CHAPTER 315: ~ FORÇA BARÇA - FOR VICTORY IN ROMA!!! ~

" What is ahead is so beautiful, that we cannot stop now. "
- Josep Guardiola

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GET READY.

CHAPTER 261: Espanyol (0) - (0) Barcelona [analysis]

Alternative Title: A Tricky Draw

I need to say to say that I am not able to make the usual analysis on Barça’s game. They did not show the game on TV here in Malaysia, and I was trying to watch the match online via streaming. Unfortunately, the streaming quality was real sh-t and fu-ked up I couldn’t watch it at all. Poor quality, and the fu-king game kept buffering like every 5, 10, 15 seconds. I just couldn’t watch the game. The only thing I can state regarding the outcome of the game is that it presents a very tricky situation. It is both a good and a bad result. Good because Barça came away without losing and more importantly in this game is that no goals were conceded. Bad is that Barça did not win, and it now brings to the situation that for Barça to progress into the semifinals, there is only one way only: WIN. Any score draw at the Camp Nou will be a failure. And thus with 0 – 0 in the first game, Barcelona must win at all cost. So that’s the tricky situation that the team will be having (away goals rule will be a pain in this competition’s next phase). This 0 – 0 draw is a double edge sword for the team especially regarding on the chances for Barcelona to qualify into the last 4 of the Copa del Rey. Anyway, here’s my short and concise analysis on whatever I could make on: Positives

• No goals conceded.
• Whatever chances and opportunity Espanyol had, Barça managed to keep the scoreline in bay.

Negatives

• No goals scored, thus bringing to the MUST WIN situation at the Camp Nou in the return leg.
• Marquez’s injury early on in the first half.
• Seemed like the attack were neither decisive nor good enough in this game.

CHAPTER 258: Barcelona (5) - (0) Deportivo De La Coruna [analysis]

Alternative Title: Fantastic Five-O --- La Liga Record Broken In Style!
2nd Alternative Title: All Hail The Henry-Eto'o-Messi (and co) Connection
3rd Alternative Title: Daniel Alves, Simply The Best

Positives

• Win. 3 more points. Maintain top spot in the league as well as the 12 points.
• It’s now the 7th league win! We’re on a winning roll Barcelonistas!
• A domination of a game by Barça. Simply excellent.
• All goals scored by Barça’s front three. The on form trident not only in Spain, but perhaps also in Europ and the Planet Football!
• Messi scored a great goal. Great run, dribbling and a well placed shot (I think a lil’ bit of luck was there when he slotted the ball into the net).
• Henry scored two goals in this game. Another one of the triplet to further increase his goal tally in the league. A good header on his first and nice finishing on his second.
• Good cross from Daniel Alves for Henry on the Frenchman’s first goal.
• Samuel Eto’o scored two goals as well. Further increases his goal tally, and still maintain Pichichi status.
• Eto’s first goal was a at the right place at the right time situation.
• Alves once again provided a good cross which brought to the opportunity in Eto’s first goal.
• A good penalty from the Cameroonian as well for his second. And it concluded a great dominating performance from Barcelona.
• Have to state again, excellent domination in the game by Barça.
• Did Depor had any chance at all in the first half?!
• The forth goal came about from a great hassle by the Barcelona players. From the corner and Xavi’s passing into the path of the Barcelona attackers and that final touch from Henry.
• Wow, Puyol with that run he made seemed like he was destined to score! I think that perhaps Puyol should have made that penalty instead of Eto’o (it’s what I was thinking). Maybe he didn’t take it so Eto’o could have the chance to increase his goal scoring.
• Barça:
  
  • A clean sheet.
  • No yellow cards or cautions.
  • Did Depor get any freekicks?
  • Back to winning BIG!
• And less not forget, the big positive point: 50 POINTS MIDWAY IN THE LEAGUE BABY!

Negatives

• Henry’s shot in the 1st minute, could have been better. Just that Aranzubia stopped the ball with his foot. But a good shot from Henry.
• Eto’o’s chance on the 15th minute. Made a great run and dribbling, just a lil’ bad about the end product.
• Messi made two good headers in this game (one in the first half and the second in the second half about the 76th minute) just that the headers are just a lil off and wide of the goal. Both headers came from great crosses from Daniel Alves (who’s making himself a very important VIP – Very Important Player for the team).
• Keita’s chance in the first half perhaps would have been better had he shot the ball straight away before overcomplicating on his chances.
• The chance Eto’o had before he scored his first was difficult.
• Messi’s pass to Henry in the 54th minute could’ve been better (when Barça were on the break).
• On the 68th minute, there was a screw up between the Messi - Eto’o link (more on Eto’o’s fault though IMO).
• Iniesta made a good effort when he shot on the 71st minute, but a good stopped from Aranzubia.

