Barça 1 Benidorm 0 (2-0 on aggregate)
Wednesday, 12 November 08, 02:49 PM · Comments (15)
A late goal from Leo Messi finally saw off a spirited Benidorm who really deserved to take a draw from tonight's game. It's difficult to know why Barça have suffered so much against the likes of Basle and Benidorm when they have beaten much bigger teams such as Atletico Madrid and Almeria so comprehensively. The team seems to work just as hard but perhaps there is a relaxing in the concentration levels that makes the difference. For the Benidorm players as well it is possibly the biggest game of their careers and they raised their game accordingly.
Benidorm demonstrated after just seventy seconds that they did not see the tie as over sending in a dangerous cross from the right. And as the first half continued it was the team from the Second Division B who created more chances. In the 18th minute Castell forced Pinto into a fine save with a curling free kick. Then after 35 minutes Ruano tried a shot from all of 45 yards that nearly surprised Pinto. Barça had just two chances worth mentioning: one that Messi set up for Bojan and another that Bojan set up Messi, but on both occasions Benidorm keeper Caballero came out to narrow the angle and save.
Early in the second half Benidorm had a magnificent chance to take the lead but Flavio headed over from close range. Barça finally began to wake up a bit and Messi came close after a fantastic run past three defenders but his shot went just wide of the far post. Messi then almost squeezed a header in but Caballero saved on the line. Pep Guardiola saw fit to bring on Xavi and Eto'o to try to make the difference but although the play improved Barça could still only test Caballero with shots from distance from Bojan and Busquets. With the clock ticking away towards 90 minutes Bojan broke into the area on the left and was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Ruano and the ref blew for a penalty, Leo Messi took the responsibility but his shot was poor and Caballero saved diving to his left, unfortunately for the goalkeeper he failed to hold the shot and the ball came back to Messi who made no mistake with the rebound. It was a shame for Benidorm but football is hard like that, they will still be remembered for putting up a brave performance.
For Barça it was a frustrating night, we might expect more from some of the fringe players who should be using occasions like this to impress; but it was a disappointing night for the likes of Keita, Gudjohnsen, Caceres, Hleb and Bojan, and perhaps it is counter-productive for these players to play in such fixtures. That being said it is up to each individual to find the concentration levels necessary to perform for a club of Barça's high standards. Oh well, we'll be back to the league on Sunday so let's hope we can get back to the levels we have seen in our recent league games. Just to put the Copa into context, obviously we all know Real Madrid were knocked out by a third division team, but tonight also saw Villareal eliminated while Atletico Madrid could only draw 0-0 at home to Orihuela (yes, I've never heard of them either).
Barça: Pinto 6.5; Alves 6, Caceres 5.5, Puyol 6, Sylvinho 5.5; Gudjohnsen 5.5 (m61 Xavi, 6), Busquets 5.5, Keita 5.5; Messi 6 (m87 Pedro), Bojan 5.5, Hleb 5 (m69 Eto'o, 6).
Goal: m87 Messi 1-0
Attendance: 23,422
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Pequito...i think we saw those teams playing defensively just because we were so obsesive with our possesion footbal....which we hold the ball too much untill all the opponent are back in their position..and that's different under pep..we create chances(wether good or ridiculous) from each of our atack..
our counter attacking improved so much under pep..
Thats true pequito. When teams are courageous enough to play football against barcelona, thats when more goal-scoring opportunities come. The first goal in Valladolid's 6-0 drubbing came from a counter attack starting with marquez's acrobatic clearance of a cross.
This score is not very surprising considering how other low tier teams have caused havoc amongst the top rated teams in la liga like villareal and real madrid.
Again - we got the job done. Lets move onto bigger competitons to worry about - such as the next league game. 
Don't be sad, we can't always play thrilling football, sometimes we'll have to grind out results.
with that said, Barca did their job and are into the last 16 unlike Real and Villareal.
Looking ahead, if Barça face a club from Serie A or the EPL , be prepared for more of this . Clogging the penalty area with 8-9 players and relying mainly on counter attacks. This happened before and it WILL continue to happen. Clubs clube from the EPL and Serie A see no shame in playing defence , taking it on the chin and merely kicking the ball away anywhere in the pitch. Barça will have to find another way of breaking the wall. How about SHOOTING the damn ball from outside the penalty area ?! There are players on the club who can shoot from distance. Yaya and Xavi are only two examples. You DON'T have to play pretty football all the time in order to win. Sometimes, you have to take your chances and utilize other aspects of the game that are NOT always used. When was the last time Barça scored from a CORNER kick or a CROSS ? Barça are playing perhaps the best and most attractive football in Europe BUT you have to have more options of attack and scoring goals when needed. It is NOT necessary to go ALL OUT in attacking mode. Sometimes, you have to be SMART and play some defence !!
Are you serious, we have scored heaps from set pieces this season. Marquez has already scored two or three goals from corners.
Messi and Eto'o from time to time do shoot from a reasonable far distance too (example eto'os 99th goal) but the chances of scoring a far is far slimmer than from a good passing combination or a through ball.
Also the first goal against valladolid started from Yaya Toure, he was the one that switched the play, he tried that a couple of times and after the third try we scored the opener.
I guess early cup rounds are confusing, and results like these should be taken for win or lose and not by the scoreline.
The team needs to stay focussed and make sure that there system is a an advantage in all circumstances and against all styles.
15 Comments · Add yours
close call, but glad to see the result.
Nick, I didn't get to see either the Basle or Benidorm matches, but I did see both Atleti and Almeria (and Malaga). If Basle and Benidorm were focusing on packing their half and using the counterattack to find their chances, then the scores make sense. In the case of Atleti, Almeria and Malaga, here were three sides who actually tried to play against Barça, toe to toe. They tried their hand at attacking football, leaving their back with 'only' three or four while pressing up. No one usually tries this against Barça, at least not in the last couple of years, not in general. Most matches see FCB set against a club with 10 players in their own half, seven in their own box, geared for a lightning counterattack as their only chance to score against the Blaugrana. Those sort of matches end up with more down to earth scorelines. For some reason this season, clubs are loosening up in their play and trying something a little more creative than variations of 'kick-and-run'. At least when they play Barça. Which is fine by me.