A poor performance from Barça was duly punished by a far superior Villarreal at El Madrigal this evening. A goal from Cazorla after just two minutes was just the beginning of a frustrating night for Barça. The only good thing in the 90 minutes was a goal from Bojan Krkic who at 17 years and 53 days becomes the youngest player ever to score a league goal for Barça.
Barça were hit by two early goals. Cazorla’s came after a neat one-two with Guille Franco, and then after 12 minutes Abidal brought down Pires in the area and Senna converted the penalty. Barça pulled a goal back after 24 minutes when a fine pass from Messi found Bojan whose shot from just inside the area went in off the post.
Villarreal restored their two-goal lead ten minutes later through another penalty. Pires dribbled past Puyol and was fouled by Milito as he surged into the area. From the replay it looked like the contact was just outside the area, but if Barça were unlucky with the decision, they were definitely lucky not to lose Milito who could easily have been sent off as he was the last defender. Senna coolly scored from the penalty, hitting the ball straight at the middle of the goal as Valdés dived to his left.
At half-time Rijkaard sent on Giovani dos Santos in place of Oleguer and Barça played with just three at the back. However, if anything Barça looked worse in the second half as they completely lost their shape. Messi tried to dribble his way through the defence several times but there was always another defender in his way. The worst news of the evening was an injury to Deco after 71 minutes. Yet another muscular injury which appeared to be in his upper thigh/groin area, first reports suggested that he will be out for five weeks. Eidur Gudjohnsen came on as substitute for his first minutes of first team action this season. Barça did create a couple of half chances near the end but Villarreal always looked more dangerous on the break.
This was Barça’s first defeat since losing 2-0 on the same ground in April. It was also the worst performance this season. Bojan took his goal well, and showed one flash of class in the second half, nutmegging a defender in the area but the keeper came out well to block any furthur advance, but apart from that he did very little. Thierry Henry was completely absent for the whole game. Messi tried too hard to beat the entire defence and lost the ball on countless occasions. In fact, the only players who played OK were Deco and Giovani. The defence looked shaky and the midfield lacked ideas and played too hesitantly.
I don’t know what it is about the international break, but Barça have played badly three times this season and each time it was after international games. This should not serve as an excuse as the players surely know one another by now, but it is curious. No credit should be taken away from Villarreal who were tactically superior and outplayed Barça in every zone of the pitch. Barça will now have to pick themselves up for the Glasgow Rangers game on Tuesday and Rijkaard will have to find a substitute for Deco. My guess is he will put Gudjohnsen in midfield as he did today when Deco went off. It could be another complicated game.
Barça: Valdés 5.5; Oleguer 5 (Giovani m45, 6), Puyol 5.5, Milito 5.5, Abidal 5; Xavi 5, Iniesta 5, Deco 6 (Gudjohnsen m71, 6); Messi 5.5, Bojan 5.5 (Sylvinho m80, –), Henry 4.5.
Yellow Cards: Milito m33, Deco m62, Xavi m73.
12 responses so far ↓
Blaugrana // Oct 20, 2007 at 22:34
Nic if you had something to blame over this performance what would that something be,
blaugranafan // Oct 20, 2007 at 23:17
Thanks, Nic, for the great match reports. I couldn’t watch the game live because they didn’t televise it here in the US, but I managed to follow online. I’d like to offer some things to think about:
The international break. It clearly has a negative effect on team performance. I am not opposed to players going to play for their country, but I do expect them realize the impact it has on their club performances. A number of Barca players have spoken out in recent days in response to Laporta’s request for the players to consider the implications of their international games on Barca’s results. In general, the players have basically said that they are proud to play for their country and will continue to give 100%. Fine. It’s their choice and their career. But they are completely deserving of the truckload of criticism that comes their way now and shouldn’t offer excuses. The only valid way of silencing the criticism is by earning the results on the pitch after international breaks.
Good to see Bojan score…but why are we playing Henry on the wing???
Luckily, Madrid lost today, so we remain only 2 points from the top despite dropping to 4th place. I’m happy the gap did not grow, but I’m not happy about our ranking. In my opinion, this was the biggest league game until rounds 16 and 17 when we take on Madrid and Valencia back-to-back, and we needed this win to make a statement–particularly when one considers that Madrid already beat Villareal away 4-0 earlier this season.
Nic // Oct 20, 2007 at 23:59
Blaugrana, it’s difficult to pick one thing only but I think the players lacked the desire to win today. Perhaps this is down to too many games, it’s not always easy to find the right mentality game after game after game. Conceding the early goals obviously doesn’t help the mentality, but with 20 minutes to go they should be really fighting to get back in the game and today they looked like they had given up before the end.
Blaugranafan, I’m glad you enjoy the reports, it’s not so easy to write after a defeat. The club versus country debate will go on and on and the players have every right, and a duty, to give 100% for their national teams, but I can understand Laporta’s complaints (even if I wish he would shut up sometimes).
Henry played wide mainly because Bojan is a centre forward and not a winger so with the three forwards who started today it made sense to put Henry on the wing, though he did very little today.
Hugo // Oct 21, 2007 at 11:25
Funny what you said about Giovanni - I thought he looked totally out of his depth in this game. No doubt the guy has talent, but he didn’t keep his position at all and he kept getting muscled off the ball. Obviously, he came on at a difficult time (the message in his ear was clearly: “get us a goal back”) and the whole team had lost its shape (esp. when Deco went off, and boy oh boy will he be missed), but I was still pretty disappointed.
Still, Real Madrid were just as bad as Barca last night - don’t know what they’d do without Ramos, he saves them so frequently, even if he couldn’t quite do enough yesterday.
Blaugrana // Oct 21, 2007 at 12:43
It is good news that madrid lost but we droped all points and barça have shown a “giving up mentality” especially in domestic away games,and i can only hope this type of mentality does not go with them to rangers on tuesday,rangers are underestimated but
Peter // Oct 21, 2007 at 14:01
Rangers next are gonna be tough, especially as they won 3-0 against Celtic. Prediction 2-0 or 2-1
dayib // Oct 21, 2007 at 17:01
it was my worst in this season because i had hoped to take the leading of the competition so is not happen …an other worst was injury of deco who became the best performence of the game ….one hour latter i have got happiness when i heard the news about real madrid’s lost…so i hope my team to become best team in the world…and also more successfull in any cups…….
RonaldinhoFan // Oct 21, 2007 at 22:03
Do you blame Frank Rijkaard for leaving Ronnie out? I’m sure he would have made a difference maybe even on some of the crucial set pieces. Leaving a player like that out is a mistake. If he’s not performing on the pitch then you take him out, but at least include him. Ironically Real Madrid also lost and had both Robinho and Battista out. Also blaming international games really is a poor excuse. All teams have to go through it.
Anyways lets hope the TV disputes get resolved quickly so we can watch it here in North America. Maybe it was a good thing I couldn’t watch the game. lol.
Ed // Oct 21, 2007 at 22:07
I am not satisfy with defense. Puyol and Milito are too good to concede three goals in one match.
Nick // Oct 22, 2007 at 16:46
In the second half I was so bored I almost fell asleep. Wish I’d watched the egg chasing
Nic // Oct 22, 2007 at 20:55
What does it say about Barça fans when after the worst performance there are more comments here than ever? After beating Zaragoza with a great display of attacking football there was not one comment! http://fcbnews.com/barca-4-zaragoza-1/
I don’t mind really folks, keep the comments coming
Nick // Oct 24, 2007 at 11:00
Don’t we love a good moan!
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