CHAPTER 254: Barcelona (2) - (1) Atletico Madrid [analysis]

Alternative Title: Into the Quarters………and Espanyol awaits

Positives

• Barça is now in the quarterfinals. The biggest positive point.
• And of course, another win.
• It is now the 8th straight win for Barcelona in all competitions in a row.
• This game was a comeback win.
• Good thing to note is that Barça equalized in a short period after the opposition scored the first (again).
• Bojan scored. And that was an excellent header!
• Excellent cross from Sylvinho for Bojan’s goal.
• Marquez made a goal line clearance in the 1st half.
• Iniesta, very good game. He was the instigator of the second goal, great dribbling and cutting through the opposition’s defense. And Iniesta stepped his game in the 2nd half.
• Gudjohnsen scored the 2nd goal, and he adds up his personal goal tally for this season. He capitalized on the rebound from Busquets’ shot. The 2nd goal was perhaps a being at the right place at the right time sort of goal.
• Barça’s domination in the last 10 minutes of the 2nd half was of the usual Barça master class, passing and possession.

Negatives

• Barcelona found themselves behind the scoreline yet again. And again another goal conceded from a corner/set-piece.
• There were some badly mispasses by Martin Caceres in the 1st half that potentially could have lead to disastrous consequences on the qualifying result.
• There were some chaotic defending from Barcelona in certain moments. One was Atletico Madrid’s break in the 42nd minute in the 1st half, and another instance was when at the beginning part of the 2nd half when after Hleb’s effort did not materialized the opposition rushed to Barça’s goal.
• Bojan’s shot/chance at the 50th minute could have been better. The team could have been ahead at that point.
• The team’s overall performance ain’t exactly great I believe, and they gave away lots of the ball to Atletico. Besides that, Barça was conceding chances for Atletico on Barça’s area (and this happened both in the 1st and the 2nd half of the game).

Post-Game/Quarterfinals preview & thoughts

Now that Barcelona has booked their ticket into the quarters of the Copa, it’s time to think about our next rivals, Espanyol. Another tricky and tough draw, you know that considering all the rivalry and what not this would be a rough affair I think. Good thing about the upcoming matches is that Barcelona do not have to worry about the traveling and fatigue from that aspect, since both clubs are city rivals. So I believe it would be a plus for Pep and the team. In addition, Barcelona will have the 2nd leg at home so that’s another positive factor to take into account. I believe what is imperative is that for Barcelona to progress into the semifinals, they should score some goals at the Montjuic. Get some away goals advantage (as with the nature and tactical implications regarding a cup match). The only thing is that I think that at this stage Guardiola perhaps needs to put in more first team players to get a very good chance for the team to win in either legs. It remains to be seen though, as there’s the league to juggle with as well, so all the tough position that both Pep and Pep’s staff and also the team are in right now. Here’s for winning and good showing. Forca Barça!

CHAPTER 253: Congratulations Messi & Xavi

“ If Cristiano Ronaldo is the first, second and third best player in the world, then Messi must be the forth then. ” – Josep Guardiola

As a Barcelona fan, I would like to congratulate Messi and Xavi on their nominations and placing in the FIFA World Player of the Year award for 2008.
With Messi on second and Xavi on fifth, it’s a good individual achievement for both players. And the fact that both are La Masia products makes it more proud and honored for any supportive Barcelona fan.

What I don’t really get is how Kaka was in the nominations of the top 5.
Cristiano Ronaldo might be the winner, but Messi himself is making a statement this season and if all goes well, he’ll be the crowned winner next time around. Here’s hope to it!
I also want to add that, before Ronaldo, Kaka won the award for 2007. When Kaka won, it was perhaps based on his Champions League performance, and at that 2006-2007 season Kaka won the Champions League (1). Cristiano Ronaldo was instrumental for Man Utd last season, 42 goals and he won the double, both Premier League title and the Champions League (2).
Now, if we’re looking at the pattern, Messi would win for year 2009, and do it by being victorious in all three of La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League (3)!
Hahaha!!! Here’s hoping!!!

~ Image source: Mundo Deportivo ~

CHAPTER 252: Barcelona (4) - (1) Numancia [analysis]

Alternative Title: League Defeat Avenged

I couldn’t make a thorough analysis for this game as I got up late for it. By the time I switched on the TV it was already the second half and Barcelona were two goals up. It was about two minutes before Numancia scored from their freekick. I was up excited and reading various sites, blogs and forums and watching various vids regarding the upcoming Fedor – Arlovski fight that by the time I took my sleep I just went overslept in time to watch the game (damn). Thus my analysis will be brief and touching on the minutes that I saw from this match.

