FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.06.2008 20:25

A huge step towards la Second B (0-2)

Jaume Marcet/Berta Brau

FC Barcelona B took a giant leap towards making an immediate return to la Segunda B by beating Barbastro in the first leg of la Tercera play-off final thanks to an own goal and an effort from Dimas.

Pep Guardiola's team were able to nullify the home team's advances before hitting them on the break and chalking up a lead that gives them a great chance of securing promotion in the second game at the Miniestadi next Sunday.

An early lead

After taking the first few minutes to adapt to the Campo Municipal de Deportes in Barbastro, the visitors showed that they were in for a tough game against a side that closed their lines very well. Just 48 seconds in and the home team saw Mañas meet a cross with his head, only to be denied. In the 12th minute Barça B took the lead in fortuitous circumstances thanks to an own goal from Andrés Bel as the defender looked to prevent Dimas' pass from finding Emilio Guerra i Bel only to turn the ball past his own keeper.

Barbastro go direct

The hosts did not let their heads drop and continued to push forward with Linares, their top goalscorer this season, causing real problems at the back for the Blaugrana. Oier Olazábal in the visitors' goal was kept busy, but was able to repel everything that came his way from the home team that employed a direct style of play.

Olazábal focussed

Slowly but surely, Barça B have taken control of the game and begun to pass the ball around well in the midfield. Xavi Torres and shot from Dimas before the break saw Barbastro tested by their guests, while at the other end Olazábal had to keep his wits about him to ensure that his side went in at the break in the lead.

Second goal

After the restart the game quickly took the same rhythm as the first half and it took just two minutes for the local outfit to create their first chance of the match with Mañas picking out Linares who was unable to beat the keeper. Barça sat back and looked to soak up the pressure before pushing out and the plan worked as they kept a clean sheet and went on to score a second goal that could prove to be crucial. Víctor Espasandin sent over a free-kick that Dimas connected with and nodded home for Barça B with 55 minutes on the clock.

Making changes

That effort gave the Blaugrana even more confidence and they were able to play with more calmness and allowed Guardiola to make changes to protect the lead and rest his first choice line-up at the end of what has been a very long season. Víctor Vázquez, Fali and Toribio came on and made a seamless change that meant Barbastro were given no chance of pulling themselves back into the game.