A last gasp effort from Xavi Hernandez gave Barça a deserved equalizer in tonight’s Copa del Rey semi final first leg game with Valencia. David Villa had given Valencia the lead against the run of play in the 70th minute, but Barça’s hard work was finally rewarded with a goal that gives them every chance for the second leg in three weeks’ time.
There were few surprises in the starting lineup, Iniesta was left on the bench to make room for the return of Deco, while Abidal and Henry returned in place of Sylvinho and Ronaldinho. Valencia played with what looked to be an exciting 4-3-3 formation, but in the end they played with everyone back awaiting the counter attack.
Barça started promisingly and had a tremendous triple chance to take the lead in the 7th minute, Messi chipped a neat pass through to Xavi storming into the area, Xavi’s shot was saved by Hildebrand but the ball came straight out to Eto’o who shot only to see Albiol block on the line, incredibly Messi had another chance from the rebound that was also blocked on the line, this time by Caneira.
Valencia gave Camp Nou a shock a couple of minutes later when it appeared as if Joaquin had given Valencia the lead, but the goal was disallowed for handball. After the lively start the game quietened down for a while until Henry had an overhead effort go wide and then a powerful 25-yard shot saved before the half hour. Then Henry combined nicely with Eto’o but the Cameroonian’s cross passed just in front of Henry.
Barça continued to look for a goal as the first half came to an end with Toure, Messi and Eto’o all having shots blocked, then on the stroke of half time the ball broke to Abidal whose shot from 25 yards was saved by Hildebrand.
The second half started with Messi trying everything to break through: first he provoked two corners and then forced Hildebrand into two more saves. In the 67th minute it was Eto’o’s turn to have a go and after Hildebrand’s save Messi was booked for diving as he pounced on the rebound. In the 69th minute Rijkaard brought on Bojan and Iniesta in place of the disappointing Deco and Henry, and almost immediately Valencia took the lead. Silva laid the ball out to Arizmendi on the right and his cross was met by Villa who got in front of the defence to beat Valdés. It was Valencia’s only attack of the second half but it showed once again that football is not just about possession of the ball.
To Barça’s credit they never dropped their heads and went straight after an equalizer forcing three corners in quick succession. But it wasn’t until the last ten minutes that the chances really started to come. In the 81st minute Messi had a shot stopped after a tremendous run, and Iniesta’s shot from the rebound was blocked between a defender and the goalkeeper. Milito had a 25-yard effort palmed round the post, and a minute later Zambrotta shot wide after a great control from Iniesta. In the 89th minute Toure hit a curler that Hildebrand just tipped away for another corner, and as the four minutes injury time began Eto’o’s effort was intercepted after a neat flick from Xavi.
In the end Barça got the equalizer after Toure sent in Eto’o who at one point touched the ball with his hand before shooting, Hildebrand made another save but the ball came out to Xavi who once again saved Barça at the end by finding the gap between a pack of defenders. It was the least Barça deserved after another good performance. Valencia had played well in the first half and made things difficult for Barça, but in the end the chances were nearly all for Barça and a defeat would have been extremely unjust. Barça will now need a win or a high scoring draw in the second leg to get through to the final on April 16.
Barça: Valdés 6; Zambrotta 6.5, Puyol 6.5, Milito 6.5, Abidal 6.5; Xavi 7, Toure 7, Deco 5.5 (Iniesta m69, 6.5); Messi 7, Eto’o 7, Henry 5.5 (Bojan m69, 6).
Goals: m70 Villa 0-1; m94 Xavi 1-1.
Barça cards: Deco m19, Messi m67, Bojan m78.
Attendance: 74,378
See Xavi’s goal here
Click here for highlights
22 responses so far ↓
layi // Feb 28, 2008 at 0:49
we played well, i was happy but we need to be more clinical
also, i still have some reservations about henry…he just isnt in sync with the others….
Hilal // Feb 28, 2008 at 1:14
Well i cannot really complain about our performance tonight, even the goal was just quality counter attacking by Valencia, it was just one of THOSE nights. Actually when we had those 3 consecutive shots blocked in the first five I thought to myself “this is gonna be one of those games where nothing goes in” and i was almost right. Again Xavi to the rescue, but to be fair we played well, we controlled the game and we had A LOT of chances. U cannot really ask more from your players. Nights like this happen, if anything it will spur the team on to score more goals in the second leg. Give credit to their keeper who made some tremendous saves. I think he made 12 or 13 in total, of which at least 5 or 6 would have gone in on a good day. Thats not even taking into account all the shots that were blocked…..and there were A LOT! There were two chances in particular Messi had where i was almost 100% sure that a goal was coming. At least this unfortunate luck came in the cup and not in the league or the CL, that would have been a lot harder to swallow!