Positives

• Win obtained. Maintained 12 points over 2nd placed Madrid. And now the 6th win in a row since Getafe.
• Goals scored by Barcelona’s trident yet again. Messi, Eto’o and Henry further increases their goal tally. And onwards to a very fantastic statistic from these three this season on attacking accounts!
• First two goals scored early on in the second half.
• Henry scored that third goal and puts Barça back on a good position during the game (that third goal settled some nerves at that that point I suppose).
• Another goal from Lionel Messi settled the game and doubts.
• Perhaps not a big factor, but still a positive point for me: Barcelona avenged the only league defeat. This must surely be a great confidence and morale booster all around for Barcelona as they strive towards that Liga title.
• Last positive point to add, after last’s game against Deportivo, Barcelona now begins the 2nd half of the season, and this time it starts with a win. Hopefully Barça will be on another long winning and extremely positive run. Visca El Barça!

Negatives

• Why no goals in the first half from Barça?
• A goal conceded. And from a freekick (nonetheless that was an excellent freekick goal from the opposition). What’s important is that why did Numancia had their specific chance?

CHAPTER 250: Atletico Madrid (1) - (3) Barcelona [analysis]

Alternative Title: 2009 Begins With A Hattrick From Messi

Positives

• Barcelona achieved a win in the first leg.
• The win (and the scoreline) is an advantageous position for Barça: an away win (away goals advantage), the 1-3 score is a big and good score for Barça to bring back to Camp Nou and also not forgetting that Barça will have a very good aggregate advantage.
• Lionel Messi:
  
  • MOM performance,
  • scored a Hattrick,
  • all three goals were excellent,
  • When he left the pitch, received a standing ovation from the home fans.
• Daniel Alves gave a fantastic pass for Messi’s first goal.
• Iniesta, what a great cross from him to Messi that resulted in Messi’s third.
• Overall the team gave out a very good performance. Atletico Madrid did not have much of a chance. Further more the team (minus Messi, Alves, Xavi) was a 2nd choice team and they did very well against a dangerous opposition. Great job Barça!
• The Pique-Caceres tandem I felt showed a potential centerback tandem.
• Pinto had made a great save in the 2nd half.
• Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid.

Negatives

• Well, the goal conceded was perhaps the biggest disappointment in this game. Especially concerning that yet again Barça concedes from a set-piece.
• There were some chaotic moments in defense especially during parts of the second half. At some moment it was like getting a heart attack from Pinto’s frantic keeping and positioning.
• This is just me, but I think that Barça should have gone more brutal in finishing the entire tie off when Heitinga got sent off. The matter that Atletico are not such a defensive oriented team and the fact that Barcelona were 1 player more why they didn’t go all out and get a possible bigger scoreline to put Atletico out of reach in this stage?

CHAPTER 249: Barcelona (3) - (1) Mallorca [analysis]

Alternative Title: First Win of the Year (2009)

Positives

• A win obtained by Barça.
• It is now the 5th straight win by Barça in the league ever since the 1 – 1 draw against Getafe.
• Another positive point to make also is that Barça has been unbeaten in the league for the past16 games.
• Another comeback win (after one goal down).
• Henry scored the first goal. Adds his goal tally in La Liga.
• Barcelona equalized in a short period after the opposition opened the scores.
• Iniesta scored the second goal, and he’s back!
• Excellent goal from Yaya Toure! The dribbling and that powerful shot blasted into goal! He redeemed himself for the mistakes he made in the first half. Great confidence booster for the Ivorian (I'm sure he 'redeemed' himself on the goal conceded).
  
• Good pass from Eto’o to Toure after which Toure scored.

Negatives

• Conceded a goal.
• The goal conceded was from a mishap from Yaya Toure, and plus Victor Sanchez perhaps did not do excellent enough in stopping Aduriz. Also, it seemed like both Sanchez and Toure got mixed up or got in each other’s way as they tried to stop Aduriz from running into a chance and scoring.

CHAPTER 242: Post Thoughts on La Liga's 'Tourmalet' (the 1st Phase)

“ Set your target and keep trying until you reach it. ” - Napoleon Hill

image source: Mundo Deportivo

What an excellent finish to the year from an excellent first 16 games of la Liga!

And more so, Barça magnificently triumphing the ‘Tourmalet’! Absolutely fantastic considering all the crap that had occurred from the end of last season and the disappointing start at the beginning of this season (and it ain’t the end of the first half of the season yet!).

Anyway, this post is more concerning about commending on Barcelona’s great run of results and performance against their other title contenders and also pondering on the future of Barça in the league for this season in the coming matches.

No doubt, fantastic from Barcelona, with excellent statistics:

• Wins against Sevilla, Valencia, Real Madrid and Villareal
• 2 wins being away at Sevilla and Villareal
• 0-3, 4-0, 2-0, 1-2. 11 goals scored, 1 conceded.
• Henry scored 4 goals, Messi scored 3 goals, Eto’o scored 2 goals, and Keita and Daniel Alves each scored one goal.

I strongly think that every Barcelonista in the world should be very proud of the team and the this achievement, as it now sets on a good path for Barça to potentially win La Liga this season.

