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Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Saturday, 23 Jan
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: José Zorrilla, Valladolid

Resultat:

R. Valladolid: 0
FC Barcelona: 3

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Goals

0-1 Xavi (min 20)
0-2 Alves (min 21)
0-3 Messi (min 56)

Unbeaten (0-3)

Jordi Clos

Barca ran out 0-3 winners in Valladolid and set yet another record –it’s the first time they have gone unbeaten for the whole of the first half of a season. Xavi and Alves set up the win with a couple of goals and Messi rounded it all off.

Pep Guardiola’s team continue to break records and their win against Valladolid means that they have gone unbeaten in the first half of a season for the first time in the club’s history. Tonight’s win was a convincing affair with Xavi and Alves scoring two in two minutes in the first half, though Valdes showed the way with a great save just before the goals. Messi confirmed the reigning champions’ superiority with his goal in the second half.

Echoes of Tenerife

Valladolid began the game very much as Tenerife had a fortnight ago, pressurising the Barca defence and attempting to cut off the supply of possession further up the pitch. Messi had a good effort on 10 minutes, but it was Valdes who was the Barca hero with a great stop from Diego Castro. However, just as had happened in Tenerife, any resistance came to an end once Barca had got their first goal. That came on 20 minutes when Xavi volleyed home a cross from Alves after a spectacular counter attack and the Brazilian was on target himself a minute later with a powerful centre shoot that beat the Valladolid keeper Villar.

In charge

From then on, the visitors looked much more comfortable with Keita guiding play out to Alves who was showing himself master of the right hand side and although Valdes was again called on to make a great stop from a free kick just before half time, Barca looked to be completely on charge.

True to their style

True to their attacking style, Barca refused to sit back on their lead in the second half and laid siege to the Valladolid goal. Henry was unlucky to have a spectacular effort saved by Villar on 55 minutes, but a minute later Messi put away a gift from Ibrahimovic to make it three. The hosts were down and out now and Henry, Messi and Ibrahimovic all had great chances,.

The team worked hard to help Ibrahimovic get on the scoresheet, but it wasn’t to be. Guardiola kept the Swede on the pitch as he rang the changes with Milito, Txigrinski and Bojan all getting a run out. All three played their part in ensuring the points and confirming Barca’s wonderful unbeaten first half to the season – so far at least, nobody can beat this Barca.

Preview

The better second I start

Whatever the outcome in Valladolid, Barça will record their second-best ever first half to a season. With the record set last term of 50 points, the current side can finish the first stage with one less as three points more would take them to 49. A draw would see them move onto 47 points.

Barça look to remain unbeaten

Jordi Clos

Barça conclude the first half of the league season with a trip to Real Valladolid on Saturday evening (20:00) and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run that have pushed them five points clear at the top of the table.at the top of the table.

The José Zorilla is a ground where the Blaugrana have experienced many highs and lows as they won the title thanks to Urruti there, saw Ronaldinho sent off while Andrés Iniesta scored his first ever goal for the club there. Valladolid are always an unpredictable side and despite Barça heading into the game as leaders the visitors will have to show their hosts respect. The game does promise to be exciting as there have been the same number of goals scored at the José Zorilla as have been scored at Camp Nou this term with 32.

The unknown quantity of the defensive pivot

Pep Guardiola goes into the game without defensive midfielders Touré Yaya and Sergio Busquets. The Ivory Coast international is still at the African Cup of Nations while the Catalan starlet is injured. Rafael Márquez is a candidate to step into the position in front of the back four while Dmytro Chygrynskiy has experience there and Seydou Keita and Jonathan Dos Santos can also fill in.

19 they called, a ruled out

Barça have taken a 19-man squad to Valladolid and Guardiola will choose which player will miss out an hour before the match. Only Thiago, who will appear for Barça Atlètic, and Jeffren, who has tonsillitis, have not travelled.

Emergencies for Mendilíbar

Real Valladolid have yet to find their form from last term, but are adding points to their tally thanks to eight draws. Three wins from their 18 matches however have left them just one place above the drop zone. Coach José Luis Mendilibar, who Guardiola stated he is a big fan of, is hoping to turn around the fortunes of his side at home. He will have to do so without the services of Manucho, Álvaro Rubio and Sisí, while Nauzet, Font and Jacobo are rested.

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