Barça missed what is probably the last chance in this league when they failed to score tonight against Espanyol. However, despite the disappointing result there were reasons to be optimistic for the coming Champions League game with Manchester United. Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta looked like changing the game when they came on at half time, and only poor finishing meant Barça didn’t take the three points, while Toure Yaya played his best game in midfield since his back injury.
Before the game Frank Rijkaard declared that they would not be thinking of Manchester during the game but his decision to leave Messi, Iniesta, Marquez, Henry and Deco on the bench suggested otherwise. Giovani started on the left with Eto’o in the middle and Bojan on the right, but the first half saw few opportunities for either side. After just thirty seconds an Espanyol free kick was flicked just over the bar by Moises but Victor Valdés had few problems to deal with afterwards as Barça looked quite solid in defence.
The problems occured going forward and it wasn’t until the 24th minute that Barça created anything of note. Then they had three chances in the space of three minutes. First good work from Zambrotta found Eto’o who sent Gudjohnsen through but his shot was saved by Kameni closing down the angle well. A minute later Zambrotta cut in to fire a decent shot that just clipped the top of the bar on its way over. Then Sylvinho’s cross found Xavi’s head but he failed to keep the ball down.
The rest of the first half was disappointing and both teams were restricted to long range attempts and the only problem for either goalkeeper came when Bojan tried a shot from a tight angle on the right which Kameni managed to block.
At half time Iniesta and Messi came on for Gudjohnsen and Giovani and in the first few minutes they gave an added velocity to Barça’s attack. In the 47th minute Messi played a one-two with Xavi and beat a defender before Kameni did well to close down the angle and make a diving save. A minute later Messi’s cross found Eto’o but his low shot was again well saved by Kameni.
Bojan and Eto’o then had efforts go wide and once again the frustration and anxiety began to creep into Barça’s game. Messi made another chance for Eto’o on the right side but Kameni was once again equal to it. Espanyol defended deeper and deeper but the chances for Barça dried up. In the 78th minute Eto’o put in a dangerous cross from the left which no-one got on the end of, and with the minutes ticking away an Iniesta cross gave Eto’o a great chance in front of Kameni but the striker took his eye off the ball and failed to get a proper header on the ball.
It was a much more intense second half that Barça really should have won. The desperation for a goal once again worked against the team, and there are times that a little bit of luck would certainly be most welcome. Hopefully the luck will come on Wednesday. Eto’o was guilty of missing the best chances while Bojan’s efforts were all pretty poor. Messi started brightly but in the end the anxiety also got the better of him. On the positive side Toure had a very good game as did Zambrotta and Milito in defence. If any proof was needed that Rijkaard was thinking about Manchester, it came with the substitution of Marquez for Puyol in the 65th minute.
Barça: Valdés 6.5; Zambrotta 7.5, Puyol 6.5 (Marquez m65, 6.5), Milito 7, Sylvinho 6.5; Xavi 6.5, Toure 7.5, Gudjohnsen 5.5 (Iniesta m45, 6.5); Bojan 5, Eto’o 6, Giovani 5.5 (Messi m45, 6.5).
Barça Yellow Cards: m41 Gudjohnsen, m65 Puyol m82 Iniesta, m90 Milito, m93 Messi, m93 Xavi.
Attendance: 75,451
28 responses so far ↓
Lee (La Liga Review) // Apr 19, 2008 at 21:58
Thank Heavens For Lio Messi!!!!
No matter how bad things may seem, with him on the pitch there is always hope.
Winterhunt // Apr 19, 2008 at 23:06
1 win in our last 8 league matches….. that is what our record is right????? And this is in the most curcial part of the year when we are suppossed to be pushing for a title…. Wow…… Well, it all rests on Wednesday for us as far as the rest of the year being relevant….
metersacker // Apr 19, 2008 at 23:07
hey how did rafa play against espnyol
djlethal1 // Apr 19, 2008 at 23:13
Well there was hope for goals today but i guess they werent meant to be. They played well and the defence looks better although they made a few mistakes like the miscommunication between puyol and zambrotta when espanyol almost got a goal.They played alll out attacking and it was good to see that but they just did not have the finishing touches and hope they do have lots of em againt man united.In my opinion, Bojan would need to train much more with eto and messi so his communication with them can develop cause messi and eto left him stunned at a point in the match in which if he did read the play, then maybe he would have scored. Eto needs a bit more tweaking of his skills after his mischances and after missing that lovely header which could have gotten him a goal which could have sealed the win.Iniesta made a huge difference in the 2nd half as well as Messi. Messi looks like he is back and ready to take on man united defence on wednesday. I look forward to the game on Wednesday, i hope Eto, Messi and the rest of the team can pull their socks up and perfom at their best so we can go to Moscow.