Coming to some of the potential and ramifications from Barcelona’s excellent runs, the fact that Barça finished off the four rivals not only leaves Barça with a strong and commanding gap at the top (10 points ahead of 2nd place) and all of Valencia, Madrid and Villareal each dropping points against each other and against some of the other teams as well, it can only serve for a further advantageous position for Barcelona to further solidify their position in La Liga.
The strong point emanating from the statements written above is that Barça will now be facing a run of ‘easy’ teams from now on until the Tourmalet begins again (the second phase) in April ’09.
Thus it further brings to the expected to win situation for Barcelona to gain more points and keep and also possibly increase the gap being at the top. The tricky upcoming games for Barcelona before meeting Sevilla again could be the away games at Betis and Atletico Madrid. Maybe Getafe could be another tricky game to tackle. The important thing here is that for Guardiola (and the players) to make sure that the team always perform, keep their feet on the ground, make the necessary improvements and hopefully none of the players get any injuries.
And hopefully, Barça can keep on winning and wrap up the league early (considering that Copa and Champions League matches will be a factor as well as the season progresses).

We've Got The 'ACE' in the Pack:

image source: SPORT

¡Visca El Barça!

CHAPTER 241: Villareal (1) - Barcelona (2) [analysis]

Alternative Title: Winter Champions

I only managed to watch the 2nd half of this game, thus the points I made below are based on watching Barça in their second half.

Positives

• Win obtained. Further 3 points plus for Barça added.
• Barcelona on an excellent winning roll. It’s the forth now!
• Beating Villareal and beating them at their homeground.
• And Barcelona have not emerge at El Madrigal for a quite a number of games.
• A comeback win. Always a positive point to be made.
• With this victory, Barcelona triumphs in the first round of the ‘Tourmalet’. Absolutely fantastic achievement by Pep and the Players! Big props indeed.
• Keita scored a decisive goal again, equalizing the score yet again. Good header too (quite identical to the one he scored against Getafe).
• Alves yet again provided the cross for Keita.
• Henry scored a winning goal. He’s adding up to his goal tally this season.
• Great cutting through by Xavi, and a very good pass to Henry resulting in the Frenchman’s goal.
• Barça equalized within a short period of time after Cani scored for Villareal.
• A big positive point to state here is that Barcelona hanged on for the win after Pique got sent off. After playing at Malaga under difficult circumstances regarding rain and wet, muddy pitch, in this game Barça triumphing in the adversity of having to play the game for a remaining period of time with just 10 men.
• Even though I would have liked and preferred if Real Madrid losing their game, but their victory over Valencia at least widen the gap between Barcelona and Valencia. Also, Sevilla’s draw at Mallorca was also another positive point, as they slipped up Barça is now 10 points clear! The Winter Champions!

Negatives

• A goal was conceded. The first goal conceded by Barcelona during the run of the Tourmalet.
• The manner that goal was conceded. Villareal were faster than the Barça defenders on this case.
• Pique’s dismissal.
• Xavi got a yellow card (in complaining to the ref regarding Pique’s sending off).
• Villareal themselves almost had their breakthroughs. One was when Franca at 85th minute and another by Nihat at the 91st minute.
• As of those chances that Villareal had (as written above), it seemed that Barcelona are showing tendencies of getting beat on the counterattacks of the opposition. Drenthe almost made it last week. Cani scored in this game.

CHAPTER 236: Barcelona (2) - Real Madrid (0) [analysis]

Alternative Title: 12 Points Ahead Baby!!

This game reminded me a lot with the Champions League final in Paris back in 2006. Barça having to score against a defensive rival, and the rain was pouring down. And two goals late in the second half. Freakin’ hell!

Positives

• Winning against Madrid.
• Victory achieved. 3 more points.
• The third straight win now. Barça’s on a good roll.
• Barcelona obtained a difficult victory against a rival that relied on difficult tactics (they really parked the bus didn’t they?)
• In addition, an excellent run in the Tourmalet thus far.
• Barça kept a clean sheet.
• And it’s the third clean sheet in a row! All against the Tourmalet rivals thus far!
• Well, Barça attacked most of the time……and pulled out the victory in the end.
• Valdes, absolutely crucial performances…and absolutely crucial saves and stops that he made in the game (Sneijder, Drenthe and Palanca).
• Toure gave another important play in midfield. Damn it, he even went and dribble through the Madrid players in the first half and could have scored an amazing goal!
• Puyol was real tough. The best thing was when he ran up to the corner and jump up higher than Ramos and Gago (and everybody else) and headed the ball into Eto’o position. That jump from the Captain was something!
• Daniel Alves gave another tireless performance. I believe that he had a constant battle against Denthe and won most of his battles against the Dutchman.
• Sergio Busquets gave another good performance. Came on as a substitute and help change the dynamics of the game for Barça and helped out by further making Barça control the midfield war. Besides, he won the penalty.
• Samuel Eto’o scored a crucial goal, and it further increases his goal tally.
• Not only does Barcelona further increases the point gap against the other teams, Eto’o is increasing his goal tally gap against his goal scoring rivals.
• Messi scored a great goal.
• Hleb and Henry made great passes and play through in the end that Messi scored the second goal for the team.

