Yet another goal from youngster Giovani dos Santos gave Barça a well-deserved victory over Yokohama Marinos in front of 56,000 fans at the Nissan stadium in Yokohama. Barça began the game with Henry on the right side of the attack, Eto’o on the left and Ronaldinho playing through the middle. Eto’o and Henry soon switched wings but for the first twenty minutes Barça created nothing. The first chance of the game went to Marinos in the 19th minute, a twenty yard shot was well saved by Valdés.

Barça’s first chance came a minute later when Eto’o played a one-two with Ronaldinho but was foiled by the keeper coming out quickly. Then after half an hour Ronaldinho put Eto’o through twice within a minute, the first time a defender managed to get across and block Eto’o’s effort, the second pass was taken well by Eto’o who rounded the keeper to score only for the referee to disallow it for an inexistant offside.

In the second half Giovani came on in place of Henry and immediately made an impact. In the 49th minute he shot wide after good work from Touré and Iniesta, then five minutes later Ronaldinho put him through and his right footes shot came back off the post. In the 63rd minute, great play from Eto’o on the right led to Ronaldinho setting up Giovani whose shot from 8 yards was well saved by the keeper.

The goal finally arrived after 75 minutes. Ronaldinho shook off his marker in Barça’s half and ran with the ball 30 yards before back heeling stylishly to Samuel Eto’o, Eto’o’s first time pass to Giovani split the defence beautifully and the youngster slid the ball left footed past the keeper.

The positives to be taken from the game are first the form of Giovani, of course he is fresher than his team mates but he is showing that he could be very useful for Barça this season and could become a great player in the future. Secondly, Ronaldinho is looking more like his old self, he is trying his tricks and they are coming off, he looks much happier and he is giving some great passes. Third, today the defence looked comfortable, Touré played 90 minutes in front of them and dominated very well.

Not so good was the form of Thierry Henry, it is much to early to judge him though as he is coming back from a lengthy injury, but the understanding with Ronnie and Eto’o was not great, I hope he gets match fit soon.

Also, Eric Abidal did not play due to a stomach upset, hopefully he’ll be well again for the game in Hong Kong on Friday.

See Giovani’s goal here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ph5m_barcelone-10-yokohama_sport

Today’s team was: Valdés (Jorquera, 45); Zambrotta, Oleguer, Thuram, Sylvinho (Motta, 65); Xavi (Marc Crosas, 81), Touré, Iniesta; Eto’o (Ezquerro, 86), Henry (Giovani dos Santos, 45), Ronaldinho (Maxi López, 88).