Benzema double keeps Real in Barcelona slipstream

January 31, 2010

A delightful back-heel from Jose Maria Gutierrez set up Karim Benzema for the first of a brace as Real Madrid, without suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-1 on Saturday.

The win kept Real five points behind Barcelona who had earlier defeated Sporting Gijon 1-0 to stay top of La Liga in a game which also saw the champions reach the 50-goal mark for the league season.

Esteban Granero headed Real ahead after 13 minutes with the game played out in the home side’s half at the Riazor where the Madrid giants had not won for almost 20 years.

With Felipe Luis injured, Manuel Pablo moved to the left-hand side and the defence never looked comfortable especially against the pace of Benzema.

Raul Gonzalez had the chance to add to the lead with a close-range volley before a moment of real quality from Guti.

Through on goal instead of shooting on his weaker right foot, he back-heeled the ball into the path of Benzema to slot home.

Deportivo had their chances in the second half as Real took their foot off the gas and in a late rally Ivan Riki scored a penalty. The last word though was from Benzema who wrapped up the scoring in injury time.

“We went out to get the result from the very start even though this was not a win at all costs game. We knew how to deal with an important match against a good side,” said Real coach Manuel Pellegrini.

“I am very happy with the win because it was in a stadium which traditionally has been a difficult place to come for Real Madrid and also because we played well, although it did get a bit tight at the end.”

Barcelona stayed top after Pedro Rodriguez scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon.

Mate Bilic went close with a header for the home side before Pedro put the visitors ahead with a clinical finish from a defence-breaking through ball by Andres Iniesta on the 30-minute mark.

“This is a good result for us because we played in a stadium where very few teams have won,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

“My only regret is that is that we did not make the right decisions in the final moments of the game that would have made the result a lot more comfortable.”

Sporting coach Manolo Preciado though felt that the free-kick that led up to Barca’s goal was not correctly taken.

“That goal was first of all an error from the referee and then from us but this is part of football, sometimes it goes for you and others not,” he said.

A Luis Garcia strike saw Espanyol overcome Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in a scrappy match to give them breathing space at the bottom of La Liga earlier Saturday.

The home side dominated from the start a match in which injury-hit Athletic were never able to get into their stride.

The Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz made a couple of important interventions in the first half but he was powerless to block Garcia’s close-range winner on 58 minutes after good work from Javi Marquez down the left wing.

The result moves Espanyol six points clear of the relegation zone but for Athletic, who are chasing a place in Europe, they have now lost back-to-back games.

Despite only managing a draw away to lowly Tenerife, Valencia are well placed to qualify for the Champions League but on Sunday they face a crucial game against fellow aspirants Sevilla who have dropped off the pace since Christmas after losing three of their last four matches.

BARCELONA (AFP)

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, Bilbao, close range, Esteban Granero, Europe, Felipe Luis, five points, goal mark, guti, injury time, ivan riki, Jose Maria, Karim Benzema, la coruna, last word, left hand side, luis garcia, MADRID, Manuel Pablo, manuel pellegrini, Pedro, pedro rodriguez, pep guardiola, raul gonzalez, real madrid, riazor, right foot, ronaldo, SEVILLA, sporting gijon, Tenerife, Valencia

Barca outclass Inter to home in on qualification

November 25, 2009

Barcelona showed why they are the current Champions of Europe producing a football masterclass to defeat Italian leaders Inter Milan 2-0 at Camp Nou on Tuesday and move within touching distance of qualification for the knockout phase.

Holders Barcelona were under pressure before the game but, even without the injured Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they were too strong for Inter as Gerard Pique netted in the 10th minute before a wonderful team goal was finished by Pedro Rodriguez with less than half an hour gone.

Barca have not yet qualified, needing a point from the final group match at Dynamo Kiev, but now lead the group on eight points from Inter and Rubin Kazan on six and head into Sunday’s ‘El Clasico’ against Real Madrid in high spirits.

“We came though a difficult situation and had a great first half in particular,” said goalscorer Pique. “We now have to focus on Real Madrid on Sunday which is another huge game for us.”

It was a losing return to Camp Nou for Samuel Eto’o as Inter suffered their first defeat in this season’s competition and now have an all-or-nothing final home match against Russians Rubin.

“It was a bit strange facing Barcelona but that is part of football,” admitted Eto’o. “I would like to thank the fans for their reception and hope Barcelona qualify from the group along with Inter.

“Despite the defeat I am still confident we can qualify for the knockout phase and hope we face Barcelona again in the final at the (Santiago) Bernabeu.”