Negatives

• Eto’o missing the penalty. A weak shot.
• Wasn’t the best or among the best Barça performance. Very hard win.
• Marquez’s yellow card. Now his yellow card tally is added up.
• Even though I mentioned that Alves won majority of his encounters against Drenthe, there was that one moment during the first half where Drenthe beat him and had his one on one chance against Valdes (thank God Valdes stepped up and saved that, big time).
• Gudjohnsen was damn poor in this game.
• Xavi wasn’t really in the game. His play was nullified by Madrid’s midfield and hassles.
• Also, both Eto’o and Messi didn’t have the best of games.
• I found that Abidal had trouble with Palanca.
• Other negative point
  
  • Didn’t really see the suppose mosaic at the Camp Nou (most probably had to do something with the rain).

Other things to state…..
I’m just wondering, did Pep played mind games with Ramos (and the press)? Because there was talks and stuff that Guardiola would have brought in Iniesta for the game, and that Madrid had a similar situation with Sneijder. In the end, Iniesta still out, but Ramos picked Sneijder. Evidently Sneijder could carry on the game and Ramos had to make that switch with Palanca. Whatever it is, I believe that it further complicated matters for Ramos strategy wise (especially in substituting players) as the game went on.
Bloody white a-ssed bast-rds were gang-hacking Messi.
Maybe Barça caught the hype surrounding the game, but most important was that the victory was achieved.
And now we’re twelve points ahead!!

image sources: Mundo Deportivo, SPORT

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.

*******

image source: SPORT

CHAPTER 229: Sevilla (0) - Barcelona (3) [analysis]

Alternative Title: Tourmalet Gets Under Way…….with a Win!

Positives

• Win achieved. 3 points added to the tally and the top spot is still in the hands of Barcelona.
• Beating Sevilla. Achieving a victory at Sanchez Pichuan with Sevilla being one of the top contenders is a fantastic feat.
• A big win by Barça. 3 goals scored.
• No goals conceded. Impressive clean sheet.
• Eto’o scored a goal and adds his goal tally in the league. And that was a ‘sniper’ kind of goal also!
• Messi scored 2 superb goals in the second half. He made them look so easy but damn, reality was that those sure were difficult to make!!
• All three Barça goals were of absolute quality in the sense of capitalizing on the scoring chances that came up from Barça’s gameplay.
• Barcelona help up against Sevilla’s attack and pressing.
• Hleb made a very good pass/assist on Messi’s second goal.
• Last positive point to state, Barça begins the Tourmalet with a win. Hopefully (and with this away win) it would set up for another win (next up Valencia). Let’s all hope we can make it!

Negatives

• Sevilla threaten against Barcelona first, especially in the beginning of the first half. The first 10-20 mins the rival made more shots and pressed more, sometimes it felt real anxious and cagey. They even had a shot hit the post and once I believe that Kanoute got ahead of the Barça defense line (onside) and just lobbed the ball that ended up just above the crossbar.
• Wasn’t really a game that Barcelona totally dominated (though things improved during the second half where Sevilla had a drop of form compared to their fist half performance).
• Hleb’s first touch when he came on was very poor. Shouldn’t be the stuff that a footballer playing on the top level should do. If the game was in state of a stalemate or Barcelona needing to chase the game, then the consequences from Hleb’s particular touch could have been fatal.
  But at least he then gave an excellent assist for Messi as written above.

CHAPTER 228: Sporting Lisbon (2) - Barcelona (5) [analysis]

Alternative Title: Champs of Group C

Positives

• A win.
• The victory ensures that Barça ends up qualifying on top spot from the group (thus having gained that crucial home leg advantage in the second round when the knockout stages of the competition begins next year).
• A win with a big score line (5 goals scored) is always great.
• Another away victory. This Barcelona is having a mighty impressive away record in all competitions this season!
• Huge improvement in terms of performance and goal scoring chances in this game, compared to the previous match (against Getafe). Better attacking and more pressing against the opposition.
• Thierry Henry scored the first goal and added his goal tally for this season.
• The first goal came from a good interplay between Messi and Henry.
• Pique scored his first goal for Barcelona in official competitions.
• Was that an ‘Espaldinha’ of an assist from Gudjohsen on Pique’s goal?
• Messi showed great finishing on the third goal.
• In addition, that third goal was from an excellent set-up & teamplay (from both Alves and Messi). Again, the opposition got caught and were slow to counter against a Barça play.
• I believe that Pedro did good hassle for the forth goal. If he hadn’t chased after the ball perhaps the Sporting defender wouldn’t have tried to clear away the ball in a rush.
• A good boost for Bojan Krkic in terms of both winning a penalty and scoring from the penalty spot (thank God that ball went in! It looked like the keeper could have stopped it!). Hopefully he redeems himself from his poor showing last weekend.
• Regarding results from the other teams in the other groups, Barcelona could be proud in the sense that they are the first to mathematically top their group.

