Murcia 3 Barça 5
Saturday, 17 May 08, 11:32 PM · Comments (22)
Barça finished a disappointing league campaign with an entertaining 3-5 win at Murcia. It was fitting that Frank Rijkaard's last match in charge should be an open game with a lot of goals. Giovani dos Santos who hasn't scored a league goal all season, tonight scored a hat-trick, it is a shame for him that the season ends now because it has often seemed that all that he needed was a goal, and goals are often like buses: you wait for ages and then they all come along together.
Barça started the game terribly and for the first twenty minutes we looked like a broken team facing another embarassing defeat. Murcia had already created a couple of chances and then in the 8th minute a cross from the promising Dani Aquino was headed against the bar by Ivan Alonso. Gudjohnsen had a long shot tipped over for Barça and then in the 15th minute another cross from Aquino was headed goalwards by Ivan Alonso forcing a fine save from Pinto. From the corner Barça showed they still don't know how to defend at set pieces as Ochoa was unmarked to score at the near post.
Fortunately for Barça, Murcia have been relegated for a good reason: they are a poor team. Barça took advantage of Murcia's poor defending to score three goals in ten minutes. In the 23rd minute Henry played a one-two with Messi and pulled the ball back to Eto'o who turned the ball home. Three minutes later Xavi sent a pass through to Henry who beat the offside trap and beat the goalkeeper to the ball before scoring into the empty net. Then it was Gudjohnsen's turn to thread a pass through to Eto'o who when faced with the goalkeeper unselfishly squared to Giovani who had a simple job of putting the ball home.
The second half began with Barça totally dominating and it looked like we might have a cricket score. Gudjohnsen and Messi had chances but then in the 52nd minute a great run from Giovani in which he bounced passes off Eto'o and Messi ended with a sublime chip from the Mexican over the keeper into the net. Murcia responded briefly forcing two fine saves from Pinto, then in the 66th minute Henry crossed from the left to Giovani on the edge of the area who picked his spot superbly to complete his hat-trick.
Rijkaard then decided to give debuts to both right-back Fali and midfielder Rueda who came on for Thuram and Gudjohnsen, and Bojan came on in place of Henry. We will not see Thuram again for Barça while the futures of Gudjohnsen and Henry are unclear. Barça relaxed towards the end and Murcia managed to pull two goals back. First Ivan Alonso scored from the penalty spot after Puyol fouled Mejia, and then Abel scored direct from a free kick with five minutes to go.
It would be a mistake to judge individual players on today's game as it was one of those crazy end of season games with nothing to play for. However, it was great for Giovani to score those goals, let's hope he can score a bit more regularly next season. It was also good to see Eto'o get a goal, I just hope it was not the last we see of him. Henry has looked better in the last few games and has started scoring, but if I were Guardiola I would ask him to leave. Oleguer may get to stay but he showed again tonight that he doesn't have the required level to play at a club like Barça. I'll write more in the coming days on the merits of individuals and who should stay or go.
Barça: Pinto 7, Oleguer 4.5, Thuram 6 (Fali m70, 5.5), Puyol 6.5, Abidal 5; Giovani 8.5, Xavi 6, Gudjohnsen 6.5 (Rueda m74, 5.5); Messi 6, Eto'o 6, Henry 7 (Bojan m76, 5.5).
Goals: m16 Ochoa 1-0, m23 Eto'o 1-1, m26 Henry 1-2, m33 Giovani 1-3, m52 Giovani 1-4, m66 Giovani 1-5, m81 Ivan Alonso (pen) 2-5, m85 Abel 3-5.
Barça Yellows: m 84 Fali
Video Links:
Eto'o 1-1
Henry 1-2
Giovani 1-3
Giovani 1-4
Giovani 1-5
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Fitting win. Enjoyed the game. And Rijkaard for the last time.
I believe Henry should stay for a year more. He's looking very good. If he gets a good Euro, then all the more better....
nice to see barca score so many.
wish messi could have scored as well as he always deserves one. he had a nice role in creating the plays tonight.
i guess a stronger midfield will help the defense next season .. can't wait to see who they bring in.
i don't think eto'o or henry will leave ...
Wow Gio doesnt score a league goal all season and then gets a hatrick out of nowhere. I didnt even know this kid was alive in the first 20 minutes of the game. I was surprised to see him playing in the midfield but compared to his performances as a striker, Id say he looked more poised today. This kid has to stay.
For the first time this season, I saw a huge smile on Rijkaard's face when Gio scored his second and third goal. I am not gonna lie, it was nice to see Rijkaard leave smiling at least. Still believe he should continue on with the team but what can you do, its the life of a manager. You are either sacked or about to be sacked. My humblest of gratitude to Rijkaard and all the best to him in his future endeveours.
I hope to god eto'o does not leave the club. He scores a goal in almost everygame! Why would you get rid of that?! Why?! That would not make any sense! Eto'o is so underrated. The only reason why his immense skill and talent was not acknowledged was because Ronaldinho was on the same team as well.
I like this Rueda kid. A murcia player tries to do a crapload of stepovers and look cool, Rueda just shuts him off with a well executed slide tackle. Too good. Or was it Fali? I couldnt tell really. There numbers look the same. Prolly Rueda.
Giovanni dos Santos is new Ronaldinho.
Player of the match is T.Henry #14.
:D
Goodbay Edmilson, Thuram, Deco and Rijkaard.
I think Gio deserves an extension...but not for the 40,000 pounds/week that Man City is offering.
Was anyone else impressed by Fali's speed? The youngster is fast!
Nic you are being unfair to henry man he dserves to stay, white bedsheets to you man,
22 Comments · Add yours
wow barca is the weirdest team in the world they lose at home then they go to murcias home and win fans at the camp nou dissapointed for barca not playin like they did the second half against murcia at camp nou but gongrats to gio sadly he will prolly be moving to a different club next season but lets give him luck when hes playing with another club henry should have another shot the last couple of games hes been wonderfull
Messi, Giovani, Bojan, Rueda, Fali - La Masia is the best. Youth is ready to take over, I see.
Thank you, Thuram. A great first half by Henry, very active.
Inspiring to see the team finishing the season with a victory.