Barça 3 Villarreal 3
Sunday, 10 May 09, 11:54 AM · Comments (31)
Football Club Barcelona will have to wait another week to be crowned champions of La Liga. With the fireworks and cava prepared for the celebrations, Joseba Llorente equalized for Villarreal in the 92nd minute to spoil the party which had seemed certain with just 13 minutes to go when Barça were leading 3-1, but then Eric Abidal gave away a penalty and was sent off which gave Villarreal the chance for their comeback. However, the worst news from today is that Andres Iniesta ended the game with a torn muscle and he will have to wait until tomorrow to find out the seriousness of the injury, and for now we will have to pray he is ok for the Champions League final on May 27.
Pep Guardiola kept true to his philosophy of never relaxing by fielding his best team for the game. The game began with a party atmosphere at Camp Nou and Barça began well, stroking the ball around comfortably. eto'o had an early chance jumping to side foot a volley wide from Alves's cross, then Abidal picked out Xavi with a good cross but the shot also went wide. In the 12th minute Abidal threaded the ball through to Keita who carried the ball forward before shooting from just outside the area and the ball took a deflection off Gonzalo and looped nicely over Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez into the net.
Perhaps it was understandable that Barça dropped the normal intensity. In the 22nd minute Toure lost the ball to Ibagaza who played the ball wide to Rossi whose cross was met by Llorente who gave Valdés no chance with his header. It was the first league goal we had conceded at Camp Nou since De La Peña scored for Espanyol in February. Three minutes later it was Alves who lost the ball to Ibagaza who this time fed Cani to send in another cross from the left, Rossi headed goalwards but Valdés who was moving to his left managed to stick out his right hand behind him and divert the ball onto the post.
It took Barça a while to wake up, but in the last ten minutes of the first half we began to play as we should. In the 36th minute Xavi took a quick free kick to Messi who sent a ball into Iniesta who made a diagonal run into the right side of the area, Iniesta had to stretch and slide to attempt a cross which hit a defender but Iniesta was quick to get off the floor and cross again, this time finding Eto'o who turned the ball home from four yards out.
We then had our best period of the game, Xavi and Eto'o both had attempts on goal, and just before half time Messi won a free kick 25 yards out. Dani Alves, who has had little luck recently with his free kicks, this time curled one over the wall and Diego Lopez got a hand to the ball but couldn't keep it out and Barça went in at half time 3-1 up.
Early in the second half Iniesta crossed to Puyol who chested the ball down for Messi but his shot was deflected for a corner. Soon after, Alves crossed to Keita whose header was saved and Xavi knocked home the rebound, but the linesman had incorrectly flagged for an offside on Keita, perhaps he had been thrown a bung by Chelsea! It didn't seem to matter, Barça continued to play pretty football but without much punch to finish the game off, the crowd began the celebrationsearly singing "campeones, campeones".
Then in the 77th minute, Villarreal who hadv hardly had an attack in the second half won a penalty after Abidal used his body to impede Rossi in front of goal. The referee gave Abidal his second straight red card in two games and he will now miss the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as well as the Champions League final in Rome. Mati Fernandez fired home the penalty and we were suddenly in a different game.
Guardiola brought on Sylvinho and Busquets in place of Eto'o and Xavi and Barça switched to a 4-4-1 formation with just Messi up front. We arrived to the 90th minute without suffering at the back, but then in the 92nd minute a long ball from defence was controlled superbly by Llorente inside the area, he held off the challenge of Puyol and his shot went in off the top of the post.
It was a shame for the 95,776 fans in the stadium who were keen to celebrate the title. We haven't won a league title playing at home since 1998 when a goal from Giovanni against Zaragosa gave Louis Van Gaal his first title. However, at the end it is just an anecdote. If Real Madrid fail to win at Villarreal next Saturday night we will be champions, and if Madrid win we need just a point next Sunday at Mallorca, and even if we fail we still have games against Osasuna and Deportivo to win the point that we need.
It may even be a positive thing that we didn't win the league today. We can learn from the game as it is clear you can never relax in football and we will perhaps be hungrier to win on Wednesday against Athletic Bilbao, and we will also not suffer the hangover of the celebrations we would have had today. We can now win the league next week and we will still have ten days to prepare the Champions League final. I'm sure the fans and players are not too worried, we will just have to wait a few days for the party. The big worry now for us is to see how Iniesta is.
