Match Report | Simply Barcelona Tickets

Barcelona stumbles

February 23rd, 2009

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Real Madrid closed the gap on Barça at the weekend with 6-1 victory against Betis, while Espanyol – sitting at the bottom of the league going into the weekend – pulled out all the stops in a victory that was very much David and Goliath and providing the very first home defeat in this season’s league.

Barcelona went one man down in the 38th minute when Keita was sent off, although it looked like a poor decision from the ref, particularly considering an earlier foul against Abidal in which he was injured, but went unpunished.

The second half saw more action, with de la Peña scoring in the 50th minute and again just 4 minutes later off a rebound from Valdés. Finally Touré scored for Barça in the 62nd minute, but despite attacking until the end they were unable to put the ball home for a second time.

This week Barcelona visit Lyon for the first leg of the last 16 in Champions League, followed by an away league match with Atletico de Madrid on Sunday and a visit to Mallorca for the Copa del Rey the following Wednesday, so there can be little rest for the squad.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Barcelona	24	19	3	2	71	20	60
2	Real Madrid	24	17	2	5	55	28	53
3	Sevilla	24	13	5	6	32	21	44
4	Villarreal	24	11	8	5	38	32	41
5	Valencia	24	11	6	7	44	35	39
6	Malaga	24	11	6	7	41	35	39
7	At. Madrid	24	10	6	8	48	35	36
8	Deportivo	24	10	6	8	28	30	36
9	Athletic	24	8	7	9	34	37	31
10	Valladolid	24	9	3	12	35	39	30
11	Santander	24	7	8	9	25	28	29
12	Getafe	24	6	10	8	34	36	28
13	Almeria	24	7	7	10	30	38	28
14	Gijon	24	9	0	15	30	53	27
15	Huelva	24	6	8	10	21	34	26
16	Betis	24	7	5	12	32	38	26
17	Osasuna	24	5	9	10	25	30	24
18	Mallorca	24	6	6	12	24	40	24
19	Espanyol	24	4	9	11	22	38	21
20	Numancia	24	6	2	16	26	48	20

Posted in La Liga, Match report

Barcelona’s winning streak over – for now

February 16th, 2009

Barcelona slipped 2 points on Saturday night, after a late 2-2 equaliser against Betis.

Betis were out to win from the start and within 25 minutes were two goals up. Once again Barça showed their fighting spirit that was sorely lacking last season, and Eto’o scored off a rebound at the end of the first half.

Guardiola then brought on more of the big guns, in the shape of Messi and Henry. Barcelona maintained the attack, while Betis was running out of energy, but still no goal appeared. However, with just 5 minutes to go, Eto’o came to the rescue once more and salvaged a single point from the night.

Real Madrid beat Sporting Gijon 4-0, which now puts them 10 points behind Barcelona in the Spanish league table.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Barcelona	23	19	3	1	70	18	60
2	Real Madrid	23	16	2	5	49	27	50
3	Sevilla	23	12	5	6	31	21	41
4	Valencia	23	11	5	7	43	34	38
5	Villarreal	23	10	8	5	36	31	38
6	At. Madrid	23	10	6	7	48	34	36
7	Malaga	23	10	6	7	38	34	36
8	Deportivo	23	10	5	8	27	29	35
9	Valladolid	23	9	3	11	34	36	30
10	Athletic	23	8	6	9	33	36	30
11	Santander	23	7	8	8	25	27	29
12	Getafe	23	6	9	8	33	35	27
13	Almeria	23	7	6	10	29	37	27
14	Gijon	23	9	0	14	29	51	27
15	Betis	23	7	5	11	31	32	26
16	Huelva	23	6	7	10	20	33	25
17	Osasuna	23	4	9	10	23	30	21
18	Mallorca	23	5	6	12	23	40	21
19	Numancia	23	6	2	15	26	46	20
20	Espanyol	23	3	9	11	20	37	18

Posted in La Liga, Match report

Ten in a row for Barça

February 9th, 2009

Barcelona won once more, this time against Sporting de Gijon. Again Barça dominated possession, ending the forst half two goals up thanks to Samuel Eto’o in the 23rd and 40th minutes. Barcelona went 3 goals up in the 65th minute thanks to Dani Alves, although Sporting came back with a goal of their own just 5 minutes later.

