yeah it was a game for show (exhibit a: maxi's goal). there was even an idea Ronaldinho and Eto'o will play for the peace team so you see it wasn't that serious.
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[SP] La Liga 2005/06 (7 Viewers)
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Xavi Hernandez has pickup an injury, he broke the knee ligament and will be our 6 months, they are reporting that he will probably miss the World Cup...
What a shame for Xavi, he is one of the best players for Spain, also Barcelona will REALLY miss him, he was fundamental for the team... in fact IMO he is the only player that Barce can't replace.
What a shame for Xavi, he is one of the best players for Spain, also Barcelona will REALLY miss him, he was fundamental for the team... in fact IMO he is the only player that Barce can't replace.
yes and no, even if Van Bommel play in the same position of Xavi, they are diferent kind of players, not forgeting also what Xavi means for Barcelona in tearms of leardership.
And like you also alredy said Van Bommel its also injured.
Rigth now the only player that could replace Xavi in Barca is Iniesta, but again Barca will miss Xavi's leadership.
And like you also alredy said Van Bommel its also injured.
Rigth now the only player that could replace Xavi in Barca is Iniesta, but again Barca will miss Xavi's leadership.
Xavi is perhaps Barcelona's most important player...the way he works the ball through midfield is just delightful and nobody else on Barcelona can take his job. I don't remember who exactly said this, either Rijkaard or Cryuff, however Xavi is the player who makes Barca tick, and I have to agree with him. This is a devestating blow to their side and even though they have all the talent in the world, this loss will effect them, especially in the Champions League.
Sad to see such a great player go down like this...Xavi is one of my favorites. :depressed
Sad to see such a great player go down like this...Xavi is one of my favorites. :depressed
Barça overcome El Madrigal hoodoo (0-2)
IN DETAIL
The goals
0-1 Peña own goal (min. 23)
0-2 Deco (min. 62)
FC Barcelona recorded their ninth consecutive victory and ended a run of three straight defeats at El Madrigal as they beat Villarreal. Henk ten Cate and Eusebio were in charge of the Blaugrana as an own goal and a strike from Deco gave the visitors victory.
The poor record at the Yellow Submarines' ground, was wiped away as Frank Rijkaard's side picked up three more useful points in his absence. The home team fought hard and proved why they are doing so well in the league, but the stand-in Barça coaches masterminded a tactical battle that took the Catalan side back to the top of the table after Osasuna briefly leapfrogged them on Sunday evening.
Thiago Motta was named in the place of long-term injury victim Xavi and proved to be a thorn in Villarreal's side, before he too picked up a knock and was stretchered off. Edmilson was also a key factor in the win as he prevented former Barça midfielder, Román Riquelme, from performing his usual role of playmaker for the home side. Deco was booked and Rafa Márquez was sent off in the encounter and will be suspended for the visit of Sevilla next weekend.
Early action
With just 44 seconds on the clock the ball had already been in both penalty areas, and after 105 seconds Barcelona had registered their first shot on goal and won the first corner of the game. Two minutes after that Juampi Sorín sped clear of the visitors back line and collided with Víctor Valdés, but the referee decided that it was not a penalty, much to the relief of the goalkeeper.
Villarreal quick style of play and incisive passing certainly asked questions of the Blaugrana defence and with a congested midfield made it difficult for Barça to employ their fluid passing game. Leo Messi was involved in the early attacks for Barcelona as he first fired wide before running on to a glorious lob pass from Ronaldinho before lifting the ball just over Sebastién Viera's crossbar.
Own goal opens scoring
In the 22nd minute Motta made a surging run forward down the left, but was felled by a tackle from Javi Abanica to set up Ronaldinho with one of his favourite set pieces. The Brazilian sent over a curling shot that the keeper was unable to hold and as it bounced of his chest it rebounded back into the net off the knee of the hapless Juan Manuel Peña. The goal appeared to deflate Villarreal and they were unable to find their attacking rhythm as they allowed Barcelona chances to increase their advantage, with the best coming from Ronaldinho who shot clipped the bar.
A counter-attack from the visitors, in the 33rd minute, failed to end with Samuel Eto'o testing the keeper as he was unable to connect with Ronaldinho's centre. The game heated up in the centre with some fierce tackles allowing Barça to slow the pace of the game and hold onto their lead. Messi was leading the attack with some jinking runs on the left, while Edmilson's battle with Riquelme threatened to boil over as the pair bounced off each other on several occasions.
Eto'o goes close
Barcelona used the break well and came out for the second half looking to prevent the same mistakes that almost awarded Villarreal an early chance to take the lead in the opening period. The first chance for the visitors after the restart fell to Eto'o, but Viera was equal to the effort. As the game progressed, the home were forced to press further forward in search of an equaliser and Barcelona were able to enjoy the space left at the back with Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi and Deco all creating problems.
Deco nets the second
Deco earned himself a yellow card after he was harshly judged to have dived in the penalty area, after heading goalwards following a neat move, and the Portuguese midfielder will now miss the Blaugrana's next league outing. Soon after he made amends for his forthcoming absence by securing all three points for the visitors as he netted Barça's second goal of the night. After taking a few steps forward, Deco powered the ball towards goal and watched as it clipped the unfortunate Peña on the head and spun past Viera and into the net with 62 minutes on the clock. Moments later the keeper was called into action again as he was forced to turn a low drive from Messi around the post and away for a corner.