Winterhunt // Apr 19, 2008 at 23:17
Boy, Kameni looked good too (though the time wasting annoyed me but I guess that is what you do to kill off the game)…. His buyout clause is really low apparently, man I wish we’d get him, and if Valdes could beat him out then so be it, but Kameni really is amazing about coming off his line and cutting down angles which always looks to me as if Valdes is never quite sure about….. I know a lot of people really like Valdes, and he does make some excellent saves, but I in all honesty can’t really remember an instance where he almost singlehandedly kept us in a game and got us a result….. Ah, I guess I’m just a bit jaded about all of it at the moment….. Hopefully the big stage on wednesday will bring out the Champion’s mentality in us…..
layi // Apr 19, 2008 at 23:34
should hav played like this earlieer
blaugranaboy // Apr 19, 2008 at 23:47
hey layi, yeah most people were being a bit postive, but others were being exaggeratedly harsh. i know this isnt our best and we are capable of more, but for those that are being critics, compare this game to the last 40 or so, it was the most spirited, urgent, and worthwhile performance. no player can be faultered for trying. yaya was immense, xavi and iniesta were there consitent classiness, etoo ran his heart out, as did bojan but u can see bojan game needs maturing. he often overdribbled or mis read the game, either way i was very pleased. someone in the preview said it nicely, we just looked more like a team. we moved up and down together, it really was very similar to the good days minus hte end product.
i was shitting my pants about playing united a month ago, but now, i feel like we can give them a run. they were horrendous today in the league and havent been great for a few games. its still going to be a damn damn hard match but if we put in at least this effort we have a good shot. i just pray frank has hte balls to drop deco and henry. that for me will be a deciding moment in my support for him. he has to have the guts to not play in form players. deco, if his training is going well maybe, but def not henry. and i hope abidal also doesnt start. bojan should prob start on the bench vs united too, play iniesta, etoo, messi up front. anyway, i just wanted to say watching tonight was like breating fresh air for the first time in a long long (saddddd) time. at times i was very happy with the interplay and running from the lads. and i was loving frank standing up the whole game talking, that really shows something.
Titi186 // Apr 19, 2008 at 23:57
Beleive me, I watch Man United every week. And if THIS Barca turns up then we have a chance as defensively they looked good. If the Barca of the last couple weeks turns up they will absolutely embaress this great club on the biggest stage of all Messi or no Messi trust me.
Hopefully Barca will win as again Nic I will be going to watch Barca abroad this time in Manchester. Are you going by the way Nic? Or anybody from here?
Tonight was ok. Eto was poor - continuously losing the ball and weak finishing - much like the Henry of late lol so I have no idea why he got a 6. Messi looked good and will only get better over the next couple weeks but Im not sure if it was the TV I was watching on but he looked like he had a slight tan
I think Rijkard could have taken off Bojan for Henry though as he seemed out of sync with the other forwards today especially as the match wore on and I think Henry was not 100% so it was not worth the risk. Nevertheless Bojan is the future and will only improve. Cheer up Barca fans your in the Champions League semi-final - one of only 4 teams - so be happy and make Man United feel your wrath on Wednesday and I will do the same for you in Manchester!!
Titi186
blaugranaboy // Apr 20, 2008 at 0:04
aaah titi86, finally i can agree with something. lol. THIS barca has a chance. didnt henry ask to be dropped tonight?? i thought i heard them say that. but i really hope ur boy doesnt start vs united. thats the only thing i want frank to be ballzi enough to do. most players ran tonight more than henry has the entire season. and u really cant convince me otherwise. but bojan did look a bit immature, but he still gave it his all. etoo really wasnt poor. he had soem sick touches and dribbles. ran loads. made space, made runs. finishing slightly off but thats happens to everyone.
Morzzan // Apr 20, 2008 at 0:08
Excellent performance by Barcelona, Kameini was excellent!!! That guy single handedly kept Espanyol in the game. Other than that, excellent, excellent performance, good spirit, no Henry so it was all good..
