Barça storm to victory

FC Barcelona have beaten Murcia 4-0 in an exhibition of attacking football. Gudjohnsen, Bojan and Eto'o (2) were on target as the home side played an amazing second half to start a week in which they have three home games at the Camp Nou. Barça defeated Murcia without producing particularly good football in the first half, and missing key players of the calibre of Milito, Abidal and Iniesta. The game began with Murcia being blocked out of the game, and Barça’s efforts were finally rewarded with a Gudjohnsen goal in the 27th minute.

From then on, and especially after the break, Barça were unstoppable. Bojan and Eto'o (2) rounded off a great evening for the Barça forwards. Special mention goes to Henry, who despite not scoring was a constant danger down the left and made the evening a nightmare for De Coz and supplied a couple of assists.

Murcia organised at the back
The game started as cold as the Barcelona night it was played in. Bojan played on the right and Henry on the left, with much of Barça’s attack coming from those two positions. But Murcia played it tight at the back and Barça realised they would need to be clear about how they were going to deal with it. Only Eto'o (min. 6) and Bojan (min. 13) enjoyed early chances.

Improvements made
As the game progressed, Rijkaard’s side started playing a tighter game, and it was a fast one-two that led to a dangerous 23rd minute free kick on the edge of the area. This was a moment that changed the game, and it was another great team move in the 27th minute that led to Zambrotta picking out Gudjohnsen with a pinpoint pass, and the Icelander placed the ball exactly where keeper Notario could not reach it. That was 1-0.

From there on, and the linesman’s flag permitting, Barça piled the pressure on the visiting goal. There were claims for a handball outside the area by Notario, but the referee wanted to know nothing. The Camp Nou was infuriated, and soon after Eto’o almost made it 2-0 (min. 42).

Time for Valdés, Bojan and Henry
Murcia’s best chance came just after the break, when Baiano was through one on one against Valdés, who dealt with the situation expertly. And from a possible 1-1, it was soon 2-0 as Henry danced down the left towards the by-line and found Bojan who simply had to tap the ball into the back of the net (min. 52). The Frenchman had already threatened to score a minute earlier, and this time made sure the opportunity was converted.

Barça and more Barça
Barça were now were now well on top and Henry was making the evening impossible for De Coz, while Bojan and Eto'o almost combined to make it three in the 64th minute, and Xavi also came close to scoring.

Eto'o bids farewell with goals
The best was yet to come. Henry, on the back of a terrific assist from Sylvinho, excelled again in the 76th minute as he supplied another goal, this time to Eto'o. The Cameroonian struck home in expert style to make it 3-0 to the home side.

Eto’o is now off to Ghana to play in the African Nations Cup, and wanted to mark his departure in the best way possible, which he did with a second goal when Murcia would probably have preferred to hear the referee’s final whistle and end the nightmare. Eto’o tricked Notario once again after a stylish cross from Giovani, and was given a massive ovation as he left the pitch to be replaced by Pedrito, making his first team debut. It was a wonderful night for Eto’o, and for every Barça fan in the ground.



THE GOALS :
1-0, Gudjohnsen (min 27)
2-0, Bojan (min 52)
3-0, Eto'o /min 76)
4-0, Eto'o (min 86)