Negatives

• The goals conceded.
• Marquez gave away that freekick that resulted in Sporting’s first goal. The Mexican commited that fouled in a dangerous and precarious area for Barcelona to defend against (and the quality of Veloso’s goal showed that’s a position that the team can be beat at).
• Liedson’s goal was even worst conceded. Once again Marquez ought to have headed the ball away better, and Caceres was in a difficult position to chase Liedson. The prevention setup in this particular situation was poor.
• What was crap was that Sporting scored in a quick succession. From being ahead by three goals to suddenly being ahead only by just one was absolutely crap.

Other thoughts….. As stated above, Barça is the first team to mathematically qualify as champs of their group. However, the issue here is that with the first and second spots from the other groups are still uncertain as of this current moment, they would definitely arise a delicate and tricky situation that the expected knockout stages of the Champions League next year would be consisting of tough and interesting clashes. Could prove extremely tricky for Barça if they end up facing a top tier team in the last 16…..

CHAPTER 227: Barcelona (1) - Getafe (1) [analysis]

Alternative Title: Another Disappointing Draw

Negatives

• The draw is more seen as a disappointing result (considering that the form that Barça have been in prior to this game, widely expected that they won this game, also considering that playing at the Camp Nou).
• Barcelona conceded a poor goal. Furthermore, Getafe scored first.
• Found that Pique was at fault most for Getafe’s goal.
• It was a lackluster performance from the team (far from the scintillating attacking show that the team had shown in the previous matches).
• Messi did not play, thus the ‘No Messi’ factor will probably be on the minds of the doubters again.
• Very tough for and on Bojan Krkic. When he was on the bench after being substituted, his face showed real gutted. Surely not feeling good about himself, could damper furthermore spirit.
• A big negative point I want to state is that this is one game that Barcelona really look susceptible to fast, counter attacks from the opposition.
• The draw was dissappoining, but what I’m worried about the consequences of this result is that if could be a drop of form and results for the team.
• And more so considering that the team is going to play next against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal to determine who will top the table in the Champions League group, and after that the big La Liga challenge of this season will begin at Sevilla. Not so positive note to begin these games.

Positives

• Barcelona equalized a losing game, coming back from a goal down.
• Keita scores an important goal. The positive point for him on another note is he’s adding just to his own goal tally.
• Alves made a very good cross that Keita took advantage of.
• Pedro came on and provided a spark and burst of attack that was evidently lacking from the first half.
• The team looked for goal chances even withstanding having to chase the game.
• At least, Barça’s still maintain top spot in the league.

CHAPTER 225: Recreativo Huelva (0) - Barcelona (2) [analysis]

Alternative Title: The 9th Win

Positives

• A win garnered 3 more points. Besides that, it is the 9th straight victory in La Liga, and it maintains Barcelona on top of the table for another week.
• The 1st goal was very good. A well strategically taken goal that involved brilliant team play and deception the opposition scrambling in the defence. With Xavi and Alves both running up to kick the ball, only for Xavi to side-pass the ball to Messi at the last minute in which then Messi run and scored the goal without being in an offside position! And it was a great strike form Messi as well.
• Seydou Keita gets his first goal for Barcelona. Eto’o might have attempted a difficult shot (or maybe it was an assist of a pass to the Malian), but what was important was that Keita was at the right place at the tight time.
• A positive point for the team, as they really pulled through in this game to get the win as they wrestled the victory from a tough rival that kept coming against Barcelona with what they can muster. Huelva really had shown they had the stamina throughout the 90 minutes to play against Barcelona even though Barcelona had the usual domination of the passing and ball control at times more than Huelva themselves.
• Thierry Henry has once again become instrumental for a Barcelona goal. The goal of Keita came after Henry received a cross and headed it to an open Eto’o, which in turn the Cameroonian then passed to Keita in which he scored the eventual goal. The setup of Henry’s work for this goal is similar to his assist of Xavi’s goal against Malaga, where he headed the ball to his teammate. Seems that the Frenchman is using his height and heading to manipulate the buildup of a team goal.