I am surprised noone is calling for Frank’s head this weekend. Normally that is the norm. Neways, hope for the best. Etoo needs to work on his finishing, Messi was awesome, Iniesta wohow this guy, this guy, I really have no words for him. The difference he makes in the team is incredible, perhaps, more influential than Messi. Remember at the beginning of this season, we all knew that Iniesta was there, no one recognized how good he was. Actually, not until a few months back did people begin to appreciate his work. I often wondered why Real wanted him last summer, he certainly is answering all my questions.
Hope he remains at Barca forever, cos some players just deserve it.
Diatus // Apr 20, 2008 at 0:42
@ Winterhunt
Valdes? No, you’ve got to be kidding me! Kameni might have had a great performance today but to suggest that we should go after him simply because Valdes might have had a couple of below par games is ludicrous.
Valdes does a great job anticipating play in the 6 yard box, granted not so great agains Huelva and Betis. He is quick off his line and has great physical presence. Have you seen Osasuna’s goal against Kameni last week?Kameni was horrible twice in the African cup of Nations thus allowing Egyptian strikers to demolish Cameroun twice in the African cup…Man don’t you think that it is a bit of a stretch?! Maybe we should just go camp out at Euro 08 and pick the best 22 players and put them on our roster. We can’t insist on replacing a player simply because of 2 or 3 bad games. We have a great keeper ,granted with a good defense, as evidenced by his performance this yer and years prior.
layi // Apr 20, 2008 at 2:13
this statement by eto’o recently kinda made me regretful a bit
“With the squad that we have it annoys me that we haven’t won more titles. I understand why the supporters are upset because I am too. It is normal,” he explained.
“However, I believe that in the future we are going to prove all of the doubters wrong.”
As the interview drew to a close, Eto’o was asked about the Ronaldinho situation.
“Ronnie is in a bad moment where everyone is saying that it is over for him, when what they should be doing is supporting him,” he concluded.
i still hope sha
Winterhunt // Apr 20, 2008 at 5:45
Well Diatus,
We’ll just have to agree to disagree then. I watched most of the African Cup and I actually thought that in most every game, Kameni was excellent. In regrards to the games against Egypt, I really didn’t think he was horrible nor that he was the sole or even primary reason that Egypt beat Cameroon, Song & Bikey and the rest of the defenders weren’t exactly the strong point to the Cameroonian team. Obviously losing 4-1 in the group stage was a poor result but I don’t think losing 1-0 in the final could really be termed being demolished, especially with the way Egypt just ran over everybody, and especially since Kameni was hung out to dry by Song who gave the ball away that lead to the only goal. Regardless, Like I said I know a lot of people really like Valdes, and he does make some excellent saves, but I in all honesty can’t really remember an instance where he almost singlehandedly kept us in a game and got us a result. I have seen Kameni do that on several occasions, at Sevilla and really just about everytime I’ve watched him he’s been impressive to my untrained eyes. I didn’t see the goal you are referring to against Osasuna, so maybe I’m not as well informed as you are with Kameni’s work but I also do not think you can compare the quality of his defenders with ours. I just personally am not a Valdes fan, and for me it hasn’t just been something I’ve been feeling just over the last 2 or 3 games. I personally think he is a weak link in our team. I also don’t think I’m alone in my expressing admiration for Kameni (I know Alex Ferguson & Wenger both have expressed interest in having him, and they know a hell of a lot more than I do, so he must be doing something right, at least occasionally occasionally) but, if you like Valdes and think he is a great keeper then so be it, that is your opinion. I personally think we can and should try and do better. I’m not really sure why you think that by my expressing admiration for Kameni and being not enthusiastic by Valdes means that I think “we should just go camp out at Euro 08 and pick the best 22 players and put them on our roster.” I’m not saying anything of the sort. I do however get tired of watching Valdes get outplayed on a regular basis, and often wish we had a World Class Keeper like Casillas or Buffon. I’m not saying that Kameni is on that level but if you read my post I simply said that Kameni’s buyout clause is apparently very cheap, and I don’t think it would be a bad thing for Valdes to have some decent competition as our number one keeper, and if he were to beat out Kameni or Neuer or whoever it may be, then more power to him. Either way, at this point I think there are far bigger issues at play with this team, and my comment was really just an observation not a major point that I was intent on debating.
Jay // Apr 20, 2008 at 6:27
Kameni was brilliant. Single-handedly saved Espanyol. It should have been a Barca win.
But the optimism in the attack is definitely back. Only Puyol will be missed then. But this frontline can do what it has to do to United and they should be very scared.