Barça: Valdés 7; Alves 6.5, Puyol 6.5, Piqué 7.5, Abidal 6; Xavi 6.5 (Busquets m84, 6), Toure 6, Keita 7.5; Messi 6.5 (Gudjohnsen m90, 5.5), Eto'o 6.5 (Sylvinho m79, 6), Iniesta 7.5.
Goals: m12 Keita 1-0, m22 Llorente 1-1, m36 Eto'o 2-1, m45 Alves 3-1, m78 Mati Fernandez (pen) 3-2, m92 Llorente 3-3
Barça cards: m77 Abidal (red), m82 Alves.
Attendance: 95,776
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31 Comments · Add yours
I think there is a lesson here. We can't play like we already won. I think We should learn from our mistake ! It could be a good thing we draw tonight. Maybe now the players will kill at the Cup Final. I'm still very sad for some reason I really wanted to end that League now and concentrate on the CL and the Cup. After all really we didn't deserved to win a draw is really far
This is just disappointing - because they played bad. Compared to everything they have done (except the second leg CL semifinal) this was below weak.
Come on Barca, you can do it!
Iniesta??!!??! To say that im worried is a HUGE understatement. Without him and our regular fullbacks and possibly Henry, a triumph in Rome looks bleak...
@ cule-India,
I agree , Iniesta is a great player and we need him to win . Alves' absence is unfortunate but I wouldn't lose any sleep over Abidal . I think Henry will be availabe for the final . He may or may not start though .
"Iniesta??!!??! To say that im worried is a HUGE understatement. Without him and our regular fullbacks and possibly Henry, a triumph in Rome looks bleak... " - cule_india
and without their usual concentration...
This should be their wake up call!!! Come on, guys!
my first disappointment is not winning title at home......
2nd disappointment giving key players too much pressure...look at messi how tired he was...u can guess simply looking at him...
unnecessarily caused a injury of the best barca player(iniesta) in last 1 month....he could easily be saved for next two important games.....
But these disappoint will turn into joy with a treble!!!!!Hope for it......
Goooo...BARCA!!!!
ooo..ya...forgot to say...abidal continued with his terrible performance....he could make a record by getting a red card in next cup match(final)...so it would be 3 consecutive red in all competion....hahah
neuro11 im really not that worried about the fatigue of people even though u r right u can clearly see they are very tired.....
i am much more worried about our squads conditions against man u .....INIESTA AND HENRY MAYBE OUT....ABIDAL DANI AND MARQUEZ OUT FOR ROME.....and also copa del rey final ....beacause in that definitely no iniesta henry abidal and marquez
THIS IS HORRIBLE!!!!!
Maybe abidal's doing us all a favour by keeping himself out of games...we need new decent defenders this summer!
I wasn't that depressed with not winnin the game today. Title celebrations can wait. It is hard to imagine not winning the league..but what caused me a tremendous heartache was Iniesta's injury..I woulda gladly lost that game than to loose Iniesta..If we are missing the likes of Henry, Iniesta, and Alves against Man U, then we are severely screwed...Please Messi, come back now..Please show us your true self..We all Barca fans are waiting...Viva Messi..Viva Barcelona
FCB-Holland. I meant Fernando Torres.Also I whant to meantion that you are an opptimist.How can I relax after seeing 2 goal advantage sleap up with 12 minutes toplay playing at home with 6 defenders,inesta's injury what alse can we add to a bouquet of optimism for the cup and CL... I almost forgot a questionable Henry and tierd squad maybe
and i forgot to add...Abidal is a dumbasss...
Abidal is on his way out (i realy hope) he did not pass a diccent cross in all season atleast h was good in difence however after the injury he plays no defence at all.He shoul leave. How about Pep, I dont think i was smart to play his best squad for the hole game,on 65 minute messi,xavi and inesta should have been changed.We should have preserved best players for the final having 2 goal lead and therefor redusing a risk of an injury. And worst happend inesta's injury ,no selebration no party and digenerate Madrid have another hope.I'm very mad
I dont want to sound pessimistic but Eto'o has been in a horrible drop of form, he is not that lethal striker who can kill off a game anymore,it seems like he is so obsessed with that pichichi thing and everyone is trying to pass him the ball even when there are better options ......... I actually forgot the last time he scored from a piece of individual brilliance .
