Effectiveness leads to triumph

A highly effective Barcelona got the 2008 league programme off to a terrific start by beating Mallorca 2-0. Márquez put Barça ahead on 63 minutes and Eto’o finished off the job deep into injury time.

Barça got back into winning ways with a 2-0 victory at Mallorca, and thus took three important points to put the pressure on Real Madrid. It was just the boost for morale that the team needed at a time when there is simply no more margin for error. This was the sixth year in a row that Barça have come back victorious from a trip to the Balearics.


With Ronaldinho out through injury, Frank Rijkaard opted to start Giovani in his first eleven. Gudjohnsen took his now usual midfield role while the game would also see the return to action of Thierry Henry, while Edmílson played his first league game for over half a year.

FC Barcelona dominated the first half possession but struggled to create danger in attack. Mallorca were well positioned on the park and did their best to create pressure, at the same time leaving very little room for the visitors to manoeuvre. Gregorio Manzano’s side was also threatening on the counter attack, but the deadlock held fast.

Few chances
Mallorca fired the first warning shot in the 9th minute with a Güiza strike from within the area that failed to hit the target. Barça immediately responded with an Iniesta effort in the 14th minute, but one that did little to trouble Mallorca keeper Lux. Mallorca’s closest chance came in the 22nd minute when Basinas almost surprised Valdés with a low shot from the edge of the area that skimmed wide off the post. Six minutes later, Valdés dealt easily with a free kick taken by Arango.

With the first half drawing to a close, Barça had three consecutive opportunities. A high header by Márquez in the 36th minute was followed by a Xavi free kick that sailed over the crossbar on the back of an impeccable assist from Eto’o, and on the stroke of half time Iniesta tried again, this time from long range. But neither side had opened their account as the whistle blew for the break.

Barça up it in attack
After the restart, Frank Rijkaard opted to power up his forward line by sending Bojan on for Gudjohnsen. Five minutes into the half and Touré Yaya was shown a yellow card for a foul on Jonás which means he will be suspended for the next match. The half began as a carbon copy of the first, with few goalscoring chances, but Barça more incisive up front. But everything Barcelona concocted came stuck against the rock solid Mallorca defence.

Márquez opens the scoring
But Barcelona tried and tried and eventually got their reward. In the 63rd minute Márquez, unmarked at the near post, headed a Xavi corner past a hapless Lux.



Henry and Edmílson back
Just after the goal, Henry substituted Giovani to make his first appearance since November 24 against Recreativo. The night also marked the return of Edmílson, who played midweek against Alcoyano and was back for his first league outing since his injury. Coming on in the 69th minute, this was his first league match since May 26.

Referee Ramírez Domínguez disallowed a Thierry Henry goal in the 74th minute, but the French international was certainly revitalising things for a Barça side occasionally bereft of ideas. Henry then brought the best out in Lux with a strike that was turned behind for a corner. As the game went into the last quarter of hour, Barça settled down and concentrated more on keeping their lead.

Eto'o sentences affairs
The game was as good as over when, two minutes into injury time, Samuel Eto'o bagged Barça’s second with a powerful drive from outside the area to round off a move started by Bojan and involving a delightful through ball from a highly active Thierry Henry. Thus it ended 2-0 to Barça, meaning 2008 has started with three absolutely crucial away points.

The goals :
0-1 Márquez (min. 63)
0-2 Eto’o (min. 92)

Barça in the next round

Barcelona qualified for the next round of the Copa del Rey after they drew at home to Alcoyano in the second leg of the last 32 on Wednesday evening. Santi Ezquerro scored twice as Frank Rijkaard's side progressed after winning the opening leg.

Having secured a three-goal lead in the first match, Barça were able to rest several players and give minutes to the second string and young stars against the third division visitors. On a rain-soaked night in the Catalan capital two early goals put the result of the tie completely beyond doubt. Goalkeeper Oier Olazábal made his first team debut following the injury to Albert Jorquera while Víctor Sánchez also made his first appearance at the highest level.

With the game and the tie won, Barça let their guard down after the break and Alcoyano took advantage as they scored with a penalty before drawing level in the final minute.

Ezquerro bags a brace
Just two minutes of the game had passed when the deadlock was broken as Ezquerro finished off a powerful team move. The forward pounced on the ball to tuck home after a shot from Deco. The hosts could not have asked for a better start, but the Blaugrana continued to push forward and were able to double their lead with ten minutes on the clock. This time Bojan Krkic provided the pass for Ezquerro to tuck home side second of the evening.

Barcelona were never forced to play at their best as they controlled proceedings for the remainder of the opening half. Despite being behind, though, Alcoyano never took their foot off the pedal and forced a series of corners, but were unable to test Olazábal.

Alcoyano come back
After half-time, the game continued along the same lines as the first half. The weather did not help the rhythm of the match and the intensity was missing. That did not stop chances being created as Bojan had an opportunity on the hour mark, but he saw his effort strike the woodwork. Alcoyano then went up to the other end and reduced the arrears as the former Barça player, Perona, netted from the penalty spot after Eidur Gudjohnsen had handled in the area.

Unable to find a third
In the final 15 minutes, Barça looked set to add a third goal, but they were unable to score despite both Bojan and Ezquerro having chances. Then, in the final minute of the game the visitors raised their game one last time and managed to snatch a dramatic equaliser as Arnau scored. The draw for the next round of the Copa del Rey takes place on Friday.



The goals :

1-0, Ezquerro (min 2)
2-0, Ezquerro (min 10)
2-1, Perona (pen) (min 69)
2-2, Arnau (min 90)


Source : FCB