United drew 1-1 yesterday and they played drab football.
Things are still going wrong. 0-0 was never a deserved score. But you can see that it takes almost 8 opponents defending to actually stop Barca going forward and they still did manage to get forward, only they didn’t score. Man United play no such game of football. And they would be foolish to adopt an Espanyol or a Getafe-like approach for Wednesday.
Hope for the best then.
Messi and Iniesta - they will save the season.
Jay // Apr 20, 2008 at 6:31
And Nic, regarding luck, I have to agree.
Last weekend, Murcia should have beaten Real Madrid. But Madrid won 1-0. Yesterday, we should have won 2-0 or 3-0.
If ever there is something so unfair, then it is football. And the lack of a little luck makes such difference. Because I still believe there is no real difference between Madrid and us.
Taras // Apr 20, 2008 at 9:09
Wow! Gudjohnsen with 5.5? I would put him 2.0 max! His performance made me feel sick! He wasn’t running, he gave bad passes and he wasn’t trying at all!
Look at the last 10 minutes of the game. Barca wanted to win! And then I understood one thing- we want, but we can’t! We just can’t! This is not bad luck, not their goalkeeper, it is all our fault.
Joe Henry // Apr 20, 2008 at 10:02
Taras Gudjohnsen is always a 2.0 what else is new. I never seen this player play a decent game in Barca any way
blaugranaboy // Apr 20, 2008 at 10:47
diatus im going to step in and have you back with VV. he is beign a bit unfairly targeted lately. i will admit he hasnt looked great a few times this year but he was a saving grace for barcelona, like a mini miracle. were any of you fans before him???? we had the most useless GK in teh world for like 7 years until he stepped up. HESP, ENKE, BONANO, even reina and arnau were pretty crappy at that point. so thast one point. want to know a game he kept us in it pure and simple. vs real madrid 3 years back ( i think) when we won there 2-1 with the final goal from xavi after a lovely flip over the defense by roni. VV first half peformance was probably the best performances by a goalkeepere i can remember. he saved so many goals we were easily supppose to have been losing 5-0. i remember clearly cause i was watching with a bunch of madrid fans of mine. and i will also say kameni is by NOOOOOOO means a GK we want. he has nice reflexes and that but he also makes lots of mistakes, often loses his head and doesnt know how to organize the defense. and neuer, im so so so so sick of people busting about him, i bet most have only seen him in the CL. honestly he looks a good keeper, but give me a break, ur giong to judge his entire ability on a few matches. plus this is the point there is no better GK to buy. there are only three world class gk, buffon, casillas, and cech. and those are all untrasnferable. this isnt football manager. im a firm VV fan. prior to this year he has been solid. CL final he was very very good.
blaugranaboy // Apr 20, 2008 at 10:53
oh my word i cant believe i forgot. remember another gk befor VV, DUTRUEL. the single WORST professional player i have ever seen in my life. u ppl bitch about valdes, LOL, u def didnt watch barca before
Diatus // Apr 20, 2008 at 16:01
@ WINTERHUNT
I see your point and I do respect your opinion. Any thoughts on the upcoming Man U. clash? Give me a pre-game analysis and prediction, I know you’re capable of it.I am curious to get your take on it and please ,I know, just like most of us, you are a bit disillusioned with the team but please give me an unbiased analysis: goalkeeping, Defense, Offense, Flow of play, Difference makers on both sides, game winners on both sides and homefield impact.
thanks
Nic // Apr 20, 2008 at 17:03
Titi, I’d love to make it to Old Trafford, it’s been many years since I’ve been there. However, I have to work, I have a wife and a mortgage and a horrible lack of money, etc. Let’s hope they play as well as at Celtic Park and you have a night to remember for ever.
On the goalkeeping question I have to agree with Diatus and Blaugranaboy. Kameni can be spectacular but I don’t think he’s as good as Valdés. As for Neuer, did nobody notice the hash he made of Henry’s shot that led to Bojan’s goal in Germany? Valdés was criticized a couple of years ago for giving away a couple of goals against Valencia through poor kicking, he went away, trained hard and since then his kicking has been excellent. He is totally dedicated, he’s strong on crosses and superb in one-on-one situations. Yes he makes the odd mistake but fewer than Kameni or Reina for example. As Blaugranaboy says he is much better than the recent keepers we’ve had. On top of that he is a local who feels the colours. I hope we have him for many more years.
