FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.08.2007 11:49

The trident is back

Anna Segura

The forward trio of Henry, Eto'o and Ronaldinho appeared again against Mission Hills Invitation XI. The understanding between the three is getting better and better.

The trio’s performance was a far more convincing one than against Yokohama, showing that things are really starting to fall into place in Frank Rijkaard’s side.

Less movement

In the last match, Eto'o, Henry and Ronaldinho constantly switched positions, but this time they seemed to stick to far more defined roles. The Cameroonian played on the right, Henry in the middle, and Ronaldinho out on the left.

All three in the 28th

The goal scored in the 28th minute involved all three of the players. Henry threaded the ball through from the left to Ronaldinho who laid on for Eto'o, to control the ball and slot it home past goalkeeper Fan Chun Yip.

Eto'o lays on the goals

The Cameroonian scored his first goal of the pre-season against Mission Hills Invitation XI, although he has been laying on the assists in regular fashion. Against Beijing Guoan, Iniesta scored Barça’s second from an Eto’o pass, and it was a move between Ronaldinho and Eto'o that led to Giovani dos Santos hitting home the only goal of the game against Yokohama F. Marinos.

On Saturday against the Hong Kong select side, Eto'o also supplied an assist. That was in the third goal when he crossed from the right for an unmarked Henry to head home in expert fashion.

The pitch

Following so much rain the pitch was hardly in the ideal condition, which limited what the three could conjure up. But although the conditions prevented the kind of ball circulation the Barça players thrive upon, they knew exactly how to deal with it.

This was the first game in which Thierry Henry has played more than 45 minutes. In Hong Kong, Rijkaard gave the Frenchman 64 minutes on the pitch, clearly showing that he is getting closer and closer to full fitness.