Hala Madrid // Feb 28, 2008 at 2:59
I dont like Barca but this is a very good blog, good job.
Blaugrana // Feb 28, 2008 at 3:14
Yeah good game from us villa always a fly in our soup, they just sat back and waited but FULL credits to hildebrand, henry seemed lost 1nce again man.
John // Feb 28, 2008 at 9:25
A very frustrating game last night…. All credit to Valencia they defended very well but hardly the most inspiring of game plans…. Sticking a bus in front of the goal….. then hoping to score on the break!!!
When teams come to the Camp Nou and play like that an early goal is essential otherwise the team and the crowd become frustrated, especailly when the opposition sneak a goal like Valencia did last night. The match stats tell their own story, Barca had 24/25 shots on goal Valencia 1. Full marks to the team for keeping going to the end.
Xavi is playing so well at the moment and scoring some vital goals, as for Deco he was poor again last night.
An interesting piece appreared this morning in the English Press ( The Guardian) linking Rijkaard to the Chelsea job. Nic can you shed any light as to what is being said by the Press in BCN and Spain on this.
Joda // Feb 28, 2008 at 9:25
Xavi is fantastic
Nic // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:09
John - The only Spanish paper that mentions the story is Marca who only say according to the English press…
I’ve just looked at the Guardian story and this is the quote they offer:
“Frank is leaving Barcelona at the end of the season,” said a source close to Rijkaard, whose side have recovered in La Liga in recent weeks and trail Real Madrid by two points. “I guess he could be persuaded to change his mind if [Barcelona] win the Champions League or the title this season. If that was the case then there would be a decision to be made. He has got one more year left at Barcelona after this. In the past he has said that Chelsea is a big club so, of course, he would be interested if the job became available.”
I don’t think there is anything in this. Quotes from ” a source close to” are often rubbish, and the line “I guess he could be persuaded to change his mind” puts more doubt as to whether this “source” really has any idea of what Rijkaard is planning. The last line is the clincher “In the past he has said that Chelsea is a big club so, of course, he would be interested if the job became available.” It sounds to me that Rijkaard was just being polite.
The Barcelona press have been backing Rijkaard in the last week to stay on next year, but in the end we’ll just have to wait and see.
John // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:16
Thanks Nic… agree with your analysis, especially if the story has not been mentioned in the press in Spain..
Abdul // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:46
Its not so bad a game, bt d draw only makes matters a bit complicated 4 barca who hav their eyes set on all possible titles. D return leg wil require a lot of concentration n energy now. Abt Rijkaard, wats ur opinion abt his performance? Dnt u think d team needs 2 find a coach of mourinho’s calibre nic?
Blaugrana // Feb 28, 2008 at 12:20
Who is better marquez or milito? anyone? Nic?
Jay // Feb 28, 2008 at 12:58
Rijkaard’s calibre is better than Mourinho’s, if you take Barcelona’s culture, style of football and passion into account….
Abdul // Feb 28, 2008 at 13:21
Jay, i dislike mourinho as a person, bt both u n i hav 2 admit he is currently a better coach than Rijkaard. Does anyone agree wit me? If not, i probably hav to seek n find the other face of soccer to understand the spirit behind the game!
Taras // Feb 28, 2008 at 14:24
My god, Hildelbrand was great. We had a lot of chances but Messi and Eto’o somehow managed to waste them. They both had good games, but the ball just couldn’t come into the net.
Titi186 // Feb 28, 2008 at 15:32
Well Nic, 3 things to comment on.