Taras - you may not like Gudjohnsen, and I would agree he’s not the most gifted tecnically speaking, but to say he wasn’t running or trying at all is simply not true. If all our players were as professional as Guddy we would be much better off than we are.
Jay // Apr 20, 2008 at 17:26
Nic, I have to agree on the Gudjohnsen point. So true.
Hilal // Apr 20, 2008 at 17:54
I like Guddy,i think he brings something completely different to our offensive midfield. In fact I think he should start against Man utd. He works hard and he provides an element of strength that is slightly lacking. He is only missing sharpness which will come with more games. I think he has been completely underused so far this season.
FCB // Apr 20, 2008 at 20:58
yea gudjohnsen is gr8, i think he should start against manchester too, and i think hes been improving lately, yesterday i thought he played well but his passing was a bit off, i hope he stays next yr.
Titi186 // Apr 20, 2008 at 21:54
@ Nic, If you could make it over here I would gladly give you my ticket for free for all the hard work you have done with this site seriously.
@ The Guddy duscussion. Yes he is not the best in the squad but if certain players like Ronnie and Deco and the rest of the squad had the professionalism of him then we would at least have a squad who did not have half as many off the feild problems and be 200% more commited. Should he start on Wednesday? No. For me the more gifted Iniesta, combined with Xavi and Yaya Toure should be played with Yaya keepng half an eye on C. Ronaldo.
Anyway I look forward to the game preview.
Titi186
Nic // Apr 20, 2008 at 22:27
Hey Titi - Many thanks for the offer mate, it really is very generous of you.
However, I really can’t see how I can organize it with all the stuff going on in my life at the moment. Enjoy the game and give them a shout from me.
Thanks again.
Angus // Apr 20, 2008 at 23:21
Why oh why can Barcelona not convert chances into goals just now? This is a serious problem heading into the Manchester United game. I am extreamly worried about the game on Wednesday as I feel there is a good chance Barcelona will be heavilly exposed.
My personal opinion at present tells me Barcelona will not be victorious on Wednesday or in this Semi-Final. Manchester United have a very strong squad and are playing very well just now. Barcelona have a depleated squad with few ideas, invention or cutting just now. I am a Barcelona supporter but I have to be realistic. The Espanyol performance was better and I never thought we would lose the game but at the same time I just could not see Barcelona scoring. The stikers all look rusty and out of sorts. You cannot have this on Wednesday. Maybe there will be added motivation but if you cannot produce the motivation for the city rivals then can they really produce it? It is all the club has left to play for now so I hope there will be a greater passion and sharpness to the football.
I am very disappointed by the recent performances and lack of fight from the side. I don’t get the feeling the players are playing for each other and the sooner this season is over the better!
Winterhunt // Apr 24, 2008 at 15:46
Diatus,
Sorry, I couldn’t get a reply/prediction to you sooner as my film that I’m working on is just killing me and my time (thank God for reply TV)…… I will say this anything that I would have written/predicted wouldn’t have come near what actually transpired, and i would have been horribly wrong, 0-0 was about the last result I would have expected… I thought only a few things that actually came to pass 1. Messi would be unlike anything Man U had ever experienced and could/would give them fits 2. Henry could actually perform well (despite me being down on him, his form being off, his complaining, lack of effort etc) as he is so familiar with Man U and tormented them in the past, and somehow seems to up his game on the European stage 3. Ronaldo would be on the ground most of the match by virtue of us putting the body on him, and his diving 4. Our best chance was to attack as I had seen Arsenal have success a couple of weeks back by attacking and keeping possession….. All in all a strange game, that simultaneously showed our quality and all that I love about this team (the ability to truly play the beautiful game, our skill, Messi Ya Ya etc) and at the same time, so much of what frustrates me endlessly at times (inability to score despite clearly outplaying teams & dominating posession, and an inability to make adjustments or have a plan “B” when teams pack the box and just play almost everyone behind the ball, and clog the passing lanes)…… Strange one, at first I was elated at watching us perform, and then as the game wore on, I got more and more of a feeling that it was going to end as a stalemate, and that our dominance in the style we love was not going to be rewarded on the scorboard, it kind of remined me of so many games this last year, so much quality without really tangible results, it seems we play up or down to whoever our opponent is…… Next leg????? I don’t have a clue, I imagine it will be more open on their side but God knows I didn’t have a clue about this past one, so I’ll just have to wait and watch and see and hope……..
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