Tonight we played with our best back four available and toure in the mid, but still conceded 3 at home ......... we will be in Rome without our two main full backs against a team who play with high speed and has great wings, Pep has to work very hard on that, I cannot imagine losing to bloody United again and in the final this time ....... too much to swallow .
Xavi,Messi,Eto'o ....... all the lads looked very tired after a heroic performance at the bridge,I know they are pros but still humans not robots ,it would have been better if we kept couple of our best on the bench(specially after Madrid defeat) and gave the chance to Bojan,Busquets and why not Hleb.They would give 100% in front of a full house and if things did not go your way ( and it didnt) fireworks can wait another week........ now the team has only 2 days to prepare for a final and we lost 2 points and 2 players ............. crap
Got damn I just heard about Inesta's injury well if he does not play in Rome it will take nothing short of a miracle to win.
Player for player we are superior when compared to Manchester but we will be missing 2 of our fullbacks that is a guarantee!
Puyol will most likely be moved wide to cover for Abidal or Dani.
But with Toure, Xavi and Inesta playing in midfield I'm sure Barca would win.
Now that Inesta injury occurred who in my opinion has been our best player by far in our attack in the latter stages of the season!
For some reason Pep does not take our important players off when the games our won!
There is Hleb and Bojan just a few who could have replaced Inesta!
Now I'm thinking we might not even win the copa man I hope to God this injury is not serious.
We need Inesta in Midfield his best position and Henry out wide.
Messi has been a shadow of himself these past few games when compared to how good he was in beginning and middle stage of the season.
He did put in a world class performance against Madrid though.
My brother tells me that the injury is really serious I turned the game off when Abidal gave the penalty away I was too nervous to watch and now the worst thing you could have imagined has happened.
Aint this some bullshit! excuse my language but man I hope this aint serious!
I really want Barca to win the Champions league I'll be heartbroken if we lose.
ggsshhhh......the sudden rush of unthoughtful criticism and pessimism.....i wait to read comments from bboy n co
it was an unfortunate game and i understand what pep was tryin to do by starting the strongest possible 11 though i bliv he could hav snucked one or 2 bench players in the starting eleven and still won...i just hope he's working hard on trying right our little wrongs
now, we've lost our 1st choice left forwards so he faces a real test choosing the team against athletic but i'm as optimistic as ever.
UP BARCA!!!!!!!
To think that we dont start the Cup final as favorites would be stupid because we have got this far without our absolute best 11 and i think the bench is good enough to beat Athletic. It will not be the usual dominance from Barca but i trust they will all give a 100%. Losing Iniesta and Henry means that Hleb will almost certainly get a start on wednesday, which despite his lack of match practice may not be such a bad thing because we can trust him to give a 100%. So our front 3 might look like Eto'o Messi and Hleb, with a midfield of probably Busi, Keita and Xavi. So the team does'nt look that bad.
Maybe Pep got it wrong last night with the starting lineup but then as they say, hind sight is always 20-20. I would like to see what people would have said if we'd lost after starting a few benchwarmers. Anyway, what's done is done and i dont think we should be reading too much into last night's performance becuase the players were not only tired but not half as motivated as they have been this past week. I mean, after El Classico and the Semi-Final against Chelsea, the prospect of Mathematically sealing the title does not really excite you when you know that you can always do it next week.
After the joy they've given this past week, i think it would be awfully harsh to start transfer talk and player bashing, dont you think?
everyone just chill out. it was an unfortunate game. we played excellent first half and then maybe second half we had a bit of fatigue issue. its def disappointing, but no need to start thinking the worse here and there. the pk wasnt even ligit, he hardly pushed rossi (or nihat) and he went down like didier drogba would have.
seriously, they just had 1.5 weeks of super tough games, why the, OH NO, WHY THIS, just chill out. one more week to wait for the leauge isnt tragic.
It isn't about winning the league we all know that's in the bag, we should have played our possession game in the final minutes but more importantly:
Marquez, Abidal, Dani, Henry, and now the best/second best player in the world Iniesta has suffered an injury this is typical of the luck Manchester United gets.
I just hope that Pepe learned his lesson. He could easily send second team on the pitch, to give all first team players a much needed rest, but no. First team players must play even if they played relatively bad couple last games and they are looking jaded on the pitch. I do not know what happened to rotations form beginning of the season?
But looks like this is what happens when coach is still green. And again I just hope that he learned his lesson from this mistake and this could come at very high price, losing two silverwares.
" and i forgot to add...Abidal is a dumbasss... "
I have been saying this for months . Abidal has reacted in such a stupid manner everytime he gets beaten which results either in a penalty or a red card or both . He did the same in Euro 2008 . I'll be glad when we find a quality LB who is competent enough to go forward and who is NOT a rythem killer like Abidal !!
I was responding to Maverick977 post !!
pep's best 11 theory is not quite impressive....though he did best through out the season...we believe he can end up with treble....
ultimately he is now forced to use Hleb in cup..but what happened is giving him no match experience ...so i don know how Hleb going to contribute.....
i cant say the team played last night best 11 ..because bojan,Hleb and godjonson could have more impressive run then our tired key players...starting of 2nd half could well be changed ....
we faced more difficult situation the one right now and we recovered well..hope cup will be ours...
loosing cup to bilbao will be ultimate disaster...
sad not watch wonderful performance by iniesta in next couple of matches...he is simply brilliant theses dayz...
by the way...anyone saw CR7 reaction yesterday when he was subbed...
lol....quite funny isnt it..
@ neuro11,
What do you really expect from Ronaldo ? He is low class . No surprise there !!
I wonder if those disappointed Barça fans were told in the beginning of the year that Barça would only need ONE point from the last three games to secure the title , would they have believed ?
well said.... FCB-Holland...
@ Barça fan in the house,
" FCB-Holland. I meant Fernando Torres.Also I whant to meantion that you are an opptimist ."
You are right . I am an optimist . Afterall , we only need ONE point out of a possible NINE to win La Liga !!
Whoa guys calm down!
) but I do know that playng your best team against Madrid away, Chelsea away, Villareal home and a Copa final will exhaust any player in the world. I did not see the point of starting Xavi Messi Eto all together when Bojan Hleb will undoubedtly be needed at some point soon. My only reason to cheer is that perhaps Henry will be fit so Pep doesnt think they will be needed for the final but still I think after the Copa final the whole team needs a long week off.
If someone said to me, we' beat REAL MADRID 2-6 at their OWN GROUND, we'd beat Chelsea (the 3rd best team in Europe imo) in the LAST MINUTE at their own ground to reach the FINAL of the Uefa Champions League I would of called them an ambulance
Villareal is one of the best teams in the Spanish league and a 3-3 result is hardly a discrace. I am very happy with the result, another 3 goals and Eto finally back on the scoresheet.
However two things worried me about this game. The goals Barca are conceding is something we have to worry about for the CLeague. Against Valancia we conceded via a corner, against Madrid it was a free kick via Ramos and against Villareal it was another cross. Against ManUnited, they have Vidic, Ferdinand and Ronaldo who are all taller then our whole team and I fear we may be exposed. I hope this is something Pep recognises and works on as I would hate to lose the CL final because of a set peice
The second thing is the team selection. Now I havent won the league (unless its Football Manager
The evil that man do
I absolutly agree with you about the league and ManU luck (s.o.b).
Nic, I definitely agree that this draw is a positive thing. With it, we will be confident but not get too far ahead of ourselves.
There is confidence and then there is over-confidence...
Setting up fireworks so the camp nou crowd can celebrate the victory of this splendid season in spectacular fashion when the team wins........confidence
Yelling "Champions" before the 90 minutes are up......over confidence
Reminds me of the time when we were up 3-0 against Atletico Madrid at home and the crowd started singing the Barcelona anthem. In the middle of the song, madrid's captain, maxi rodriguez got fed up and scored a nice goal to shut us up.
Ofcourse, the team let their guard down that time but picked it up soon after, scoring three more goals against Madrid
sigh, that was the game that made us realize this season was going to be really entertaining. Good times, good times..
This draw will do good things in reinforcing that hunger and focus.