1. Barca’s new found team spirit of when things are going badly or they go a goal down they never give up. They now beleive in themselves more especially when only a few weeks ago everyone was contemplating their futures being nine points behind but are now only two
2. Messi - I know you all slated me for slating him in an earlier post but he has to grow up mentally. This is the world stage not a playground in Bienos Aires. Running at 3/4/5 defenders ig great on the eye and brilliant to watch BUT when you have a team mate in a better position to you ready to tap the ball in you have to pass. You are an audaciously talented player but stop going for glory Messi. No one is disputing he is already one of the best players in the world in terms of ability (and probably the best in Barcelona’s squad), but he has to learn to be unselfish otherwise he will never become the worlds greatest player. Im not too worried as Cristiano Ronaldo was exactly the same but still. Imagine the scene I just described when he doesnt pass to a team mate and it costs us the Champions League Final? Its just something that I felt I should flag up as no one ever mentions him in a negative light so I thought I would spoil the party
3. The Fantastic Four - I had a feeling this was going to happen. Similarly to Liverpool, Barcelona have yet to find their strongest attacking quartet. I feel Henry and Ronnie will have their best games in the CLeague (as you pointed out earlier Nic) as there is more space to attack and the game is more open. In the domestic scene Rikard will have to pick which 3 suits the team and stick with otherwise it will end up like yesterday where the attack looked a little disjointed. Its a nice headache for a coach to have, yet its still something that needs addressing as the title run-in nears.
No worries for the return leg, we will kill them on the counter and win 2-0 so mark my predicition down now Nic!
pep // Feb 28, 2008 at 15:56
Good game, we deserve more and at least we know what to do and will go for it from the first minute (so I hope). Maybe better this then the lead we had last year against Getafe…
On Rijkaard-Chelsea. Marca has a story from earlier this week (Chelsea wanting Rijkaard). The new one (Rijkaard wanting Chelsea), guess the Spanish papers will have it tomorrow… Meanwhile, Rijkaard’s brother has denied everything.
Jay // Feb 28, 2008 at 16:51
@ Abdul
Yes, I agree partly. But like I said, if you take the culture of football that Barcelona play and that the fans seek is out of Mourinho’s capability. He cannot make a team that delights as much as the current one. He would probably get to work on the defence, play a long-ball game and Barca would be successful under him, more due to the quality of the squad.
I can’t imagine and don’t ever want Mourinho to coach Barca. To hell with professionalism. There’s a reason it’s “more than a club”. And Mourinho wont justify it, friends.
Taras // Feb 28, 2008 at 17:03
I agree with you, Jay. You are perfectly wright. I started watching Barca because they always attack and play beatifully. Mourinho had good squad in Chelsea but I just couldn’t watch the game- it was dull.
Nic // Feb 28, 2008 at 17:11
Abdul - On the Rijkaard or Mourinho question: They are obviously different types of coach but I feel they both have positive and negative attributes. Rijkaard has made mistakes but not too many and he seems to have kept the dressing room under control with a pretty good team spirit. He has allowed the young players to come through in a good way and there is a good balance of foreign stars and home grown talent. The new signings (maybe thanks to Txiki) have generally been very good. Also I am not a believer in changing things unless they are really bad. I believe Rijkaard’s points per game record is superior to Cruyff, Robson and Van Gaal (I’ll work it out for you one day).
Mourinho is an excellent coach but I fear if things didn’t go well at any point the press would be ready to pounce on him in the same way they did with Van Gaal. Perhaps even winning would not be enough if the style was considered to be lacking. Mourinho won a lot at Chelsea but he failed to win them the Champions League even with all of Abramovich’s money. Some players responded to him but others such as Shevchenko and Ballack did not. Who knows how the Barça stars would respond to him. For now we should stick with Frank, and in the future we will have to see who is available.
Blaugrana - Milito or Marquez? I think Milito is probably the better central defender but Marquez has the flexibility to play in midfield too. I think they are both very important members of the squad and I’m delighted that Marquez has regained his form after a poor 2006/7 season. At the moment I am quite happy to see them play side by side in central defence as they form a great partnership and Puyol can play at right back.
Jay // Feb 28, 2008 at 17:24
Yes Nic, absolutely right. That one line of yours sums it up all:-
“Perhaps even winning would not be enough if the style was considered to be lacking”
No way Jose, not Barcelona…..
Abdul // Feb 28, 2008 at 17:54
I say a change in coach wldnt alter d teams spirit, it lives in us… The players, d team n d fans! However, i usually go wit d general opinion, so i accept frank as d better canditate 4 barca. Abt marquez n milito, marquez is better upfront wit good headin performance n in d light of experience, but milito is rockstrong n consistent in defence.
Abdul // Feb 28, 2008 at 18:08
Wats ur predictn abt d atletico derby? Bein 4th place on d table, dont u think they are gonna prove a hard nut to crack esp considerin d fact dat a loss cld slip them down to 6th place (beneath sevilla n espanyol) n also considerin d poor away form of barcelona?
Nic // Feb 28, 2008 at 18:54
Hey Abdul - We do the predictions when I post my preview for the game, which will be sometime tomorrow afternoon.
Leave a Comment