FC Barcelona welcomed 2011 with a hard fought victory
FC Barcelona started the new year 2011 with a good victory against Levante. It wasn't as easy as expected, but we managed to achieve our main objective which was the three points. Pedrito struck twice in the first half to put Barca ahead before Levante pulled one back to make way for a nervous finish. This was a special night for Xavi Hernandes who equalised the appearance record held by Migueli. Xavi made his 549th appearance for the club and had the honour of captaining the side tonight. As I wrote in the preview, Villa, Bojan and Pedro started upfront. Xavi, Iniesta and Mascherano in the midfield. The defense had Alves, Busquets, Abidal and Maxwell. I have to admit that the idea of using Sergio Busquets in centre of defense looked a bit strange. Why should not you not give Fontas or Batra or even Muniesa a start?
FC Barcelona Players Looked pretty rusty throughout the match
FC Barcelona settled early into their wonderful possession style. In the 7th minute Iniesta forced the first save from then keeper with a curling shot from outside the box. In the 14th minute Valdes made an excellent save after shooting the ball straight to a Levante player. The goal wouldn't have been counted as the striker was offside. We looked a bit rusty, but that was expected as we have a habit of struggling after the Christmas vacation. All the wines and Spirits have to drain out, and that really would take some time, you know? In the 27th minute there was absolute mayhem inside the Levante box, Iniesta sets up on a great dribble in box, crosses to centre but is deflected by keeper, that falls to Villa who shoots and is again deflected by a player and loops for Alves on right post but he somehow missed. Levante was getting into the match more than expected and they forced a double save from valdes and Maxwell in the 30th minute. We were trying a lot of impossible through ball. Apart from Iniesta none of our players looked in top form. Levante meanwhile was defending in numbers somewhat like Bilbao and we were struggling to find spaces to thread in the final ball. In the 44th minute Xavi and Iniesta combined to create the best chance of the night. Iniesta and Xavi played a great one two following a corner, Xavi shot at the goal which was saved by the keeper, the rebound was directed to Abidal by Villa who shot weekly at the keeper. We once again went into the break without scoring a goal and we surely were playing at a less tempo.
Immediately after the breakk Pedro put Barca ahead in a sublime move. The move was kind of ridiculous. Xavi played a great over the defense ball to Al;ves, he cut inside and had a clear sight on goal instead of taking the shot he played three dummy only to almost kill that chance before passing to pedro who cut outside and finished with a strong finish. In the 49th minute Guardiola brought in Thiago for Mascherano and that meant we were going to have more possession. Within a minute of his introduction, Thiago forced the keeper to make his first save of the half. In the 55th minute Valdes had to be alert to deal with a Jorda header. Luckily for him the header came straight at him. In the 59th minute Pedro scored his second of the night. The finish was really sublime blasting the ball into the far corner from an Alves cut back. In the 65th minute Bojan was replaced by keita, that means we would have Iniesta moving upfront. In the 67th minute Pedro hit the crossbar after some great skill and run by Thiago set him up. In the 77th minute Maxwell was replaced by Milito who was returning from a bit long injury lay off.
In the 80th minute from absolutely no where Levante pulled one goal back through a wonderful volley from Stuani. We were troubled throughout the match when crosses were floated into the centre of defense, and that goal also came from such kind of a situation. That goal made for a very difficult last ten minutes of the game. In the 84th minute Villa danced through a number ofdefenders in the box but was denied by the keeper once again. In the 86th minute Alves wasted another golden oppurtunity. Xavi played a great ball releasing Alves on the right, Alves only have to pick either Villa or Pedro at the centre instead did something which can be described as half a cross- half a strike.
Going into the break there were serious fears of we once again struggling to break a defensively oriented team. BUt with early goals in the second half that fear was removed. But then we made the match kind of interesting conceding a late goal and almost exposing ourselves to a series of aerial attempts. Pedro was once again really sublime in the second half. He had a really poor first hal but took his chances in the second. Alves, who has two assist in the match was really terrible with his decision making. He almost killed that first goal and made terrible mistakes in a number of goal scoring chances. He seriously could have cost us three points in this match. Thiago really impressed in this match. It is necessary for Barca management to tie him up for the future with the club. Overall this was a kind of expected result. We always start slowly after a break and will take some time to once again hit the top gear. Now with three points in the bag all the focus shifts to San Mames and to Getafe.