FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.02.2008 21:05

Not even the rain can stop them (2-0)

Jaume Monés

Neither the downpour, nor the opposition, not the injuries. Barça B are still finding the magic formula in the Miniestadi to head towards promotion. And Guardiola’s side are getting better and better stats on the field, with 12 wins from 13 games.

Deserved win for Barça B in what may not have been as brilliant a performance as some past encounters but showed the kind of maturity that could be important in the not too distant future. Great defensive display and a waiting game played to perfection in an awkward game to control.

Pressure from opposition

Mataró coach Jaume Creixell wanted to break the game down early through pressure and fouls, leading to a sloppy first half, despite the home side’s dominance. But Mataró did get a couple of chances. In the 3rd minute, a Javi cross was headed by Marc Esteban and Oier had to tip the ball over the crossbar. On six minutes the visitors came close with a long range effort from Navarro that was stopped well by Oier.

Intensity and anticipation

The game soon switched into Barça’s favour. Playing an excellent waiting game Pep Guardiola’s side won balls in midfield and slowly started troubling goalkeeper Imanol Castilla, a former Barça youth player. Víctor Sánchez had a go on 10 minutes, and on the quarter hour a Guerra goal was questionably disallowed. Barça had more to offer, with a Víctor Sánchez shot from outside the area on 19 minutes, and another from Pedrito on the half hour both saved by Imanol.

Vertical goal

The Maresme based side needed breaking down, and the goal eventually came from a Mataró corner of all things. Oier collected the ball and passed upfield to Guerra, who broke free of his marker to find Jeffren in space to beat Imanol in the one on one and make it 1-0. It was a goal built out of just three passes, and which had totally bypassed the resistance that until now had proved so effective from Mataró.

Superiority in second half

Barça kept up their rhythm after the break. Mataró did all they could, but nothing seemed to look like coming close to troubling Oier. A torrential downpour at half time had left the pitch in a dreadful condition, but that was not going to stop Barcelona’s dominance. Just after the break Xavi Torres had a shot from the edge of the area, while Víctor Sánchez had a go shortly after. Víctor Vázquez was brought on as a sub and added to the attacking dynamic with a couple of shots of his own, both saved.

Guerra finishes it off

Like a fortnight ago against Manresa, Barça’s top scorer Guerra was the man who provided relief for the Miniestadi crowd. The game was 36 minutes old when Barça finally established a two-goal cushion following an accurate cross from the left by Espasandín that was converted by a Guerra diving header to make it 2-0. But Guerra injured his back as he fell and was stretchered off. With the three changes already made, Barça were going have to tackle the last ten minutes of the game with a man less on the field, although Mataró never threatened to come back into the match.

Chico debut

One of the main attractions was the chance to see the club’s new signing in action, José Manuel Flores, better known as Chico. The defender from Cadiz has come from Second Division B outfit Racing Portuense and played the whole match at centre back alongside Marc Valiente, posting an excellent debut display in the Barça colours.