Last night’s victory is the 10th league win in a row and leaves Barcelona 12 points ahead of their nearest rival, Real Madrid, with a colossal 59 points.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Barcelona	22	19	2	1	68	16	59
2	Real Madrid	22	15	2	5	45	27	47
3	Sevilla	22	11	5	6	29	21	38
4	Valencia	22	11	4	7	42	33	37
5	Villarreal	22	10	7	5	35	30	37
6	At. Madrid	22	10	5	7	47	33	35
7	Malaga	22	10	5	7	37	33	35
8	Deportivo	22	10	4	8	27	29	34
9	Valladolid	22	9	3	10	32	33	30
10	Athletic	22	8	5	9	32	35	29
11	Santander	22	7	7	8	24	26	28
12	Gijon	22	9	0	13	29	47	27
13	Getafe	22	6	8	8	32	34	26
14	Betis	22	7	4	11	29	30	25
15	Almeria	22	6	6	10	26	35	24
16	Huelva	22	6	6	10	19	32	24
17	Osasuna	22	4	8	10	23	30	20
18	Numancia	22	6	2	14	26	45	20
19	Mallorca	22	4	6	12	22	40	18
20	Espanyol	22	3	9	10	20	35	18

Posted in La Liga, Match report

Messi makes it 5,000 for Barça

February 2nd, 2009

Leo Messi scored the 5,000th league goal in FC Barcelona’s history last night when they paid a visit to Racing de Santander.

After a goalless first half, Zigic put the home team in the lead in the 65th minute from the penalty spot after Marquez brought down Pereira. However, just 10 minutes later Messi put in the 4,999th league goal for Barcelona when he was brought on in place of Busquets. Henry crossed to Xavi, who hit the bar, but Messi was there to put the ball in the net from the rebound. 15 minutes later it was Messi again who was on hand to put the ball home, marking Barcelona’s historic 5,000th league goal and ensuring another three points.

Wednesday sees Mallorca visit the Nou Camp for the Copa del Rey and next weekend sees Sporting Gijon make the trip to Barcelona.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Barcelona	21	18	2	1	65	15	56
2	Real Madrid	21	14	2	5	44	27	44
3	Sevilla	21	11	5	5	28	19	38
4	Valencia	21	11	4	6	42	32	37
5	Villarreal	21	9	7	5	33	29	34
6	Deportivo	21	10	3	8	26	28	33
7	At. Madrid	21	9	5	7	44	33	32
8	Malaga	21	9	5	7	34	31	32
9	Athletic	21	8	5	8	31	33	29
10	Santander	21	7	7	7	24	25	28
11	Gijon	21	9	0	12	28	44	27
12	Valladolid	21	8	3	10	30	32	27
13	Getafe	21	6	7	8	31	33	25
14	Almeria	21	6	6	9	24	32	24
15	Huelva	21	6	6	9	19	29	24
16	Betis	21	6	4	11	27	29	22
17	Numancia	21	6	2	13	25	43	20
18	Osasuna	21	3	8	10	22	30	17
19	Espanyol	21	3	8	10	19	34	17
20	Mallorca	21	4	5	12	21	39	17

Posted in La Liga, Match report

Barcelona through to Copa del Rey semi-finals

January 30th, 2009

Barcelona’s 3-2 defeat of Espanyol at the Nou Camp last night means the blaugranas are once again through to the last four. Although two goals from Bojan and one from Piquet in minute 56 mean that Barça looked to have the game wrapped up early in the second half, Espanyol – who are in danger of relegation – fought back in front of a packed stadium and valiently clawed back 2 goals of their own.

Barcelona face Mallorca in the semi-final, with the home leg on February 4th and the return on March 4th. Keep an eye on the website for details of ticket availability.

Posted in Copa del Rey, Match report

Spectacular victory kicks off second half of season

January 26th, 2009

The last time they faced Numancia – the first match of the season – was the last league match lost by Barça, who gained another three points on Saturday night. The day had been blowing with 100 mph winds, which although they had lost much of their force by the evening were still in evidence.

First the first half it looked as if it wasn’t going to go all Barcelona’s way, with the Numancia defence preventing the attack from getting through. However, in the second half Barça’s stamina started to show, with Messi and Eto’o both scoring in the space of three minutes.

Going two goals down prompted a response from Numancia, and Barkero put the ball past Victor Valdes in the 60th minute. However, with Barcelona dominating possession up front it was only a matter of time before they scored again. Henry and Messi put in two more goals and secured another spectacular win for Barcelona.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Barcelona	20	17	2	1	63	14	53
2	Real Madrid	20	13	2	5	42	27	41
3	Sevilla	20	11	5	4	28	18	38
4	Valencia	20	10	4	6	39	30	34
5	Villarreal	20	9	7	4	33	26	34
6	At. Madrid	20	9	5	6	43	31	32
7	Malaga	20	9	5	6	32	28	32
8	Deportivo	20	9	3	8	23	28	30
9	Santander	20	7	7	6	23	23	28
10	Athletic	20	7	5	8	28	31	26
11	Getafe	20	6	6	8	29	31	24
12	Valladolid	20	7	3	10	28	31	24
13	Almeria	20	6	6	8	22	29	24
14	Gijon	20	8	0	12	27	44	24
15	Huelva	20	6	5	9	18	28	23
16	Betis	20	6	3	11	25	27	21
17	Numancia	20	6	2	12	25	41	20
18	Mallorca	20	4	5	11	21	38	17
19	Espanyol	20	3	7	10	18	33	16
20	Osasuna	20	2	8	10	21	30	14

Posted in La Liga, Match report

Goalless draw against Espanyol

January 22nd, 2009

Barcelona paid a visit to Espanyol’s stadium at Montjuic last night in their Copa del Rey draw. However, despite Espanyol’s poor form this year they put on enough of an effort to thwart Barça. The return let will be played at the Nou Camp on 28th January.