Negatives

• The yellow cards of Eto’o and Daniel Alves. I think that Eto’o could have conducted better in controlling his emotion after clashing with Huelva’s keeper, he could have avoided it.
• Daniel Alves had a frustrating battle wit Sisi, especially in the first half. It was unduly and probable that he ended up with the yellow card.
• Not many chances were made during the first half of the game. Barcelona pressed the game but without much significant opportunities made or taken.
• There was a ‘What The Fu-k’ moment at about the 35th minute when Yaya Toure screwed up as he passed back the ball to the back of midfield only for the opposition to intercept the ball then rushed through with a counter attack. It ended up as a corner for Recreativo Huelva and although they did not score, it was a chance taken by them.
• After that 35th minute corner from the rival, Messi made a dashing run towards the other side, ended up passing to Henry, where unfortunately Henry made a weak shot straight into the keeper’s position (into the keeper).
• During the 2nd half, there were scary moments where the opposition themselves had some shots hit Barcelona’s woodwork and posts. Besides that, there was a mis pass from Xavi at about the 90th minute of the game that resulted in a counter from Huelva and there was chaos in the Barcelona penalty area.

Other points to make…..

With both Madrid and Valencia losing the day earlier, Villareal’s draw against Malaga (coupled with Barcelona’s latest victory) brings further positives outings and outcomes for Barça.
Madrid and Valencia are now 5 points adrift, but the Yellow Submarines’s latest disappointment brings Barcelona 3 points ahead. And considering that next week Villareal will be playing against Valencia, there’s a big chance that either one of these two close contenders will be dropping further points, all the better for Barcelona. Of course with the exception that Barcelona keeps on winning of course.

CHAPTER 222: Barcelona (6) - Real Valladolid (0) [analysis]

Alternative title: The Biggest Win Thus Far

Positives

• A win again. 3 more points added, and the league’s top spot is assured for yet another week.
• The 8h win (and 8th straight win) in the league.
• A very big positive point is that this is the team’s biggest win in the entire season thus far. Very uplifting factor.
• 6 goals scored. Very big boost (morale, confidence and team spirit wise, as well on fans perspectives).
• Team wise, excellent. Even though Real Valladolid withered the Blaugrana storm early on (and they themselves were attacking) once Barça hit full gear it was almost as game over (and as the goals kept coming, it was sure over, so early).
• Eto’o scores 4 goals. And all of them in the 1st Half!
• Simply great achievement. I might be wrong, but ever since following Barça this is the first time I witness a Barcelona player scoring 4 goals!
• As for Eto’o, he has further solidifies his Pichichi status (13 goals now).
• Furthermore, great finishing.
• Messi, just ruled the assists and cutting through the opposition’s defence with penetration and passes.
• The Messi-Eto’o combo.
• I just have to write that Puyol was just superb defending wise. I haven’t remembered much since Puyol gave such a powerful and commanding performance defending Barcelona! And plus, he played as a left back!
• Man of the Match???
  
  • Eto'o?
    
  • Messi?
  • Puyol?
    
• Eidur Gudjohnsen scored the best goal of the game.
• Henry gets a goal as well.
• A different positive point to note, it was a happy crowd at the Camp Nou. Mexican waves were there.

Negatives

• Messi’s offside goal. It sort of robbed him from scoring a goal in this great winning game.
• Henry.
• Broke up/slowed down some of the attacking team play of Barcelona. Especially during the 1st half where Messi made a slalom run towards the Valladolid goal, and passing it to Henry, only for Henry to further complicate the chance he had by controlling the ball more and moving away from the opposition’s goal.
• Also, there was a chance he shot just wide in the 1st half as well (which should be a goal in regards to Henry’s capability).
• I believe that in this game Xavi was lesser commanding than what the previous positive performances he shown in the earlier victorious games.

CHAPTER 221: Barcelona (1) - Basel (1) [analysis]

Alternative title: Draw Drawback, Qualification Confirmed

Negatives

• With this draw, Barça’s run of continuous winning streak in all competitions has ended (though Barça are still undefeated in all competitions since the Numancia defeat).
• Personally for me, this draw is extremely disappointing. As Barcelona concedes a goal in the last 10 minutes of the entire game (after getting ahead when Messi scored) and also adding the matter that it wasn’t a great game by Barcelona none wise.
• In addition, with this draw (and coupled with Sporting Lisbon’s own positive result) Barça is just 1 point ahead, thus the mathematical assurances of obtaining the top spot of the group is not confirmed as yet.
• Goal conceded on the 83rd minute is just as disappointing as the one conceded against Racing Santander earlier on in the season. In fact, this game’s outcome was the most recent disappointing result ever since that draw at Camp Nou back in August.
• Just a poor first half from Barça.
• This was a game where it was not enough of a lot of things from Barcelona.
• Not enough good scoring chances, not enough attack and pressure on the opposition throughout the game, not enough hunger, not enough will and not enough drive to win.
• It was only after Messi came on that the dynamic of Barça’s attacking were more intense.
• I believe that with the outcome of this game, Guardiola put in a weak team and selected a weak lineup to win the match.
• Not a great game from Thierry Henry.
• I think that as both Messi and Eto’o didn’t start the game, much of the responsibility in commanding the attack and goal was Henry. It as just a lesser stellar performance from him (but then again, Henry has been far and not up to par as from his persona and power that he displayed at Arsenal).
• Another point to add is that Henry missed a great chance on the 4th minute of the game. Had he scored from this opportunity, perhaps the outcome and dynamics of this game would have been different…
• Pique had missed out on a great opportunity from the corner Barça had at about the 80th minute. His header just missed the goal, and had the ball gone in the Basel goal it most probably would have sealed the game (making Barcelona having a two goal advantage after Messi scored). Unfortunately though, luck wasn’t on Barça’s side (I had the feeling that that missed chance would be fatal, soon enough, Basel scored).
• The Barcelona defenders, I believe, ought to have done better in preventing Basel’s goal. From preventing the cross, and how the hell did their goal scorer managed to shot the ball between Marquez and Puyol.

