That’s More Like The Barca We Know And Love

By: Rob | September 20th, 2009

Anyone watching Barcelona’s midweek game in the Champions League against Inter, hoping to see the side that bought beautiful football all around Europe last season might have come away a little dissapointed. A 0-0 you say? That doesn’t seem the Barca way. Of course it isn’t, and they do seem to struggle against teams who defend against them.

No such worries at Camp Nou last night, as Barca demolished Atlético Madrid 5-2. People might have questioned Ibrahimovic’s ability to convert chances midweek, but he took a great chance beautifully to open the scoring here. A lovely through ball meant he just had to stab it past a lost goalkeeper.

Barca’s second came from an incredible pass from Xavi (a serious contender for Best Player on Earth in my book) who picked out Messi leaving the Argentine only the need to touch it past the keeper. A superb Dani Alves Freek Kick made it three-nil, and a fourth came from brilliant bits of skill from Ibra and Messi, leaving Keita a tap in.

Still question marks at the back though.

Both of Atleti’s goals came from the position of 4-0 down, but they also both came from careless defending from the Barca back line, and both Aguero and Forlan took their chances well to take a little bit of the shine off the Barca win.

A brilliant bit of vision from Iniesta late on gave Henry a chance to give Barca a fifth.

No doubt Atleti are a really good side, and this looks like a statement of intent from Barcelona. But Atleti are also a pretty forward thinking side, and they have never been the sides this Barca side has problems with.

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Category: Spain La Liga, World Football

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Daniel F

But Barca did play beautifully against Inter. That they weren't able to score a goal because Jose/Inter decided to defend the whole second half is another issue.

I believe that's why they've brought Zlatan into the team and once he gels with the system he should provide that extra up front against those sort of defensive teams. In saying that, I miss Etoo... I felt that he would have scored those half chances Zlatan missed in that game.

Barca will win the UCL again this year.
Kxevin

Just one quibble about the "careless defending at the back" line. The first goal came from an appalling header in the midfield by Busquets, and the second came from a horrific clearance by Valdes. By the time the attackers got to the back line, there was precious little the defenders could do, except hope.
Chris

I'm just imagining the keeper at about 3:30 of this video screaming to his side, "I need a better wall than this. We're playing Barcelona!"

... and goal.