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Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Sunday, 16 Mar
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: Juegos Mediterráneos, Almeria

Resultat:

UD Almería: 2
FC Barcelona: 2

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

More info

THE GOALS

0-1, Bojan (min 17)
1-1, Pulido (min 32)
1-2, Eto'o (min 56)
2-2, Uche (min 85)

A draw is not enough (2-2)

Roger Bogunyà

Both times Barça went ahead with goals from Bojan (min 17) and Eto'o (min 56), Almería managed to equalise. Milito’s sending off was crucial in the last part of a game which leaves Barça seven points behind the leader.

Barça weren’t able to take all three points from their visit to Almería despite going ahead twice. The Catalans effectiveness in attack was accompanied by defensive frailty and two goals from corners enabled Almería to hold onto a point. The harsh sending off of Milito (min 72) made things tough for Rijkaard’s men in the last twenty minutes, and the point they did manage to pick up leaves them seven behind leaders Real Madrid.

Bojan makes his mark

In the first 15 minutes neither side was able to create much. Then Iniesta cut in incisively from the left and fired in a shot which Diego Alves could only parry out for the ever-alert Bojan to stick in the rebound and make it 0-1. At this stage Barça were dominating the game, especially in midfield, although the match was turning out to be rather dull and uninspired.

Pulido scores

Almería were being pinned back in their own half and looked to hit Barça on the break, but the Catalans’ defence was holding firm. However, that was only until the home side won their first corner which Pulido promptly headed home when totally unmarked (min 32). From then on and until half-time it was Almería who called the shots in midfield although Bojan could have made it 1-2 when put through by Xavi (min 42).

On the attack

Both sides continued to have problems putting their game together at the start of the second half. Seeing that his side wasn’t making much impression, Rijkaard brought on Henry to replace Edmílson and moved Iniesta into the hole in front of the defence. The Frenchman only needed two minutes to make his presence felt as he got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Eto'o to poke home (min 56). Moments later he also brought another fine save out of the home team’s keeper Diego Alves.

Blizzard of yellows

But these attacks by Barça were countered by the referee who in the space of ten minutes handed out yellow cards to Milito, Iniesta and Gudjohnsen. 120 seconds later he once again harshly adjudged a tackle by Milito to be worthy of a yellow and off went the Argentinean. Barça were faced with playing the last 18 minutes of the match with ten men.

Home side pulls level

With their one-man advantage Almería saw their chance to get a draw and stormed forward. One of their attacks led to a corner which once again Barça were unable to defend, and this time it was Kalu Uche who headed home when unmarked inside the area past the despairing dive of Valdés (min 85). With no time to turn the game around, Barça were forced to make one last substitution when Víctor Sánchez came on for the injured Gudjohnsen.

Preview

Back in the hunt

Roger Bogunyà

Barça have the chance to get to within 5 points of Madrid after the leaders slipped up yesterday against Deportivo at Riazor.

Rijkaard’s side, with nine first team players missing, are determined to get back to winning ways after two consecutive League defeats (19.00, Barça TV, PPV, Ràdio Barça).

After losing in the Vicente Calderón and in the Camp Nou against Vila-real, Barcelona want to get back to picking up three points. If they can they would once again be 5/6 points behind Madrid, who yesterday slipped up at Riazor against Deportivo. Over the last seven weeks whenever one of the top two wins, the other misses out. So this week it’s Barça’s turn, and the Catalans were within only two points of the leaders 20 days ago.

Lots of players missing

However, Barça will have to do that without a lot of first team players. Eight are out injured — Jorquera, Márquez, Touré Yaya, Deco, Ezquerro, Messi, Ronaldinho and Giovani — while Zambrotta is suspended. As a result Frank Rijkaard has called up reserve team players Víctor Sánchez, Víctor Vázquez and Pedrito to make up the 18-man squad which has travelled to Almeria.

Two comebacks

On the positive side Barça can welcome back two of their central defenders, Puyol and Oleguer, who have returned to action. Puyol was suspended for the game against Vila-real while Oleguer was given the green light by club doctors on Thursday after recovering from a broken bone in his left hand.

Almeria’s line-up

This evening’s opponents, Almeria, are also missing players such as Acasiete and Paunovic, but they will still be putting out a strong side. Barça will have to keep an eye on Negredo, the Andalusian outfit’s top goalscorer, and Diego Alves who has been the surprise goalkeeper this season in the League. Almeria are currently in eighth spot and have the best defensive record in the League at home.