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Match
Marcador del partit
- Date: Sunday, 21 Sep
- Competition: ???label.competicio0???
- Stadium: El Molinón, Gijón
Resultat:
- Sporting Gijón: 1
- FC Barcelona: 6
Match report
Match Report
THE GOALS
0-1, Xavi (min 27)
0-2, Eto'o (min 32)
0-3, Jorge (en p.p., min 48)
1-3, Maldonado (min 50)
1-4, Iniesta (min 69)
1-5, Messi (min 85)
1-6, Messi (min 89)
Goals galore (1-6)
Roger Bogunyà
FC Barcelona have thrashed Sporting Gijon in a master display of good football and good goals. Xavi, Eto’o, Jorge (og), Iniesta and Messi (2) were on the score sheet for Barça.
The first league win came in the third game, but it was an exceptional win which almost touched
perfection. The 1-6 result was a clear representation of the difference between the two sides over
ninety minutes and the stars of the show were applauded off the pitch.
And the manner of the victory? Well, it came via a style of football championed by Barça and
Josep Guardiola and it led to the creation of a mountain of opportunities and some beautiful goals
for Xavi, Eto’o, Iniesta and Messi (2), (the other being a Jorge own goal).
High intensity
Pace and intensity were the distinctive characteristics of the first few minutes of the game.
Barça pegged Sporting back in their own box but they still tried to hit on the counter attack.
However, little by little, the tie began to clearly swing in favour of the azulgranas, with Alves
and Iniesta running freely down the wings. And this led to the opening goal: the ball was centered
from the left and Xavi arrived late to head home.
Corners with prizes
Barça’s dominance was such that they won eleven corners in the first 32 minutes. And it
was the eleventh corner that saw Barça score their second. Puyol glanced the corner goalwards and
Eto’o was on the far post and only had to put his head to the ball to score his first of the
season. But it won’t be his last.
A goal each
The first corner of the second half saw Barça score their third. This time it was one of
Sporting’s centre-halves, Jorge, who knocked a cross into his own net. But this led to a
small reaction from Sporting and they pulled a goal back through Maldonado in the 50th minute.
Red for Gerard
Despite the home team’s goal, Barça continued to dominate. They were playing neat
triangles with ease in their opponents half but also won the ball back quickly when they lost it.
One of these moments put Messi through and he raced in on the last defender. Gerard had no option
but to bring the Argentinian down rather than leave him clean through on the keeper. The tackle was
rewarded with a deserved red card which left Barça in even more control.
Extra man: 1-3 becomes 1-6
Being a man down, Sporting were forced to retreat even further into their own box. It was
only a question of time and Barça’s fourth came via a stroke of genius drawn up by Messi and
Iniesta (69 min). A quarter of an hour later it was 1-5. Messi picked up a messy ball in the box
and fired home. Not satisfied with their lot, Barça pushed on for more and got a sixth when Messi
headed home.
The last few minutes served little more than to give an official debut to Caceres. The
Uruguayan came on in the 82nd minute as a substitute for Sergio Busquets and he played very well in
the centre of the park.
Preview
Last visit
FC Barcelona last played in El Molinon in season 1997/98, and won easily 1-4. Brazilian Rivaldo and Luis Enrique scored a brace each, the latter refusing to celebrate his goals against his former team mates.
Third time lucky
Roger Bogunyà
FC Barcelona will be looking for their first league win against Sporting Gijon tonight (21.00 live on Canal+ and R@dio Barça) in a week which saw them make a good start to their European campaign.
The azulgranas will finish the third round of league games with the challenge of achieving their
first league win of the season. With their homework done with regard to finding the back of the net
– on Tuesday they scored three goals against Sporting Lisbon – the final challenge of
the week is to start getting three points on the board in the league.
Without Henry
And they will have to do so without Thierry Henry, who still hasn’t fully recovered
from a bout of pharyngitis. Sylvinho will also be absent. Abidal and Sergio Busquets will take
their places in the squad after missing the game on Tuesday against Sporting Lisbon (
3-1
).
Improving
The team’s game is improving. With the exception of the game against Wisla (
4-0
), you can see a clear improvement in the team’s performances. The narrowest of defeats
in Poland and against Numancia, a draw against Racing, but having played much better, and a win
against Sporting Lisbon with a return to goal-scoring form all point to things moving in the right
direction. If things continue in the same vein, the team could well win their second match of the
season (and their first in the league) and forget about their irregular start to the season.
A difficult stadium
Sporting Gijon haven’t started their season well either, having lost their opening two
games. They are the only team without a point in the league. Having said that, historically, El
Molinon has been a difficult stadium for FC Barcelona over the years and they have only won ten of
the 37 games they have played there.
Match Links
- At.Madrid4-0Recreativo
- RCD Espanyol1-1Getafe CF
- Valencia CF1-0Osasuna
- Deportivo0-0RCD Mallorca
- Numancia1-2Villarreal CF
- Real Betis0-0Sevilla FC
- Ath.Bilbao2-0R. Valladolid
- UD Almería1-0Málaga CF
- Racing0-2Real Madrid
- Sporting Gijón1-6FC Barcelona