Bad news for Barcelona
The final minutes of the game saw two bad moments for Barça as Motta was carried off with an injury and Márquez earned his second yellow card of the evening. With 20 minutes of the match remaining, Motta collapsed and immediately signalled to the bench that he had to be replaced. Gio Van Bronkhorst came on for the Italian-Brazilian, but without his aerial presence, Villarreal were able to create a late chance through José Mari, who thankfully failed to hit the target. José Mari then helped earn Márquez his marching orders as the former Milan forward fell dramatically after the slightest contact with the Mexican and the referee produced the red card. With only two minutes remaining, Barcelona was able to regroup and hang onto their comfortable lead.
IN DETAIL
The goals
0-1 Peña own goal (min. 23)
0-2 Deco (min. 62)
FC Barcelona recorded their ninth consecutive victory and ended a run of three straight defeats at El Madrigal as they beat Villarreal. Henk ten Cate and Eusebio were in charge of the Blaugrana as an own goal and a strike from Deco gave the visitors victory.
The poor record at the Yellow Submarines' ground, was wiped away as Frank Rijkaard's side picked up three more useful points in his absence. The home team fought hard and proved why they are doing so well in the league, but the stand-in Barça coaches masterminded a tactical battle that took the Catalan side back to the top of the table after Osasuna briefly leapfrogged them on Sunday evening.
Thiago Motta was named in the place of long-term injury victim Xavi and proved to be a thorn in Villarreal's side, before he too picked up a knock and was stretchered off. Edmilson was also a key factor in the win as he prevented former Barça midfielder, Román Riquelme, from performing his usual role of playmaker for the home side. Deco was booked and Rafa Márquez was sent off in the encounter and will be suspended for the visit of Sevilla next weekend.
Early action
With just 44 seconds on the clock the ball had already been in both penalty areas, and after 105 seconds Barcelona had registered their first shot on goal and won the first corner of the game. Two minutes after that Juampi Sorín sped clear of the visitors back line and collided with Víctor Valdés, but the referee decided that it was not a penalty, much to the relief of the goalkeeper.
Villarreal quick style of play and incisive passing certainly asked questions of the Blaugrana defence and with a congested midfield made it difficult for Barça to employ their fluid passing game. Leo Messi was involved in the early attacks for Barcelona as he first fired wide before running on to a glorious lob pass from Ronaldinho before lifting the ball just over Sebastién Viera's crossbar.
Own goal opens scoring
In the 22nd minute Motta made a surging run forward down the left, but was felled by a tackle from Javi Abanica to set up Ronaldinho with one of his favourite set pieces. The Brazilian sent over a curling shot that the keeper was unable to hold and as it bounced of his chest it rebounded back into the net off the knee of the hapless Juan Manuel Peña. The goal appeared to deflate Villarreal and they were unable to find their attacking rhythm as they allowed Barcelona chances to increase their advantage, with the best coming from Ronaldinho who shot clipped the bar.
A counter-attack from the visitors, in the 33rd minute, failed to end with Samuel Eto'o testing the keeper as he was unable to connect with Ronaldinho's centre. The game heated up in the centre with some fierce tackles allowing Barça to slow the pace of the game and hold onto their lead. Messi was leading the attack with some jinking runs on the left, while Edmilson's battle with Riquelme threatened to boil over as the pair bounced off each other on several occasions.
Eto'o goes close
Barcelona used the break well and came out for the second half looking to prevent the same mistakes that almost awarded Villarreal an early chance to take the lead in the opening period. The first chance for the visitors after the restart fell to Eto'o, but Viera was equal to the effort. As the game progressed, the home were forced to press further forward in search of an equaliser and Barcelona were able to enjoy the space left at the back with Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi and Deco all creating problems.
Deco nets the second
Deco earned himself a yellow card after he was harshly judged to have dived in the penalty area, after heading goalwards following a neat move, and the Portuguese midfielder will now miss the Blaugrana's next league outing. Soon after he made amends for his forthcoming absence by securing all three points for the visitors as he netted Barça's second goal of the night. After taking a few steps forward, Deco powered the ball towards goal and watched as it clipped the unfortunate Peña on the head and spun past Viera and into the net with 62 minutes on the clock. Moments later the keeper was called into action again as he was forced to turn a low drive from Messi around the post and away for a corner.
Bad news for Barcelona
The final minutes of the game saw two bad moments for Barça as Motta was carried off with an injury and Márquez earned his second yellow card of the evening. With 20 minutes of the match remaining, Motta collapsed and immediately signalled to the bench that he had to be replaced. Gio Van Bronkhorst came on for the Italian-Brazilian, but without his aerial presence, Villarreal were able to create a late chance through José Mari, who thankfully failed to hit the target. José Mari then helped earn Márquez his marching orders as the former Milan forward fell dramatically after the slightest contact with the Mexican and the referee produced the red card. With only two minutes remaining, Barcelona was able to regroup and hang onto their comfortable lead.