Messi failed to recover from a thigh injury sustained at the weekend so started on the substitutes’ bench along with Ibrahimovic who also had a thigh injury denying him the chance to face his former club.

With Messi and Ibrahimovic not fully fit, both are also doubtful for the Clasico against Real on Sunday, French striker Thierry Henry returned to the starting line-up hoping to make headlines for the right reasons after his controversial handball.

As expected, Barca legend Eto’o, who scored in both the 2006 and 2009 Champions League final wins, got a warm reception from the Camp Nou crowd.

Eto’o left for Inter in the summer as part of a swap deal with Ibrahimovic and was hugging his old team-mates before the kick-off.

Eto’o was not the only old boy returning with midfielder Thiago Motta, who came through the youth ranks at Barcelona, now a mainstay in the Inter midfield.

Barcelona went into the game on a knife-edge knowing that defeat combined with a Rubin win would eliminate them but the Russians played earlier and drew 0-0 with Dynamo Kiev meaning Barca couldn’t be knocked out.

Any nerves were eased with Pique’s 10th minute goal after a flick on from Henry and the second goal summed up what Barca are all about with a brilliant team move capped by Pedro’s volley.

Xavi released Dani Alves down the right with a clever pass and the Brazilian centred for Pedro to scuff in a volley.

Inter were being run ragged and the ‘ole ole’ rang out from the crowd when defensive midfielder Sergi Busquets did a spot of showboating midway through the first half.

Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes almost gifted Inter a goal after miscontrolling but Dejan Stankovic failed to take advantage floating his chip over the goal.

Eto’o got his first glimpse of goal early in the second half but the all-action Alves did enough to avert the danger and Eto’o saw his penalty claim waved away.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: camp nou, dynamo kiev, final group, gerard pique, high spirits, home match, inter milan, italian leaders, knockout, lionel messi, pedro rodriguez, real madrid, rubin kazan, samuel eto o, santiago bernabeu, starting line, team goal, thierry henry, thigh injury, Zlatan

Champions League stunner as Barca beaten by Russian champs Rubin

October 21, 2009

Holders Barcelona suffered their first European defeat in 10 months falling to a shock 2-1 home loss at the hands of Rubin Kazan in the Champions League group F match on Tuesday.

Russian champions Rubin produced the biggest win in their history to defeat the reigning European champions with Turkish midfielder Gokdeniz Karadeniz netting a 73rd winner to stun the Camp Nou.

It was Barcelona’s first Champions League defeat since December 9 when Pep Guardiola’s side lost 3-2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk at the group stage – although they had already qualified – and the result blows the group wide open with all four teams capable of reaching the last 16.

Barca, Rubin and Dynamo Kiev all have four points with Inter Milan on three points after a 2-2 draw with Kiev on Tuesday.

“Any team can beat another one in football,” said Guardiola. “It is a strong group with four league champions and we have to fight until the end to progress.”

Aleksandr Ryazantsev shot Russian champions Rubin into a shock lead after just 70 seconds with a fine long-range strike.

Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised for Barca showing good chest control before volleying into the corner three minutes after the break.

It was expected to be the platform for Barca to win the game but Kazan were clinical using one of their rare goalscoring chances to win the game.

“If we want to progress we have to win the next game in Russia (against Rubin Kazan),” said Ibrahimovic. “We had some good chances and hit the woodwork but didn’t have much luck.”

With Thierry Henry out injured Guardiola rushed back Ibrahimovic, who sat out the Valencia match at the weekend, with Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez on the flanks.

Rubin fielded third choice goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov, with his number 77 shirt hardly inspiring confidence, but he did well to thwart Andres Iniesta in the opening minute.

With 70 seconds gone Rubin stunned the partisan Camp Nou crowd, with some fans just coming into the stadium after being stuck in traffic, when Ryazantsev rifled in an unstoppable 30 yard drive.

A sloppy pass from Rafael Marquez gifted Rubin possession and Ryazantsev surprised Victor Valdes arrowing a thumping right-footed shot into the corner.

It was the first time Barcelona had gone behind in their nine games this season and provided them with a challenge.

It was a dream start for Rubin who built a barrier in front of their penalty area to try and defend their surprise lead.

The expected Barca onslaught came with Ibrahimovic squirming a tough volley wide after a great dribble and cross from Messi.

Dani Alves then drilled a shot just wide of the post and Pedro’s header was pushed clear by Ryzhikov right next to the post.

Guardiola did not make any changes at the interval and the leveller came three minutes into the second half with Ibrahimovic controlling on his chest before volleying a first time shot into the bottom corner.

The goal threw Rubin’s game-plan out of the window but Barca struggled to score a second and threw on teenage striker Bojan Krkic for Pedro in the 66th minute.

However, it was the Russians who struck again with a lightning counter attack finished off by Karadeniz in the 73nd minute.

Ibrahimovic smashed a shot against the crossbar five minutes later and Yaya Toure hit the post in stoppage time as Rubin clung on.

Barca have some tough away fixtures in freezing temperatures coming up with the return leg against Rubin in Russia on November 4 before going to Ukraine to take on Dynamo Kiev in December.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Aleksandr Ryazantsev, Andres Iniesta, barca, Barcelona, camp nou, champions league group, donetsk, european champions, flanks, four points, group stage, inter milan, Kiev, league champions, lionel messi, MADRID, Milan, Pedro, pedro rodriguez, rafael marquez, rubin kazan, russia, russian champions, ryzhikov, Sergei Ryzhikov, thierry henry, third choice, Valencia, victor valdes, woodwork, zlatan ibrahimovic

Debut goal for Ibrahimovic as Barca cruise to opening win

September 1, 2009

Club record signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a late debut goal as Barcelona began their title defence with a convincing 3-0 home win over Sporting Gijon on Monday.

Birthday boy Bojan Krkic, who turned 19 three days ago, and Seydou Keita had put Barca 2-0 up at the interval before Ibrahimovic, a 69-million-euro capture from Inter Milan, netted his first goal for the club on 82 minutes.

It was a largely disappointing debut from Ibrahimovic, who was upstaged by brilliant teenager Bojan, but the goal will certainly lift some of the immense pressure to prove he is the equal of departed hero Samuel Eto’o.

Last season Barcelona lost 1-0 to Numancia on the opening day of the season but there was no slip-up this time around in a convincing win.

After a marvellous pre-season in which they won the Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup to make it five trophies in a year, Barcelona went into their first game on a high but missing some big names.

Andres Iniesta failed to recover from injury and Lionel Messi was away on international duty with Argentina so several fringe players were given a chance to stake their claim.

European Super Cup hero Pedro Rodriguez, the latest off the club’s infamous youth production line, started the match in Messi’s right wing slot while Bojan played on the left of central striker Ibrahimovic.

With just five minutes gone the tall Swede had a great chance to score a debut goal but fluffed his lines, scuffing his shot wide of the target.

At the other end Sporting almost took a shock 10th minute lead with Brazilian debutant Maxwell, recruited from Inter Milan, preventing a certain goal with a last-ditch tackle.

It is the type of quality defending Barca will expect from their new 25 million euro Ukrainian centre-half Dmytro Chygrynskiy who watched on from the stands.

With 17 minutes gone the hosts opened the scoring from a corner with Keita’s header falling to Bojan to convert at the back post.

Bojan, a real menace throughout, showed quick feet to create a chance for himself on 40 minutes but his shot was deflected for a corner.

But Gijon could not hold out and two minutes before the break Dani Alves curled in a brilliant cross for Mali international Keita to head home.

In the opening stages of the second half Barca coach Pep Guardiola was forced to make a change with the injured Maxwell coming off for Eric Abidal.

The reorganising defence were almost caught cold and Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes had to pull off a reflex save to deny Mate Bilic.

Sporting, who had the worst defence in the league last season, were looking vulnerable at every corner and Keita hit the post with a 68th minute header.

Bojan’s evening was ruined in the 80th minute when he had to be subbed off injured and Guardiola will hope that the injuries to him and Maxwell are not serious.

With eight minutes left Ibrahimovic got his debut goal smashing in after a cross from Alves to complete the scoring.

The international break means the Spanish league resumes in a fortnight with Barcelona travelling to Getafe who won their first match 4-1 at Racing Santander.

BARCELONA (AFP)

Tags: Argentina, Barcelona, birthday boy, eric abidal, immense pressure, last ditch, lionel messi, mali, Milan, numancia, pedro rodriguez, santander, sporting gijon, target, title defence, trophies, ukrainian centre, victor valdes, zlatan ibrahimovic

Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in Supercup first leg

August 17, 2009

European champions Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup on Sunday with second-half goals by Xavi and reserve forward Pedro Rodriguez.

Athletic striker Oscar de Marcos opened the scoring in the 44th minute as he evaded both Gerard Pique and Daniel Alves before seeing his shot clip off Carles Puyol and fly over Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes into the corner of the net.

Barcelona leveled in the 58th minute as Eric Abidal sent a cross to the far post where Rodriguez rolled it back for Xavi who slotted it into the corner from close range at Bilbao’s San Mames stadium.

Rodriguez scored the winner nine minutes later when he stepped past Athletic Bilbao midfielder Markel Susaeta and hammered a shot inside the near post from 25 yards.

Barcelona, who have won the Spanish Supercup seven times, will host the return leg on August 23.

The tournament is contested each year between the league champions and the winners of the King’s Cup but as Barcelona won both competitions they are facing beaten Cup finalists Athletic.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was without a number of players with attacking midfielder Andres Iniesta and striker Lionel Messi still struggling with thigh injuries.

New signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic is recovering from a left hand injury. The Swedish striker, who joined Barcelona from Inter Milan, is expected to make his debut in next Wednesday’s friendly against Manchester City.

Athletic, who are seeking to win their first major trophy since 1984, had no injury problems.

Players and spectators observed a minute’s silence before the start of the match in honour of Espanyol captain and defender Daniel Jarque, who died earlier this month week of heart failure while on a pre-season tour of Italy.

Barcelona became the first Spanish side to win the treble — the league, King’s Cup and the Champions League — last season.

BILBAO, Spain (AFP)

Tags: Andres Iniesta, athletic bilbao, Bilbao, bilbao spain, carles puyol, daniel alves, Daniel Jarque, eric abidal, far post, gerard pique, heart failure, inter milan, Italy, jarque, lionel messi, manchester city, markel susaeta, Milan, Oscar de Marcos, Pedro, pedro rodriguez, pep guardiola, San, san mames, Spain, spanish side, spanish supercup, tour of italy, victor valdes, xavi, zlatan ibrahimovic

Barcelona´s Guardiola upbeat about new season

August 7, 2009

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola expressed his confidence Thursday that his team, which thrashed US side Seattle 4-0, have maintained the form that brought them a unique treble last season.

“I am very satisfied. We have recovered the form of the last pre-season, with lots of chances in the first half and less shots but more control of the game in the second,” the club’s website quoted him as saying from Seattle.

But he said it was “still too early to draw conclusions”.

Argentine star Lionel Messi scored twice and youngsters Jeffren Suarez and Pedro Rodriguez also hit the net in the win over Seattle on Wednesday.

Barcelona beat holders Manchester United to win their third Champions League crown in May in Rome. The club also won the domestic league and cup last season, making them the first Spanish team to win the treble.

Since then, the club has only slightly changed its lineup.

Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived from Inter Milan last month on a five-year deal which involved Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o moving the other way and the Italian side receiving 46 million euros as well as Alexander Hleb on loan.

And Brazilian defender Sylvinho left to make way for his compatriot Maxwell.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: alexander hleb, Argentine, Barcelona, cameroon, champions league, compatriot, conclusions, inter milan, italian side, league crown, lionel messi, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, maxwell, Milan, pedro rodriguez, pep, ROME, samuel eto, samuel eto o, season with lots, Seattle, spanish team, suarez, swede, U.S., youngsters, zlatan ibrahimovic

Barca´s kids turn on the style at Wembley

July 27, 2009

Barcelona’s young guns gave a tantalising glimpse into the future in the Wembley Cup on Sunday as the understudies to the European champions romped to a 4-1 win over African champions Al Ahly.

For the second time in three days, Barca boss Pep Guardiola opted to keep most of his stars wrapped in cotton wool as the likes of Thierry Henry, Xavi, Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta were absent from a weakened Barca team.

But Guardiola’s precocious kids had impressed in their draw against a strong Tottenham team on Friday and they gave another eye-catching display in the pre-season tournament at England’s national stadium.

Bojan Krkic, 18, opened the scoring with a clinical finish before Hany El-Egezy equalised for Al Ahly. Jose Maria Rueda restored the Spanish champions’ lead with a thunderous strike and Jeffren Suarez, 21, and Pedro Rodriguez, 21, added to that lead after half-time.

While Barca’s homegrown talents stole the show, Guardiola also gave Lionel Messi his first pre-season appearance as a half-time substitute and the Argentina superstar came in for some heavy tackles from Al Ahly’s frustrated defenders.

There was an early escape for Al Ahly when keeper Amir Abdel Hameed, under pressure from Seydou Keita, nearly fumbled Rueda’s cross into his own net.

Barca didn’t need gifts from the opposition though and when they took the lead in the 16th minute, it was from a move of the highest quality.

Ruben Rochina was the catalyst with a buccaneering run from just inside the Al Ahly half. The teenage forward beat three players before teeing up Bojan, who drove his low shot past Abdel Hameed into the far corner.

Bojan has used the Wembley Cup to underline his claims to be a more regular part of Guardiola’s plans and this was the forward’s second goal of the tournament.

But Al Ahly equalised in the 31st minute. Ahmed Ali’s surging run and pass sent El-Egezy through on goal and he rounded Albert Jorquera before shooting into the empty net.

Equality for the Egyptians was short-lived however. In the 41st minute, Rueda turned sharply 35 yards from goal, took aim and beat Abdel Hammed with a blistering strike.

As he did against Tottenham, Guardiola made 11 changes at half-time, with Messi, Yaya Toure and Victor Valdes among the introductions.

Barca went further ahead in the 56th minute when Rodriguez played a one-two with Messi and crossed for Suarez to slot home.

While attempting to cut out the cross, Abdel Hameed had been accidently caught on the back of his head by Eidur Gudjohnsen and the Al Ahly keeper was eventually stretchered off after several minutes treatment.

It wasn’t long before Barca claimed their fourth goal. In the 67th minute, Gudjohnsen lofted a perfect pass to Rodriguez, who beat the offside trap and finished well.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Abdel Hammed, african champions, ahmed ali, al ahly, Amir Abdel Hameed, Andres Iniesta, Argentina, Barcelona, bojan krkic, carles puyol, cotton wool, England, european champions, far corner, hameed, jeffren suarez, Jose Maria Rueda, lionel messi, london, pedro rodriguez, pep guardiola, Ruben Rochina, spanish champions, tantalising glimpse, thierry henry, victor valdes, xavi, young guns

Spurs teenager pins back mighty Barcelona

July 25, 2009

European champions Barcelona were denied a winning start to their pre-season campaign as Tottenham midfielder Jake Livermore’s late goal earned a 1-1 draw in the Wembley Cup on Friday.

Pep Guardiola’s team were back in action for the first time since the end of their treble-winning campaign, but they were frustrated by the dramatic intervention of a teenager who has yet to make his competitive Spurs debut.

Livermore, who suffered a serious leg injury while on loan at Crewe last season, came on in the 80th minute of the pre-season friendly at England’s national stadium and made an immediate impact as he headed home three minutes later to cancel out Bojan Krkic’s first half strike.

Only Yaya Toure survived from Barcelona team that started against Manchester United in May’s Champions League final as Guardiola kept the likes of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi and Andres Iniesta on the sidelines.

Given the desperate nature of Tottenham’s injury crisis, Harry Redknapp might well have breathed a sigh of relief when he saw so many unfamiliar names in Barcelona’s squad.

The Spurs boss is currently without Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King and Michael Dawson and was forced to field a makeshift defence in the absence of his three senior centre-backs.

But at a club like Barcelona even the understudies are good enough to shine when given their chance and they were the better team for long periods.

Inter Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has agreed personal terms ahead of his move to Barcelona in exchange for Samuel Eto’o, would have relished the swift, incisive nature of his new team’s opening goal in the 32nd minute.

Toure made a powerful run through midfield and nudged a pass towards Bojan, whose low shot flashed past Carlo Cudicini into the bottom corner.

Barca had the ball in the net again moments later but Pedro Rodriguez’s cool finish was wrongly ruled out for offside.

After a lacklustre start, Spurs briefly sparked into life when Luka Modric hit the crossbar before Benoit Assou-Ekotto forced Albert Jorquera to tip over.

Only a fine save from Cudicini from Victor Sanchez’s blistering drive on the stroke prevented Barca increasing their lead.

With Barca only a week into their pre-season preparations, Guardiola changed his entire team at half-time.

Redknapp sent on England Under-21 defender Kyle Naughton, a recent signing from Sheffield United, for his debut in place of Alan Hutton, the former Rangers defender who had been mercilessly jeered by Celtic supporters still in the crowd after their victory over Al Alhy earlier.

Spurs began to find their rhythm after the break. Tom Huddlestone went close with a deflected effort and Modric forced Jose Pinto into a close-range stop.

They snatched an equaliser in the 83rd minute when Assou-Ekotto floated in a deep cross and Livermore timed his run perfectly to loop a header over Pinto.

LONDON (AFP)