Positives

• The biggest positive point is that Barcelona has assured qualification to the knockout stages. And the other point to be added as well is that Sporting Lisbon have assured their qualification as well, so that leaves a narrow objective for Barcelona to achieve if they were to fight for the top spot of the group (in having to impede Sporting’s chances when both teams met in Lisbon).
• Messi scores a goal, and adds up to his goal tally.

CHAPTER 219 : Malaga (1) - Barcelona (4) [analysis]

Alternative title: Rain Doesn’t Stop the Barça Train

Positives

• Win obtained.
• Another win on the road. Furthermore considering that the opposition was Malaga, who they themselves were on a continuous winning streak themselves (beating Sevilla just last week).
• The win streak is now on the 11th roll. It’s now seven straight wins in the league.
• Another big win.
• The real big positive point was that Barcelona won under difficult circumstances. Not only did they managed to beat a rival that was on a winning roll themselves on their homeground, but Barça beat them on a muddy, wet soaked and damn uncomfortable pitch.
• The rain factor was a factor out of anybody’s hands.
• But what is great is that the fitness of Barça’s players prevailed in this game. As evidently they won the game with great resolve and pulling through with the victory and also dominating the play more than Malaga. Also need to be considered is that Barça hustled for each ball throughout (and under all the hard circumstances that this game presented).
• The game began with another quick start from Barça, a 5th minute goal.
• Xavi scored a great freekick.
• Barça recovered and retook the lead quickly after Duda equalized for Malaga. Props to Messi who never gave up fighting for the ball and went on to score the second.
• Three goals scored were instigated from set-pieces. Barça are becoming dangerous from set-pieces.
• Even though the last goal of the game would have been credited as an own goal from Welington, nevertheless it was from a blast of a freekick yet again from Daniel Alves. Following up from his freekick goal from last week, Alves is now on a freekick roll.
• From such difficult circumstances once again, it’s a good point and sign that none of the players got injured.
• Second last positive point to make out is that this Barcelona prevailed under a different situation presented to them none other than situations from the previous games. Barça not only defeated Malaga, but also beat a bad pitch and a bad weather.
• Final positive point, Barcelona is now league leaders (after Valencia’s surprising 2 - 4 defeat against Racing Santander).
• Now, at most, just another 29 more wins needed to go.

Negatives

• The clean sheet record is broken.
• Maybe Pique could have done a bit better in preventing Duda’s shot that resulted in Malaga’s equalizer.

CHAPTER 216: Benidorm (0) - Barcelona (1) analysis

Alternative title: The 10th victory, and the first in Copa del Rey

I wasn’t able to watch this game properly. It was not shown on TV here, so I had to resort to frustrating streaming. Quality wasn’t great, kept buffering once in a while, all in all a crappy reception.
Nonetheless the analysis has to go on, but I’m only able to point out obvious positives and negatives from the outcome of this game.

Positives

• Barcelona begins the Copa campaign with a win, away from home.
• The winning streak continues, now it is the 10th straight victory in what is now three competitions that Barça is involved in.
• Hopefully this will spurn on another continuous winning streak (now in the Copa del Rey).
• Another positive point is this game is the forth game in a row where the team kept clean sheet.
• Great goal from Bojan Krkic.
• The team pulled through in the end in achieving the win.

Negatives

• Only one goal was scored. If looking at logic, by looking at the quality of the opposition (not to mean disrespect though) and from Barça’s past performances in scoring plenty of goals from the previous games, it was a let down.
• Perhaps the most frustrating game played by Barça ever since they start winning big.
• Less opportunities and chances from Barcelona in this game.
• Yellow cards received by Caceres and Abidal. Could prove dentrimental as yellow card in the Copa games are bring forward to La Liga games as well (correct me if I’m wrong).
• Victor Sanchez with that goal ruled out. Could’ve been a goal if maybe he’d done a bit better on the chance he had.
• Bojan had missed several good chances I believe.