First off , I’m very disappointed with the Barcelona performance. They played like vagabond school kids, without any plan or design. Their attitude on the pitch also resembled the gypsies- straying away from assignments , losing sight of the ball and most importantly gifting away two goals. Barcelona issued a statement like Liverpool after a week of madness for both clubs, but unfortunately for all the cules out there, it was the wrong kind.
My friend had remarked ‘ Barcelona beat Barcelona, Liverpool just happened to be there’. I don’t entirely agree with this view but it does ring true when you see the goals that were conceded. The defending was god awful and the goalkeeper Victor Valdes had a nightmare game. Valdes was not the only one guilty of dropping the ball, Rijkaard’s over aggression in an attempt to overcompensate for the Samuel Eto’o debacle lost the second half of the game. He brought on Iniesta to replace Motta and that meant that there was no natural holding midfielder, despite the ineffective performance of the latter.I was surprised Crouch didn’t come on at that stage. It would have made matters worse for the Champions of Europe.. At one point Barca had Xavi, Messi, Deco and Iniesta on the pitch. Crouch could have really exploited that. In keeping with the dreadful season, Ronaldinho had a terrible time. Have players sorted out his style? It does look like that. Defenders are not really threatened when he runs at them. Messi was awful too. Not once did he go on those trademark mazy runs which I and the whole of Catalunya had hoped for.
For Liverpool, it couldn’t have been sweeter. Two people in the news for all the wrong reasons were the heroes- Bellamy and Riise. All credit to them. Barca were awful but Liverpool were remarkably organised and took on their more talented rivals to their face, without any acknowledgment of their supposed pedigree. Its not all gloom and doom for the Catalans and good football at Anfield could change the whole equation.
Through the encircling gloom, it must be realised that its just the first leg but few would bet against Rafa and the reds and even fewer after witnessing that disastrous display by the Best side in Europe.
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Barca are missing Eto’o and Larsson. 60+ % possession and still did not cause Reina too many problems. (the only problems Reina had, he himself caused them).
Valdes has been one of Barca’s better players this season. Sad he cupped yesterday.
And Ronaldinho hasn’t been in any sort of form this season. Should have been obvious when he was in your own words f**ked by Boulahrouz. I think most of his goals have come from free kicks, penalties, etc right?
Yeah, all those stats are meaningless. yep. the goals ronnie has scored this season has been penalties, freekicks and unmarked headers.. its sad to see him play this way but seriously i think its hard to expect a team to win every season.