All Bar�a�s football

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Saturday, 09 Jun
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Resultat:

FC Barcelona: 2
RCD Espanyol: 2

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

The goals

0-1, Tamudo (min. 28)
1-1, Messi (min. 43)
2-1, Messi (min. 56)
2-2, Tamudo (min. 89)

Last minute blow (2-2)

Roger Boguny�

Bar�a and Espanyol drew 2-2 in the Penultimate game of the season, which saw Messi bag a brace. Tamudo also scored twice, the second coming in the last minute; robbing Bar�a of the Liga leadership.

This Saturday saw all of the top three teams unable to overcome their opponents. In a vibrant encounter, it was Espanyol who broke the deadlock, however, Messi grabbed two to set Bar�a on their way in what seemed like a well-deserved victory. Espanyol had other ideas, and in the final minute of normal time, brought the scores level 2-2.

Tamudo nets first

The game started at a very high tempo with both teams creating chances. Bar�a were pushing forward on every occasion and looking for goal from the outset. However, De la Pe�a led his team on dangerous counter-attacking plays. Tamudo in the 7th, Messi in the 14th and Gudjohnsen in the 17th all had chances to open up the scoring.

The opener came following a counter-attack led by De la pe�a; finding Tamudo in space following a well timed pass, the Espanyol striker slotting past the advancing Valdes 0-1. A little later, however, good news came from the Romareda indicating that Zaragoza had taken the lead through a Diego Milito penalty. The Camp Nou erupted knowing that the Liga title was still open to play for.

Bar�a draw level

Despite being down, Bar�a continued their dominating attacking plays. Their persistence paid off in the 43rd minute; Zambrotta broke down the right and put in a cross, the ball took a deflection off a defender, bounced up and off the arm of Messi into the back of the net 1-1.

Ambition

Following the restart, Eto’o took up his role on the left flank while Gudjohnsen moved into the centre. Bar�a continued to dominate and found themselves, on many occasions, within scoring distance of the Espanyol goal.

Bar�a again, following sustained pressure, found a way through the defence. Deco controlled a difficult ball well and slipped it through to Messi to advance on Kameni and guide the ball in with his right foot 2-1. Shortly afterwards, however, came the notice that Real Madrid had levelled through van Nistelrooy.

Intensity to the end

At 2-1, Bar�a remained solid on pitch looking for the third goal to finish off the game. Gudjohnsen came very close in his last contribution of the game before being replaced by Motta in the 72nd. Espanyol soaked up the pressure well, while Milito put Zaragoza in the lead again over Madrid.

Two simultaneous blows

Eto’o, using all his strength and speed, found himself one on one with Kameni, however the goalkeeper doing well to deny him. Bar�a appeared in control of the game and three points looked to have been won, however, it was not to be; Raul Tamudo denying Bar�a valuable points with a last gasp effort, while at the same time, Van Nistelrooy salvaging Madrid from the doors of defeat at the Romareda. With both these actions, Madrid remain at the top of the table with just one game remaining.

Preview

A Motivated Espanyol

With nothing left to play for, Espanyol see the derby game as an excellent opportunity to break the trend of bad results. The 3-1 victory at home demonstrates the danger they possess, at Camp Nou, however, Bar�a will be with Samuel Eto’o, who has scored 5 goals against Espanyol, 4 of which coming during his time with Mallorca. The Cameroon striker has yet to score against Espanyol at Camp Nou; a statistic he hopes to break this time around.

Crucial derby

Jordi Clos

Bar�a prepare to battle it out for the liga title in what might prove a decisive night of footbal. While Bar�a take on Espanyol, Madrid face Zaragoza and Sevilla play Mallorca.

An intense clash is expected to take place on Saturday, the blaugrana have an opportunity to increase their chances of going top of the table again, currently being denied due to goal difference. Espanyol, however, do not have anything to play for but want to get one over their local rivals. At the same time, Madrid face a complicated tie away to Zaragoza, while Sevilla travel to Mallorca.

Win or win

Regardless of what happens in the other games, Bar�a must stick to their own task and beat Espanyol. The Copa de Catalunya final victory for Bar�a bears little precedence over Saturday’s game as both teams will be fielding very different starting line ups. Despite this, the penalty shoot out victory would have been a good morale boost to take into the final two games of the season.

25 years without a win

It has been 25 years since Espanyol managed to win at Camp Nou. Two draws and 20 defeats is the record the visiting team brings with it – a record Frank Rijkaard’s men hope to add to. If the blaugrana achieve victory, it will mean they are unbeaten at home all season. Up until now, they have won 14 and drawn 4.

Marquez returns, Ronnie out

The exodus of players on international duty meant Rijkaard could not train with the full squad until Thursday. Marquez returns to the squad after having been sidelined for 5 weeks, Javier Saviola and Sylvinho are out through technical decision and Ronaldinho and Edmilson are out through suspension. In the end, the Spanish Sports Disciplinary committee refusing to overturn Ronaldionho’s red card.
With the absence of Ronaldinho but with the support of the Camp Nou, Bar�a will go out looking to take on the Liga title race head on.

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