Sportsnob – Critics Corner

Catalans Vs Blavers


First up, the grandslam began in La Liga with Barcelona playing Valencia at the Mestalla on saturday night. A great game it was and Barca took the lead with a brilliant one-two between Messi and Iniesta. The game was taut with Barca hogging posession and Valencia launching lightning counters with what Guardiola called the fantastic front four: Villa,Silva,Mata and Pablo Hernandez. Valencia equalised through Maduro’s header after a blunder by Valdes a trifle short of HT and went up 2-1 after a brilliant link up between Pablo and Mata just before HT. The 2nd half saw Valencia sitting pretty at the back with the lead and Barca attacking again and again.The equaliser finally came from the 2nd half substitute Theirry Henry in the 85th minute. It was 2 points dropped and one point won at the Mestalla after a difficult game for Barcelona but they would be happy with the point as the post match comments of Guardiola suggested.

Raul,Uno,Dos,Tres

Madrid took on the Andalusians Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan looking to score a win and cut down Barca’s lead to 4 points. Sevilla started using their wings pretty well and with a packed up 4-5-1 with Kanoute leading the attack. Perotti constantly troubled Sergio Ramos and Sevilla took the lead in the 16th minute through a fine header by Renato. Real Madrid sat back allowing Sevilla to attack and looking for the elusive counter attack. They managed to equalise just before HT through Raul who latched onto a Metzelder pass into the box with a characteristic poacher’s finish. Raul continued to show his maturity and talent and scored twice and thrice in the 2nd half to give Real Madrid an unassailable 3-1 lead within 65 minutes. Sevilla kept attacking and managed to pull one goal back through 2nd half substitute Diego Capel but that wasn’t enough to win them any points as Marcelo scored a late 4th goal to seal a win for Madrid.

This makes next week’s El Clasico a great match up with Real Madrid looking to win to cut Barca’s lead down to one point. Barca on the other hand will have one eye on the midweek CL semis against Chelsea in what seems to be a heart attack week for the Catalans and a mouth watering one for the neutrals.