Part 1: Lionel Messi’s brace helps Barcelona make another record
Lionel Messi managed to score a brace as Barcelona travelled to the home of the Spanish side Real Zaragoza at La Romareda. Josep Pep Guardiola sent out a three men defence and the team looked to be very effective at the back and at the
front as they won the fourth away fixture this season.
Even though that Real Zaragoza are currently at the bottom of the Spanish La Liga, this fixture is never easy for the Catalan giants and it usually guarantees thrills and spills. The game this season didn’t disappoint either as both of
the teams fought an interesting tactical battle with qualify football, amazing goals a few controversies.
Last season, the Spanish champions won the game 2-4 as Lionel Messi was the one who was the star of the show. Just like that, this season Lionel Messi stole the show yet again and even though he could not really score a hat trick just
like the last time, he still found the net twice and the Argentinean star went away with a brace.
Real Zaragoza played with ten men for almost half of the game as their defender was sent out during the 47th minute, right after the start of the second half when Daniel Alves forced the referee to give out a red
card – a decision which still stays controversial.
As the opponents were a man down, the goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, who missed out on the midweek fixture against the Danish Champions FC Copenhagen because of a stomach problem, was barely troubled because the ball barely came to trouble
him throughout the second half.
Josep Pep Guardiola tried a new sort of formation for the team. He is often considered to be playing his favourite 4-3-3 but this time round he sent out an experimental line up, something that was more attacking. He sent out three centre back instead of two
centre backs and two full backs. Gerard Pique, Calres Puyol and the French full back Eric Abidal were the ones who guarded the goal from their centre back positions. Andres Iniesta and Daniel Alves were the ones who played on the flanks which helped the team
outnumber the opposition’s midfield.
The new tactics started to pay off for Barcelona as they did not really miss their favourite midfielder, Xavi Hernandez who was ruled out because of his ankle problem, because of which he was not included in the starting line up of the
game against Copenhagen.
The Spanish youngster Sergio Busquets and the former Sevilla player Seydou Keita were the ones who controlled the pace of the game and Lionel Messi was the one who fed his team with some fabulous through balls.
Real Zaragoza’s only chance of winning the game was through counter attacking and that was the reason why they were playing 5-4-1. With only player up front and 5 at the back, it was easy to defend and definitely very easy to counter attack
as the midfielders and defenders fed the striker with through balls and long balls.
The bottom table team and the home side did get a chance during the 18th minute when Braulio got a chance on goal. He managed to cut inside after a lovely long ball by their goalkeeper Doblas but his shot was very
weak too trouble the returning Barcelona number 1 Victor Valdes.
Soon, Barcelona were the ones who accelerated forward and with the help of their new attacking formation, they started to trouble the opposition’s defensive lines. During the 34th minute, the Spanish youngster Pedro Rodriguez came close
to scoring a goal as Andres Iniesta flicked in a wonderful chip towards him, but he failed to finish and the threat was well saved by Real Zaragoza’s number 1, Doblas.
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