheet for the team and that goes in tandem with this recent winning streak as well.
- As said earlier, complete and utter domination from Barcelona. The passing, the pressing, the pace and attacking rhythm. Barça were slicing through the open spaces available.
- Barça restricted Malaga completely in the first half; the opposition di not have any shots on goals or any corners at all (!).
- First goal was great with good play from Samuel Eto’o involved.
- Messi’s goal was fantastic (the control, speed and the feints).
- Henry’s goal was great as well, he beat the offside trap and Xavi made a wonderful pass/assist.
- Eto’o’s goal was the result of a great team buildup and passing form the players before the Cameroonian finished it.
- Valdes made a great save on Malaga’s early corner during the second half.
- 5th goal is probably my favourite of the lot.
Fantastic run by Alves into the goal area, and Andres Iniesta made a fantastic cross into that area to which Alves made a great header that lobbed over the keeper. Iniesta’s cross was like visionary and computer like that ended up on target with Alves!
- Valdes made another good save on the 53rd minute on Malaga’s quick counter.
- On the 6th goal, Henry did well in getting a rebound from a Sylvinho shot, in which the Frenchman laid the pass for Eto’o to score his second of the night!
- Martin Caceres made a good challenge on about the 67th minute (a Malaga player was running towards Valdes) and made an interception on the 70th minute.
Negatives
- Toure’s substitution/injury.
- Dani Alves’ yellow.
- Messi’s chance on the 41st minute in the first half should have been better (he would have scored).
- Xavi had a shot saved at beginning of the second half, and then Messi followed with a rebound shot but that also was saved by the keeper.
- Iniesta’s substitution/injury (?).
- Guddy’s yellow.
- Henry’s shot at about 87th/88th minute was off.
- Bojan’s shot on the 90th minute was saved by the keeper.
- I’m not sure what was Pep’s thinking when he made the substitutions, but personally I found that Barcelona’s game was lesser than in the first half. It seemed as if Barça’s midfield was inexistent and it was from that moment that Malaga seemed to keep attacking and having the space to do so.
Other things to say…
Considering that Yaya went off early, and then Iniesta and then Xavi were subbed, Barça’s attacking opportunities seemed less and the passing and pressing game were lesser than it was compared to the performance in the first half.
Perhaps if the first choice midfield trio stayed and played on (without injury) perhaps Barça would have scored more, might even be capable of scoring double figures (!).
I suppose the blessing in disguise here is that it would ensure that either Yaya or Iniesta would not participate in the upcoming Internationals games for the respective countries next week.
Perhaps if the first choice midfield trio stayed and played on (without injury) perhaps Barça would have scored more, might even be capable of scoring double figures (!).
I suppose the blessing in disguise here is that it would ensure that either Yaya or Iniesta would not participate in the upcoming Internationals games for the respective countries next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment