FC Barcelona secured their place in the next round of the Spanish Cup with a tremendous 9-0 rout of Hospitalet, with Pedro opening the scoring on 10 minutes and Iniesta, Thiago (2), Xavi, Tello (2) and Cuenca getting the rest. The victory, added to the 0-1 win at Hospitalet was only overshadowed by an injury to Iniesta, who will now be out for the next 15 days.
Guardiola's team go into the next round, alongside Valencia, Mallorca, Espanyol, Seville, Madrid, Malaga, Llevant, Osasuna, Real Sociedad, Racing, Athletic Club, Albacete, Alcorcón, Mirandés and Cordoba.
Stunning start
Guardiola fielded 10 home grown players, only Pinto had not come up through the academy system, and the team showed how serious they were about the game from the off, going 3-0 up within the first 22 minutes: the first was a Pedro penalty, the next an Iniesta effort after Xavi had brilliantly put Cesc through and the third a lovely goal from Thiago after he won back a ball in midfield and shimmied through the visitors'' defence.
Five in the first half
By half time it was five, but also by then Iniesta had had to call for a substitution after he'd knocked into the Hospitalet keeper and tests later revealed he'd be out for up to 15 days. He was replaced by Sergi Roberto, who came close to making it four almost immediately, but in the end it was Xavi who did just that, rounding off a lovely reverse pass from Cesc. And that was that for the Catalan midfielder who soon after his goal was replaced by Tello, who then went on to make it five, charging through from the midfield just a couple of minutes after coming on.
Cuenca claims the sixth
The 56.480 fans who had turned up at the Camp Nou were no doubt wondering just how many goals their team were going to end up putting past Hospitalet and soon after the break, Cuenca made it a half dozen, finishing off some great work from Tello out on the left. Curiously enough the Barça attack was made up of three conventional wingers now -Tello, Pedro and Cuenca.
Thiago, Tello and Cuenca make it nine
However, the team weren't prepared to settle for six! Thiago was brought down by Viale and again handed penalty taking duties to Pedro , whilst Tello scored his second soon after to make it 8-0. Could Barça now beat their 8-0 win over Osasuna? Well yes, of course - Cuenca got his second latching on to yet another great ball form Cesc and the players wrapped up a great night and an even greater 2011 with a stunning nine goal haul – here's to a Happy New Year!
Friday 23 December 2011
Monday 19 December 2011
Barca : REAL LEGENDS!!!!!!!!! Neymar blown away by Lionel MEssi!
Legendary status is ever closer for this Barça team, who brilliantly saw off the threat from a Santos team led by Neymar and themselves aiming to emulate Pele's great team of the 60s. Goals from Messi (2), Xavi and Cesc gave Guradiola his 13th title in charge of a team which was packed with graduates from La Masia and gave yet another masterful performance in its own unique style.
'O'Rei' Messi
With nine home grown players in the team, Guardiola again started with a back three, packing the midfield and using Alves as an auxiliary winger. The team dominated from the start with Messi, who inspired the attack, seeing an early effort stopped by Cabral(who also saved the follow up from Thiago), before opening the scoring on 17 minutes after a magic piece of control from Xavi set up the world's best player to stroke home with a beautiful touch.
Magnificent Xavi
Barça were purring now and their quick passing and movement left Santos helpless as they continued to create chances almost at will. Xavi got the second with another piece of spectacular control after a pass from Alves and the Catalan midfielder, who seemed to be in complete control of the game, then set up Cesc, whose shot came back off the woodwork. Santos were then forced into a change in tactics as they tried to halt the waves of attack from Guardiola's men.
Collective brilliance
However, no change in their opponents' tactics was going to stop this Barça and Guardiola's side continued to find space easily, rounding off the half with a third from Cesc. Barça had had a total of 74% of possession in the first magnificent 45 minutes and at the start of the second half, they showed there was not likely to be too much of a let up, with Cesc coming close to making it four, only being denied by another fine stop by Cabral. Santos showed some signs of life though, with Borges and Neymar getting through and forcing Valdes into two good one on one saves.
Wonderful collective performance
Barça were playing without any recognised out and out strikers, but were enjoying themselves with some emblematic passing and control and that nearly converted into another goal on 79 minutes when Alves rattled the woodwork and the Brazilian, who was very active throughout the game, set up the fourth goal, winning the ball back before slipping it to Man of the Match Messi to round the keeper and slot home. That was a fitting end to a great performance that saw Barça take their second Club World Cup and, amazingly, their 13th title in just three and a half years, stats that merely confirm their legendary status.wo Champions Leagues, three Ligas, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, one King’s Cup and three Spanish Super Cups, these are the titles won by Barça in the last three and a half years. Barça has won 13 out 16 titles since Guardiola took command of the bench. Undoubtedly, this is Barça’s most glorious run. In fact, no other team in world football, past or present, can match the amount of titles won by Barça within a similar timeframe.
Unprecedented success
Pep Guardiola started managing FC Barcelona in the summer of 2008, after taking Barça B from Third Division to Second Division B. In his first year at the Camp Nou as manager, he won Barça’s first treble: Champions League, Liga and King’s Cup. Since then, Barça has never won less than three titles each season. 2009 ended with the conquest of both the Super Cups (European and Spanish) and the Club World Cup. “Everything won, everything still to win” read the commemorative T-shirt donned by the Barça squad that won six titles in one year.
Long lasting dream team
Guardiola’s winning run had just gotten started. The following year Barça won the Liga title with 99 points. Last season, the team won the Spanish Super Cup, the Liga and the Barça’s fourth Champions League. This season, Guardiola has led his team to two Super Cup crowns and the Club World Cup title. In short, that’s 13 titles won out of 16 played, with the Champions League, Liga and King’s Cup still up for grabs this season. FROM BARCA WEBSITE!
Barcelona won the FIFA Club World Cup for the second year in succession with a commanding 4-0 victory over Brazilian side Santos.
• Neymar: Impossible to beat Barca
Lionel Messi scored twice to cap a brilliant performance and Cesc Fabregas and Xavi also got on the scoresheet in a one-sided contest in Yokohama.
Barcelona, who were without striker David Villa after he broke the shinbone in his left leg in their 4-0 semi-final victory over Al-Sadd. dominated from the outset and the only surprise was that they did not score more and took until the 17th minute to break the deadlock.
Messi had already had a shot saved by goalkeeper Rafael, with Thiago hitting the rebound straight at the goalkeeper, before opening the scoring in some style.
Xavi brilliantly controlled a ball which looked to be behind him before playing a superb pass into Messi, who conjured up a cheeky chip over the goalkeeper that found the net despite Bruno Rodrigo's desperate attempt to clear it off the line.
Xavi then got on the scoresheet himself after controlling a cutback from Dani Alves with his first touch and shooting beyond Rafael with his second.
At the other end, Borges did manage to get a shot on target but saw his effort saved at the near post by Victor Valdes, and seconds later Barca were on the attack again with Fabregas seeing his shot come back off the upright.
The former Arsenal captain was not to be denied on the stroke of half-time however, stabbing in the loose ball after an Alves cross caused chaos in the Santos area.
With the result beyond doubt, Barca almost extended their lead in the first minute of the second half as Fabregas saw his shot deflected inches wide, while Messi then had an effort saved by the legs of Rafael.
There was a carbon copy at the other end as Neymar's shot was blocked by Valdes, but that was a depressingly rare chance for the Brazilian side.
And Messi completed the rout in the 82nd minute when he was played through by an excellent pass from Alves.
Despite an uncharacteristically poor first touch, the Argentinian star still skipped around the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. FROm
ESPN SOCCERNET
Legendary status is ever closer for this Barça team, who brilliantly saw off the threat from a Santos team led by Neymar and themselves aiming to emulate Pele's great team of the 60s. Goals from Messi (2), Xavi and Cesc gave Guradiola his 13th title in charge of a team which was packed with graduates from La Masia and gave yet another masterful performance in its own unique style.
'O'Rei' Messi
With nine home grown players in the team, Guardiola again started with a back three, packing the midfield and using Alves as an auxiliary winger. The team dominated from the start with Messi, who inspired the attack, seeing an early effort stopped by Cabral(who also saved the follow up from Thiago), before opening the scoring on 17 minutes after a magic piece of control from Xavi set up the world's best player to stroke home with a beautiful touch.
Magnificent Xavi
Barça were purring now and their quick passing and movement left Santos helpless as they continued to create chances almost at will. Xavi got the second with another piece of spectacular control after a pass from Alves and the Catalan midfielder, who seemed to be in complete control of the game, then set up Cesc, whose shot came back off the woodwork. Santos were then forced into a change in tactics as they tried to halt the waves of attack from Guardiola's men.
Collective brilliance
However, no change in their opponents' tactics was going to stop this Barça and Guardiola's side continued to find space easily, rounding off the half with a third from Cesc. Barça had had a total of 74% of possession in the first magnificent 45 minutes and at the start of the second half, they showed there was not likely to be too much of a let up, with Cesc coming close to making it four, only being denied by another fine stop by Cabral. Santos showed some signs of life though, with Borges and Neymar getting through and forcing Valdes into two good one on one saves.
Wonderful collective performance
Barça were playing without any recognised out and out strikers, but were enjoying themselves with some emblematic passing and control and that nearly converted into another goal on 79 minutes when Alves rattled the woodwork and the Brazilian, who was very active throughout the game, set up the fourth goal, winning the ball back before slipping it to Man of the Match Messi to round the keeper and slot home. That was a fitting end to a great performance that saw Barça take their second Club World Cup and, amazingly, their 13th title in just three and a half years, stats that merely confirm their legendary status.wo Champions Leagues, three Ligas, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, one King’s Cup and three Spanish Super Cups, these are the titles won by Barça in the last three and a half years. Barça has won 13 out 16 titles since Guardiola took command of the bench. Undoubtedly, this is Barça’s most glorious run. In fact, no other team in world football, past or present, can match the amount of titles won by Barça within a similar timeframe.
Unprecedented success
Pep Guardiola started managing FC Barcelona in the summer of 2008, after taking Barça B from Third Division to Second Division B. In his first year at the Camp Nou as manager, he won Barça’s first treble: Champions League, Liga and King’s Cup. Since then, Barça has never won less than three titles each season. 2009 ended with the conquest of both the Super Cups (European and Spanish) and the Club World Cup. “Everything won, everything still to win” read the commemorative T-shirt donned by the Barça squad that won six titles in one year.
Long lasting dream team
Guardiola’s winning run had just gotten started. The following year Barça won the Liga title with 99 points. Last season, the team won the Spanish Super Cup, the Liga and the Barça’s fourth Champions League. This season, Guardiola has led his team to two Super Cup crowns and the Club World Cup title. In short, that’s 13 titles won out of 16 played, with the Champions League, Liga and King’s Cup still up for grabs this season. FROM BARCA WEBSITE!
Barcelona won the FIFA Club World Cup for the second year in succession with a commanding 4-0 victory over Brazilian side Santos.
• Neymar: Impossible to beat Barca
Lionel Messi scored twice to cap a brilliant performance and Cesc Fabregas and Xavi also got on the scoresheet in a one-sided contest in Yokohama.
Barcelona, who were without striker David Villa after he broke the shinbone in his left leg in their 4-0 semi-final victory over Al-Sadd. dominated from the outset and the only surprise was that they did not score more and took until the 17th minute to break the deadlock.
Messi had already had a shot saved by goalkeeper Rafael, with Thiago hitting the rebound straight at the goalkeeper, before opening the scoring in some style.
Xavi brilliantly controlled a ball which looked to be behind him before playing a superb pass into Messi, who conjured up a cheeky chip over the goalkeeper that found the net despite Bruno Rodrigo's desperate attempt to clear it off the line.
Xavi then got on the scoresheet himself after controlling a cutback from Dani Alves with his first touch and shooting beyond Rafael with his second.
At the other end, Borges did manage to get a shot on target but saw his effort saved at the near post by Victor Valdes, and seconds later Barca were on the attack again with Fabregas seeing his shot come back off the upright.
The former Arsenal captain was not to be denied on the stroke of half-time however, stabbing in the loose ball after an Alves cross caused chaos in the Santos area.
With the result beyond doubt, Barca almost extended their lead in the first minute of the second half as Fabregas saw his shot deflected inches wide, while Messi then had an effort saved by the legs of Rafael.
There was a carbon copy at the other end as Neymar's shot was blocked by Valdes, but that was a depressingly rare chance for the Brazilian side.
And Messi completed the rout in the 82nd minute when he was played through by an excellent pass from Alves.
Despite an uncharacteristically poor first touch, the Argentinian star still skipped around the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. FROm
ESPN SOCCERNET
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