All Bar�a�s football

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Saturday, 03 Mar
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: Ram�n S�nchez Pizju�n, Sevilla

Resultat:

Sevilla FC: 2
FC Barcelona: 1

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

The goals

0-1, Ronaldinho (min 13)
1-1, Kerzakhov (min 39)
2-1, Alves (min 60)

Heads held high (2-1)

Bar�a let victory slip away from them at the Sanchez Pizjuan. The blaugrana ended the game with nine men on the field with Giuly and Zambrotta given their marching orders.

Goals from Kerzakhov and Alves caqncelled out Ronaldinho’s opening goal. Bar�a let victory out of their grasp after controlling the play for much of the game and even having a chance to double the lead through a penalty. Bar�a also finished the game with only nine men on pitch after Giuly and Zambrotta saw red still with 15 minutes on the clock. Despite the victory, Bar�a maintain their goal advantage over Sevilla.

More suprises

Rijkaard expressed his surprise at the loss despite controlling the game early on. Zambrotta started the game in midfield with Xavi and Iniesta. Ronaldinho started in the middle up front and combined well with the midfield trio, allowing Giuly and Messi to lead the attack. Like last Wednesday, the midfielders were able to be involved in the attacking plays and in one such play, Zambrotta avoided the offside trap, raced to the touch libne and wipped in across which was met sublimely with the head of Ronaldinho (0-1) after 13 minutes. Sevilla’s response saw their first chance come in the 19th minute.

However, in a game between the top two clubs in the league can cause many things to happen. In the 27th minute, Alves, Sevilla’s most imposing player in the game, made a threatening run down the right, however, Valdes was alert to his cross. A few minutes later and a little confusion in the Sevilla defence allowed Ronaldinho to be clean through on goal, Ocio brought him down with a professional foul - red card and a penalty for Bar�a. Palop, although diving to his right, saved the ensuing spot kick with his legs; denying Bar�a doubling their lead.

This moment brought about a response from the home team as they bid to capitalise on the effect of Bar�a’s missed penalty. Despite having only 10 men on the field, Sevilla appeared intent on getting the equalizer and in the 39th minute, Kerzakhov turned well on the edge of the box and slotted home past Valdes (1-1).

Two Obstackles

In the second half, Bar�a came out strong and looking to utilize their wing men. Giuly at one end and soon after, Kanout� at the other gave both teams the opportunity to take the lead. Iniesta and Xavi combined well and were dominating the game in the centre. Xavi and Messi both tried their luck from distance, however, it was Sevilla who found the breakthough through a free kick from Alves, which took a slight deflection off the wall leaving Valdes helpless to stop the ball from going in the net. A few minutes later, Giuly got a straight red card in a fracas involving Alves again.

Even match up till the end

With Bar�a a goal down, Rijkaard decided to change things around a little; bringing on Eto’o and Saviola for Marquez and Messi. Bar�a looked to capitalise on Sevilla’s lull in offensive play, however, worse was to come as Zambrotta was given his marching orders in the 75th minute, much to the surprise of his team mates. Bar�a from this moment on found it tough to find any gaps in Sevilla’s defence, while having to contend with the quick counterattacks. In the last minutes, Xavi and Eto’o on separate occasions had chances at one end while Kanoute and Alves had better chances at the other, all of them being unable to convert. With the result, Bar�a find themselves a point behind, however, with favourable goal difference.

Preview

The Sevilla Derby

The last encounter between the two teams from Sevilla, sadly ended with ugly scenes which include Sevilla coach Juande Ramos being struck on the head with a bottle; leaving him unconscious and the game suspended. The Competition committee this Friday imposing a ban on Betis to play three games behind closed doors. The 33 minutes remaining in the game will be played at the Coliseo Alfonso Perez in Getafe, again, behind closed doors.

First stop Sevilla

Bar�a start their critical week with a game against second placed Sevilla this Saturday at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Rijkaard and his men play their first big game of the week and on offer are three valuable points.

There will hardly be time to think in ‘el Clasico’ as Liverpool will be Bar�a’s next opponents midweek. With increased morale following their victory in the Copa del Rey against Zaragoza midweek, and with the return of Samuel Eto’o after a week’s rest, Bar�a go into Saturday’s game (22:00, La sexta y TV3) intent on increasing their two point lead. Sevilla cannot count on captain Javi Navarro, Hinkel and Maresca due to injury.

Dosage: Frank Rijkaard spoke at the habitual press conference before the games about the quality Juande Ramos possesses in his squad. The Dutch coach also spoke of the blaugrana’s trip to Liverpool on Tuesday. Rijkaard, who is giving rests to Deco and Thuram, made it clear he has one eye the Champions League clash. In this sense, the Dutch coach used the word “dosage” with reference to Eto’o and how much he is going to be utilized. According the Rijkaard, the “Pichichi” of La Liga is “ready to play”, but not quite the 90 minutes.

Xavi and Iniesta: Following the performance at the Romareda of these two players, nobody can question their presence at the heart of the midfield. Bar�a’s victory owed a lot to the work of these two players, whose ability to work the ball forward and create dangerous attacking plays are causing problems for opposition defences. Xavi has bagged two goals in the last two games, Iniesta has scored seven this season; his best so far in the Bar�a first team.

Recent balance favours Bar�a: Sevilla and Bar�a have played 62 times in Sevilla; the home team winning on 28 occasions, 17 for Bar�a and 17 draws. In these 62 games, Sevilla have scored 104 goals and Bar�a 70. Therefore, indicating a preference towards Sevilla to walk away with the points. However, with Rijkaard at the helm, Bar�a have won twice and lost on only one occasion.

Wings and Kanout�: As Rijkaard said: “the team work is their best weapon”. This team, put together by the technical secretary ‘Monchi’, has the capacity to do serious damage with quick counter attacks; especially down both flanks. Navas and Adriano being the suppliers, the Brazilian down the left and the Andaluse down the right and both with the uncanny ability to pick out Kanout� in the centre. The man from Mali, leading La Liga with 18 goals; two more than Ronaldinho.

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