Barça are through to the last eight of this season’s Copa Del Rey on the away goals rule after an intense 0-0 draw at Camp Nou with Sevilla. Thierry Henry’s goal in the 1-1 draw last Wednesday in the Sanchez Pizjuan now counts double and means the end of Sevilla’s fantastic run in cup competitions. This is the first cup tie they have lost in two years having won last season’s Spanish Cup and the Uefa Cup for the last two seasons.
In a frenetic game of few chances there was very little to divide the sides. After just 18 seconds Sevilla created their first chance but Chevanton could not make full contact with Alves’s cross from the right. In the fourth minute a good first time pass from Gudjohnsen sent Iniesta scurrying towards goal but his shot didn’t curl enough and went past the far post.
Sevilla were looking dangerous on the wings but Valdés dealt well with crosses from Capel and Navas. At the other end Iniesta had another run and shot after 17 minutes but this time the ball flew well wide. The chances then started to dry up, Barça allowed Sevilla to pin them back and Milito and Puyol were given a lot of work to do. Eventually Barça broke away through Giovani dos Santos who fed Henry with just the type of ball that he thrives on, but unfortunately his shot went over the bar. A couple of minutes later Gudjohnsen hit one from 25 yards and forced the first save from De Sanctis. Barça finally put the Sevilla goal under pressure at the end of the first half, forcing a dangerous free kick that Xavi hit into the wall and three corners in the space of five minutes but with no luck.
If there were few goal attempts in the first 45 minutes, the second half provided even less. At times Barça seemed to be playing 4-2-3-1 with Xavi and Marquez as a double pivot. It certainly kept Sevilla quiet, they had one long shot from Navas that Valdés saved easily by the post and then created nothing until their final push in the last ten minutes. Capel who had started well had a very quiet second half and was eventually substituited. Barça’s forwards were also kept quiet and Barça were restricted to long shots that all seemed to go wide. Bojan came on for the hard working Gudjohnsen and Iniesta moved furthur back, then Deco came on for the last 21 minutes, receiving a cheer from the crowd when he replaced Giovani.
As the final whistle grew nearer Sevilla’s search for a winner became more urgent. Alves nearly surprised Valdés with a long distance free kick that dipped at the end to clip the top of the crossbar. In the 85th minute Sevilla thought they had scored the vital goal after Navas put the ball in the net after a scramble in the Barça penalty area, the goal however, was disallowed for a clear offside on Duda in the build up.
In the 89th minute Marquez risked a second yellow card for an off the ball foul but the ref just gave a free kick. From the free kick, Poulsen in a clear offside position flapped a hand at the ball which did enough to change the direction of the ball which hit Valdés in the face. Despite Valdés’s protests the ref waved play on.
Then in injury time, Bojan and then Iniesta both forced De Sanctis into saves but neither side really did enough to deserve a goal on the night. Having said that it was a hard-working performance from Barça and proves they can play tactically when they need to. Sevilla proved a tough opponent who clearly didn’t want to give up the trophy easily, and the fact that Puyol and Milito were probably Barça’s best players says something for their effort.
Barça will now play the winners of Villarreal and Recreativo in the quarter final which will be played over the next two weeks.
Barça: Valdés 7, Zambrotta 6.5, Puyol 8, Milito 7.5, Abidal 7; Xavi 6, Marquez 6.5, Gudjohnsen 6.5 (Bojan m56, 6); Giovani 6 (Deco m69, 6), Henry 6, Iniesta 6.5.
Barça Yellows: Giovani m45, Marquez m81.
8 responses so far ↓
liva, from chad // Jan 16, 2008 at 1:51
what I can say is congratulations to our players and specially thanks to you Nic for the Match report it was as if I had also watched the match after reading it. keep the good work up. I have to be celebrating this win, it is leading us to 1 of the 3 trophies we need to win desperately. I have nothing bad to say against the goalless draw, what counts here is to be through the quarter final and here we are. I am sure if the score during the first leg wasn’t 1-1 we would have scored them because we know how to at Cam Nou. I didn’t watch the match but sylvinho should have come one for Abidal, he could add more strength up front. To be frank we really need a goal in such situations to secure the win before the last whistle, I was really afraid, sevilla could shock us at the last minutes, it was like in a suspense movie until I heard the commentator saying” its all over” oufff there I could breath. we must be careful in such situations during the champion’s league knockout stages, it’s almost the same thing, so our heroes have to be killing the match before we get hart attacked like what Betis, Espagnol and Chelsea(at Cam Nou) showed as last season, I will never forget these matches. So we really have to be aware this time. Barca for life
PHaft // Jan 16, 2008 at 2:13
I watched the match and I have to say that both teams were very uninspired in the attack. Giovani gave the ball away many times very easily and Gudjohnsen did not look sharp at all. Henry did not get enough service from the midfield. Puyol and Milito were excellent in defense, and Marquez played a nice game. Zambrotta did a great job controlling Diego Capel. One thing that I have noticed lately is that without Ronnie our free kicks have been terrible. Xavi had some bad free kicks and did not play well overall. I understand that Barca was playing more defensive in the 2nd half to preserve the lead—but a goal would have been nice to put Sevilla away. Deco still looks slow — he will need time to get back in shape. I like Bojan a lot, he looks better with each game. However, WE NEED MESSI! I hope Mallorca takes care of buisness and beat Real Mierda tommorrow.
PHaft // Jan 16, 2008 at 2:16
Oh one more thing — I saw highlights from the Levante - Real Madrid match last weekend. Madrid looked really bad and Levante had so many goal chances. 7 points is definitely not impossible.
Siim // Jan 16, 2008 at 10:11
Iniesta played a good game, sad his shots were not accurate.
The disallowed goal was a critical moment. For a second I believed they scored but that was definitely offside.
Youssef Gazia // Jan 16, 2008 at 14:55
Really pleased with Barca’s preformance. Thought i would never say that but the barca fans yesterday were fantastic, cheering on there team from the 1st minute
Thats the spirit!!
Blaugrana // Jan 16, 2008 at 17:18
Messi’s position is still not covered fully giovanni needs more years in him but the boys did good happy they are through.
Titi186 // Jan 16, 2008 at 20:26
I agree with PHAft, Barca were there just to get through rather then take the game to Sevilla. Henry worked ahrd but didnt get enough service from the modfield who spent the majority of the game in no mans land.
A big thanks must go to Milito and Puyol, especially the latter who had a magnificent game making several crucial interventions to restrict the service to their front two - the fact that Spain’s leading scorer was taken off was a testament to it.
The main thing was Barca were tactically astute, but were also exposed to being very frigid and not mobile enough as a unit. Perhaps something that can be expected with Iniesta playing out of position, Henry playing in an unfavoured No. 9 role and Gio only being 18 years of age.
Most importantly Barca are through, Sevilla are not. Barca fans have to get used to this type of win. Only then will Barca claw back the 7 points that Madrid are fully capable or losing their grip on.
And one special note to Nic: the Barca fans reaction at the final whistle said it all to me - they were jubilent and cheerful even though we only drew but they realised now that winning and progressing matters more than drawing and playing nice.
Youssef Gazia // Jan 20, 2008 at 13:00
I agree with Titi’s final comment about the fans…
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