Posted in Copa del Rey, Match report

Barça creates new Liga record

January 19th, 2009

Leo Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o provided a feast of goals in the 5-0 annihilation of Deportivo de la Coruña on Saturday night and in doing so created a new record for the most goals scored in the first half of the season.

The onslaught was started by Messi, after a pass from Xavi, when he completely threw off the Deportivo defence to put the ball in the net in the 21st minute; six minutes later it was Henry’s turn, with a header from a cross from Alves; and in the 41st minute Deportivo’s keeper defelcted the ball only to have it rammed home by Eto’o.

With the score at 3-0 it looked as if all the exitement could be all over for the night, and after the break the pace was much slower, but with just 8 minutes to go Henry scored his second of the night. And then Carles Puyol, who was playing up front by this time, was brought down by Deportivo’s keeper resulting in a red card – and the second goal from Eto’o in the 86th minute from the penalty spot.

The result leaves Barça on 50 points, ahead of Sevilla and Real Madrid both on 38.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Barcelona	19	16	2	1	59	13	50
2	Sevilla	19	11	5	3	28	16	38
3	Real Madrid	19	12	2	5	41	27	38
4	Valencia	19	10	4	5	38	27	34
5	Villarreal	19	9	6	4	32	25	33
6	At. Madrid	19	9	4	6	42	30	31
7	Malaga	19	9	4	6	31	27	31
8	Deportivo	19	9	3	7	23	27	30
9	Athletic	19	7	5	7	27	29	26
10	Santander	19	6	7	6	21	23	25
11	Gijon	19	8	0	11	26	39	24
12	Valladolid	19	7	2	10	27	30	23
13	Almeria	19	5	6	8	20	28	21
14	Betis	19	6	3	10	25	26	21
15	Getafe	19	5	6	8	24	30	21
16	Huelva	19	5	5	9	17	28	20
17	Numancia	19	6	2	11	24	37	20
18	Espanyol	19	3	6	10	17	32	15
19	Mallorca	19	3	5	11	18	37	14
20	Osasuna	19	2	7	10	20	29	13

Posted in La Liga, Match report

Copa del Rey Quarter Final to be Barcelona Derby

January 15th, 2009

Despite going down one goal, FC Barcelona came back strongly to beat Atletico de Madrid 2-1 at the Nou Camp and to qualify for the Copa del Rey quarter final, where they meet cross town rival Espanyol.

The first leg of the quarter final will take place at Espanyol’s Estadi Olimpic on Montjuic on Wednesday 21st January, followed by the home leg on the 28th. Other teams left in the Copa del Rey are Sporting Gijon, Valencia, Sevilla, Betis and Mallorca.

Posted in Copa del Rey, Match report

Barcelona takes all points against Osasuna

January 12th, 2009

Despite a goal at the end of the first half from Eto’o to put Barcelona ahead, it was only goals from Xavi and Messi in the closing stages of the match that took the three points.

Conditions were poor, with cold weather and poor visibility due to fog to contend with. And after a first half dominated by Barça, Osasuna came on in the second half clearly on the offensive, the result being goals from Flaño in minute 62 and Pandiani ten minutes later.

However, Barcelona continued fighting, resulting in an equalising goal from Xavi 10 minutes before the final whistle, followed four minutes later by Messi.

Barcelona remain unbeaten since their first league fixture and look favourites to win the Spanish league by a long way.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Barcelona	18	15	2	1	54	13	47
2	Sevilla	18	10	5	3	27	16	35
3	Real Madrid	18	11	2	5	38	26	35
4	Valencia	18	10	4	4	36	24	34
5	At. Madrid	18	9	3	6	41	29	30
6	Villarreal	18	8	6	4	30	25	30
7	Deportivo	18	9	3	6	23	22	30
8	Malaga	18	8	4	6	27	27	28
9	Gijon	18	8	0	10	26	37	24
10	Athletic	18	6	5	7	24	27	23
11	Valladolid	18	7	2	9	26	27	23
12	Santander	18	5	7	6	20	23	22
13	Getafe	18	5	6	7	24	29	21
14	Numancia	18	6	2	10	24	36	20
15	Almeria	18	5	5	8	19	27	20
16	Betis	18	5	3	10	22	25	18
17	Huelva	18	4	5	9	15	28	17
18	Espanyol	18	3	6	9	17	28	15
19	Mallorca	18	3	5	10	18	35	14
20	Osasuna	18	2	7	9	19	26	13

Posted in La Liga, Match report

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