FC Barcelona News
Barcelona Make a Statement at the Bernabeu
December 12th, 2011Barcelona have landed a major blow on bitter rivals Real Madrid, winning 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Goals from Alexis, Xavi and Cesc ensured a gutsy comeback and memorable result for Barça after sloppy play by Valdés had gifted Madrid an early goal through Benzema.
Perhaps the only surprise in Guardiola’s lineup was the absence of David Villa, who dropped to the bench – surely a result of the exciting form of Cesc and Alexis in recent weeks. And in some ways the formation was less overtly attacking than expected, with Cesc and the electric Iniesta joining and instigating attacks, but retaining a certain degree of discipline. Alexis was always furthest forward, probing across the frontline, while Messi operated in his deeper central role.
Barcelona got off to a dreadful start; Real Madrid pressed an early backpass to Valdés, and the ‘keeper made a hash of his kick, tamely finding Di Maria on the edge of the area. Busquets made two desperate blocks, but both fell to Madrid players – the second dropped at Benzema’s feet and the striker smashed his easy finish home from five yards with just a minute on the clock.
Understandably, Barça took time to find some composure. There were a few hairy moments for their backline, but it would be Messi who had the next real chance. He seized on a Ramos slip, jinked past Pepe, but saw his low effort saved on the stretch by Casillas. Two chances followed for Madrid – first for Benzema, whose header was well gathered by Valdés; then for a subdued Cristiano who had a close-range opportunity but sliced it wide.
From here Barcelona started to find their feet, keeping possession for longer spells. And by half an hour they were back in the game. Messi was the architect, bursting forward from the halfway line, dodging three tackles and posting Alexis through on goal. Under pressure from Pepe and Coentrão the Chilean found the bottom-right corner with precision.
With Barcelona’s ascendancy continuing into the second half it was probably no surprise that Real Madrid were becoming more forceful in the 50-50s, and the rancour that had plagued last season’s fixtures resurfaced intermittently. Ramos, Alonso, Pepe and Diarra were all booked, as increasingly dangerous tackles started to fly in.
Then, after a period of sustained possession, Xavi lashed a volley on goal from outside the area. Marcelo got a block in, but the ball skewed off his shin and span beyond the despairing reach of Casillas. Real Madrid were finding it increasingly difficult to get forward, but still posed a threat; Cristiano somehow managed to head a cross by Kaka wide from six yards.
The home team was punished almost instantly by a slick counter-attack. Messi set Alves free down the right wing, and Cesc stooped to meet his deep cross at the back-post to take the score to 3-1. There were subsequent chances for both teams, but the result never looked in doubt for Barcelona
1-0 Benzema (min 1)
1-1 Alexis (min 29)
1-2 Xavi (min 52)
1-3 Cesc (min 65)
Barcelona Triumph in the Match That Had Everything
August 18th, 2011FC Barcelona lifted their fourth consecutive Supercup after beating Real Madrid 3-2 at the Camp Nou in a fiercely competitive game to win the tie 5-4. Along with some mesmerising skill there were the kind of ugly flashpoints that have now become customary for any Clásico.
Messi scored two exquisite goals, after a well-taken Iniesta opener. Real Madrid twice levelled the match, through Cristiano and Benzema. There was a mass brawl at the close, with Villa, Özil and Marcelo all earning red cards. It did little to dampen Barça’s celebrations, but will surely have ramifications in the coming days.
At kick-off there were three changes to the side that drew at the Bernabeu – Xavi, Piqué and Pedro all took their place. A largely unchanged Madrid team picked up where they left off at the weekend; pressuring Barcelona high up the pitch, but to less devastating effect this time around.
The first fifteen minutes were a tactical jostle, with neither side able to retain possession for an extended period.
In the end it was Messi who engineered the breakthrough. The livewire Argentine wriggled away from Khedira just inside the Madrid half, and threaded a sumptuous pass for Andrés Iniesta, who dinked the ball over the helpless Casillas.
Barça’s opener prompted an immediate response from Los Blancos; Cristiano got the decisive touch on a cross from the left angle of the box by Benzema. There was a hint of offside about the goal, but Barcelona’s protests were waved away by referee Fernández Borbalán.
Real Madrid followed up their goal with a brief spell in the ascendancy, but only after Pedro forced a spectacular stop from Casillas with a 20-yard curler. Then it was Valdés’ turn to take the limelight, first pushing a Cristiano piledriver onto the bar, before deflecting an Özil attempt past the post with a lighting quick reaction save.
The momentum was soon back with the home team; Messi raced away from Pepe and Ramos but was foiled by the feet of Casillas. Barça’s number 10 was not to be denied though, and grabbed the lead for his team when he scored with a delightful close range chip after latching onto an improvised Piqué backheel.
The second half was an altogether more fractious affair, with play punctuated by niggling fouls and moments of low-key violence. Marcelo appeared to aim a kick at Messi when he jumped to win a header, and the Argentine was later wiped out by a bone-shaking body check from Pepe.
For the most part, Barcelona were comfortable, but became a little sloppy at the back, with a scramble in the box culminating in a close range goal for Benzema. Guardiola replied by handing a late debut to Cesc, who began the move that led to Messi’s smart volleyed winner, and was later cut down by an outrageous Marcelo scissor tackle in front of the dugouts, sparking unpleasant scenes as both sets of players and coaching staff faced off.
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