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Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Saturday, 26 Jul
Competition: ???label.competicio25???
Stadium: Tannadice Park, Dundee

Resultat:

Dundee United: 1
FC Barcelona: 5

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

More info

The goals

1-0 Buaben (min 26)
1-1 Henry (min 27)
1-2 Messi (min 54)
1-3 Eto'o (min 60)
1-4 Messi (min 75)
1-5 Messi (min 78)

Messi shines in five star display (1-5)

Jordi Clos

Lionel Messi scored a second half hat-trick for FC Barcelona as they ended their stay in Scotland with another emphatic win, this time against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday evening.

The Blaugrana against showed that they are in good form at this early stage of the campaign as Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o also scored to add to the Argentinian's three goals. After putting six past Hibernian in midweek, Pep Guardiola's team managed just one less in their second encounter thanks to a powerful performance after the interval. Messi came off the bench and had a huge effect on proceedings and showed once again just why he is seen as some important to Barcelona's plans.

Early chances

Barça created four chances in the opening 25 minutes with Henry testing the keeper with the clearest effort, but he was denied by Lukasz Zaluska. Until that moment, the host side had little to offer going forward, but with their first meaningful push they took the lead when Prince Buaben was picked out at he far post and he was able to meet the ball and angle a head home much to the delight of the Dundee United supporters.

Immediate reaction

It did not take long for the Blaugrana to muster a reply and they were level with two minutes after a mix-up in the Dundee United defence allowed Henry to take one shot that was parried and then pounce on the rebound to fire the ball into the far corner of the net. The Scottish outfit continued to look to move in behind the Barça defence, but it was Guardiola's team that had the better opportunities with Henry, Pedrito, Bojan Krkic and Eidur Gudjohnsen all going close.

Barça take control

At the start of the second period, Barcelona made seven changes and they had the desired effect as the visitors took command of the encounter before the hour mark was reached. Messi was one of those to make his entrance at the break and he took just minutes to put Barça ahead for the first time after a clever run. In the 60th minute Eto'o staked a claim for a place in the squad next term with the third after he capitalised on another defensive mistake in the Dundee United rearguard.

Messi hat-trick

The best was yet to come as Barça continued to change things around and Dundee United pushed up field, Eto'o and Messi combined well to open up the home team's back four and allow the Argentinian to slot home his second and Barça's fourth of the afternoon. Three minutes later and Messi completed his hat-trick after he was in the right place at the right time to react to a save from the keeper after Eto'o's shot had been parried.

Barcelona's emphatic victory was further proof of the confidence that is running through the squad and rounded off the trip to Scotland in style, making it eleven goals in Barça's and just one conceded.

The 1-5 end has left in evidence the sign that has had the party and has permitted to the Barça to finalize the phase in Scotland with an exciting balance: eleven goals to favour and one in against, in two parties.

Preview

One year ago

Barça played at Tannadice Park against Dundee United last summer on 26th July, winning 1-0 thanks to a last minute goal from Thierry Henry.

Second and final friendly in Scotland

Jordi Clos

After a promising performance against Hibernian, Barça now face Dundee United on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 5 pm, live commentary on R@dio Barça) with the intention of keeping the good football flowing.

The team will say goodbye to Scotland on Saturday after a six-day stay and nine training sessions. The final event will be a second friendly match against Dundee United at Tannadice Park, two days after the spectacular 6-0 win against Hibernian. The players will have a second chance to put everything they’ve been learning from Guardiola into practice.

A promising start

Barça’s previous performance against Hibernian promised some good things to come, with some spectacular play in attack and a defence that worked hard. As Pep Guardiola himself revealed in the post-match press conference, his team had displayed a number of qualities that he has been working to get across to the players in the last few days, especially the movements up front and a fluid transition of the ball out from the back line. The manager will be demanding the same kind of display against Dundee United.

The same faces

Once again there’ll be a chance to watch some of Barça’s home-grown talent in action. Assuming there are no last minute surprises, Guardiola will probably use the same group of players as against Hibernian. However, Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta, who joined up with the squad on Wednesday after their victorious EURO 2008 campaign with Spain, are shaping up well and will no doubt be pushing for a place in the side.

A club with history

Dundee United, currently coached by Craig Levain, is one of the classic clubs in Scottish football. They finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League last season and also reached the final of the League Cup. They’ve made six new signings in the summer.