All Bar�a�s football

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Sunday, 02 Oct
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: El Molin�n, Gij�n

Resultat:

Sporting Gij�n: 0
FC Barcelona: 1

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

Photos: Miguel Ruiz-FCB

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The goal

0-1, Adriano (min 12)

Leaders (0-1)

Roger Boguny�

An early goal from Adriano gave Guardiola�s men the three points in Gijon which take them to the top of the table for the first time this season. On the negative side, Abidal was forced off with an injury.

As they were in their last two visits to El Molinon, Bar�a were really made to work hard by Sporting and they ran out winners thanks to a single first half goal from Adriano –though they could easily have increased their lead in a dominant first 45 minutes. After the break the game was more evenly balanced, with Bar�a controlling the home team’s efforts, despite losing Abidal to injury and, in truth, Valdes was rarely under threat.

The win puts Bar�a at the top of La Liga going into the international break, with 14 points alongside Llevant, but with a better goal difference.

Adriano opens the scoring

Guardiola began the game with another tactical innovation, sending out a 3-3-4 line up, with Pedro playing as a false number nine, Messi a little behind him and Villa and Adriano out wide. The system helped Bar�a dominate and after a Xavi shot had bounced off the woodwork, Adriano was quick to pounce and his shot deflected off Canella past Sporting keeper Juan Pablo to give Bar�a a deserved early lead.

Dominant Bar�a

One up, Bar�a now began to completely take charge and Thiago and Villa combined on the left to nearly double the lead before Messi had a penalty shout turned down by the ref. The second looked to be a matter of when not if, as Sporting defended en masse and could only muster a couple of counter attacks before the break.

Abidal injury and return to back four

The hosts upped their game in the second half though., and played with a greater intensity and more presence in attack, upsetting Bar�a’s rhythm, which was further disturbed by Abidal’s injury, forcing Guardiola to bring on Maxwell and Piqu� for the Frenchman and Pedro, whilst reverting to a traditional back four. After a first 25 minutes or so under immense local pressure, Bar�a began to take control again and take the sting out of any Sporting threat by employing their trademark domination of possession and not allowing the hosts a sniff of a chance.

Preview

Dangerous trip to bottom club

Roger Boguny�

FC Barcelona visit El Molin�n this evening (20.00, Canal + and R@dio Bar�a), home of the club currently propping up the table but where Guardiola�s side has had much difficulty in recent years. Cesc is out through injury.

It’s not easy to score in Gij�n. Bar�a have only hit the net twice in their last two visits. Two years ago, Pedro’s solitary goal was enough to earn three points, but Villa’s late goal on his return to his former club last year was only enough to salvage a draw. Sporting manager Manolo Preciado seems to know what is needed to stop Barcelona from doing what it does best – score goals. Can history repeat itself tonight?

Midfield woes

Josep Guardiola will need to put his thinking cap on tonight, because with Afellay out for some time and Iniesta not due back for at least another two weeks, on Saturday he learned that yet another midfielder is sidelined. In the last training session before the game, Cesc F�bregas pulled his right hamstring and will be out of action for about three weeks. To add to Bar�a’s troubles, Alexis is also injured.

Puyol OK

The only natural midfielders available are Mascherano, Busquets, who can also play at centre back, Xavi, Thiago and Keita. So young Isaac Cuenca has been drafted in from Bar�a B to add to the options in this area. But there was also good news, for despite picking up a rib injury midweek in Minsk, Puyol has recovered in time to play his part in Asturias.

Sporting in need

Sporting are in much deeper trouble than Barcelona. They only have one point so far, which they picked up thanks to a draw with fellow strugglers Racing last week, and are currently rock bottom of the Liga table. The demands on Preciado and his team are high, for they have only scored two goals all season and follow this duel with the defending champions with another tricky fixture, Sevilla away. Nacho Novo y Carmelo is definitely out and there are also doubts concerning Luis Mor�n’s fitness.