All Bar�a�s football

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Saturday, 01 Mar
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: Vicente Calder�n, Madrid

Resultat:

At.Madrid: 4
FC Barcelona: 2

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

THE GOALS

0-1, Ronaldinho (min 29)
1-1, Ag�ero (min 36)
2-1, Maxi (min 42)
3-1, Forl�n (min 61, pen)
4-1, Ag�ero (min 71)
4-2, Eto'o (min 73)

First defeat of the year (4-2)

Roger Boguny�

Bar�a falls victim in the Vicente Calderon in a game in which they had gone ahead with an incredible goal from Ronaldinho. An unfortunate move by Puyol, resulted in the draw and a change of rhythm for the home side bringing them back into the game.

There were two very different games played tonight in the Vicente Calderon. The first was played during the first half hour, when Bar�a went ahead with an incredible overhead kick by Ronaldinho and where Bar�a were by far superior, especially in midfield.

The second game began with Aguirre’s goal to draw even, where they made the most of an unfortunate move by Puyol, which ended in a goal. From then on the home team made the most of their fast counterattacks led by a decisive Ag�ero. So much so, that in the 71st minute, the score was already 4-1. Bar�a, despite the adverse circumstances, never dropped their heads and always had faith in turning the game around – even more achievable after Eto’o’s goal (73rd min.) right to the last minute. In the end, however, a defeat, which leaves Bar�a five points behind Madrid, who beat Huelva.

Incredible goal by Ronaldinho

Dominating the game from the kick-off, the blue and reds managed to close down the “mattress makers” in their own half for the first half hour. A disallowed goal by Eto’o (10th min.) and a wild long shot by Edmilson (22nd min.) were the warning shots from Bar�a, who didn’t forgive with the third: Xavi centres from the right wing and Ronaldinho, in the penalty box, rockets it home with a perfect overhead kick, one for the video collection.

They pull it back in six minutes

Athletico seemed broken by the away goal and the clear superiority of Barcelona, but found themselves with a lucky goal from ‘Kun’ Ag�ero (36th min.), a shot which deflected unwillingly off Puyol. The misfortune caught up with the blue and reds who, without time to react, saw how Maxi scored the 2-1 with a crossing shot after a triangulation on the right wing. Even though superior in possession, Rijkaard’s men made it to half time losing by the minimum.

Number three by Forl�n

From the beginning of the second half the dynamics continued from the end of the first half. Athletico was the one breaking through more dangerously and Bar�a’s game was quickly breaking down. It was then that Ag�ero, a real nightmare for the red and blue defence forces a penalty, which Forlan puts away (61st min.)

Another goal each

The Argentine Ag�ero, though would still have time to show his worth with another goalafter leaving behind three Barcelona players. Twenty minutes to go and the score 4-1, it seemed impossible to win back the game. Only two minutes later, though, a goal by Eto’o cut back the defecit. It seemed the goals would never cease in a game which went crazy after the first half hoiur

Fight to the end

The fact is that, even with another great chance for Eto’o (91st min.) and the insistence of the red and blues, who never let their heads go down , no more goals came in the last quarter hour and Bar�a lost 4-2. This result combined with the Madrid victory in Huelva (2-3), leaves Rijkaard’s boys five points adrift of the leader.

Preview

0-6 for the record

Bar�a’s last visit to Atl�tico de Madrid’s ground finished with a scandalous result: 0-6. Bar�a maintained, with that result, all their options of winning a title which escaped them in the end on goal average. On the same day, curiously, Madrid also played in Huelva (2-3).

A lot at stake

Roger Boguny�

Atl�tico de Madrid and Bar�a meet tonight (8p.m., live on Bar�a T.V., P.P.V. and Radio Bar�a) in a high voltage dual. The home side, although going through a bad patch, are fourth in the league, while Bar�a go into the game in good form.

Frank Rijkaard’s men are undefeated in 2008. Moreover, in the last few weeks the team has cut back 7 points on the leader —now they are only 2 points behind— and they have the possibility to lead the table the end of the day, an unknown situation for the last few months.

Away Wins with good results

I n order to do this, first they have to beat Atletico de Madrid in the Vicente Calderon, not such an easy task. In spite of everything, the good results achieved at Seville, Zaragoza and Celtic allow the team to go into the away game with optimism: Rijkaard’s men haven’t lost away from the Camp Nou since losing to Getafe, 4 months ago.

Tour� Yaya, out; Ronaldinho, in

For this match, Frank Rijkaard has called up all the available men except Tour� Yaya, out for technical reasons. This means that Ronaldinho, Gudjohnsen, Giovani and Sylvinho, all left out against Valencia, have travelled to Madrid and will be at the Dutchman’s disposition.

The Brazilian crack, who started in Glasgow and against Levante, could, therefore, return to playing important minutes in the Calderon. A victory in this stadium, along with a defeat for Madrid in Huelva, would mean Bar�a accessing the leadership for the first time this season.

The best Athletico, at a low

Bar�a’s rival can boast of having the best league position in the last few years: they’re fourth and are in a Champions League position. Paradoxically, the present situation is not that desired by the “colchoneros”, who have only won 4 of a possible 18 points in this second leg. Furthermore , they were recently knocked out of the UEFA Cup. In spite of the recent ‘red and white’ results, tonight’s game will be a duel of Champions.