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Barca Earn Stunning Victory At Real
11/20/2005 12:01:00 AM
Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona arrived in Madrid on Saturday night and his team produced a performance of such magnificent proportions that an era of domestic dominance now looks certain to follow. Two goals from the divine Ronaldinho and an early opening strike from Samuel Eto’o set up a 3-0 victory over a clueless and flabbergasted Real Madrid team who had no answer to the electrifying football on display by the Spanish champions.
Up to 80,000 fans packed inside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium expecting a tense battle between two world class teams challenging for the league title, however, as Ronaldinho calmly slotted away his side’s third goal, amazingly, many Madrid fans were seen standing up and applauding the brilliance of the Brazilian and thus accepting their side as a poor second best to their bitter rivals.
Aside from their goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, who had little to do all night, each one of Barcelona’s players played with commitment, energy and above all, joy. Like a team of super talented, hungry schoolboys playing against an over-the-hill angry outfit of mercenaries, the Catalans tricked and deceived their opponents throughout 90 minutes of a game that was played in perfect conditions for football.
With Goal.com predicting a 3-3 draw before the game, it had been envisaged that the hosts, with a string of injured players coming back into their side, would make a game of it. Yet, it seems the decline of the ‘Galacticos’ has well and truly begun with the most depressing aspect being the fall from grace of the aging Zinedine Zidane whose main contribution all night was several clumsy hacks on the sprightly Argentinean Lionel Messi.
Barcelona made their intent clear early on when a Ronaldinho free-kick from 23 yards bounced back off the wall and the Brazilian reacted quickest to get his toe to the rebound and fire goalwards. Fortunately for Wanderli Luxembergo’s men Roberto Carlos was on hand to deflect away the danger.
Minutes later and the visitors carved out another opening when Samuel Eto’o received a lofted pass from Ronaldinho, beat the offside trap and sliced a shot to the far post just wide of the target.
Barcelona silenced the huge home crowd just before the quarter hour when a rapid counter-attack was led by the classy Messi. The Argentine attacker slalomed his way through the Madrid defence and just as it appeared he may have been about to lose possession, Eto’o pounced and stole the ball from his teammate. With his back to goal, the Cameroon international spun and toe-poked the ball past the hapless Casillas between the Real posts for what proved to be a tremendous goal. Eto’o, who had been singled out for criticism before the match for his post-season, anti-Real Madrid celebrations, sprinted expressionless towards the corner flag, slapping the crest on his shirt and pointing up towards the Barcelona fans.
Barcelona’s Dutch coach immediately ran to the touchline waving his hands back and forth in what appeared to be some sort of change in tactical instructions to his men. Yet there was no let-up for the away side as they continued to surge forward and embarrass their opponents with their slick passing and rapidity of movement.
On the half-hour, Messi had a chance to put his team two up with some clever footwork outside the area producing a stinging shot which the ever-alert Casillas did well to palm away. Indeed, Casillas was keeping the hosts in the game as minutes later he pounced at the feet of Ronaldinho who had found himself in possession just yards from the target.
Just before the break and it was the Real Madrid number one again to the rescue when a clever pass from Messi spotted an advancing Eto’o run into the area. Eto’o’s strike from an acute angle was beaten away by Casillas and the home side went into the interval amazingly only 1-0 down.
There were those who believed that a second-half performance of such ineptitude from Real and industriousness from Barça could not be reproduced in the second period, yet, if anything, the gulf widened. Within minutes of the restart Barcelona were surging upfield, playing one-touch football and drawing howls of derision from the home support. Xabi, Messi and Ronaldinho danced with the football as their opponents despairingly dived in and invariably missed the chance to dispossess at each opportunity.
More bad news followed for Wanderli Luxemburgo’s side five minutes after the break when the previously anonymous Raúl swung at the ball, missed, and, falling to the floor, grabbed his knee in agony. Moments later, off hobbled the Real captain to be replaced by the ineffective Guti.
Casillas continued to earn his wages with a point-blank save from Messi on 55 minutes, however, that there was a second goal coming from the visitors there could be little doubt. And when it did eventually come, the sublime Ronaldinho provided it. With 59 minutes on the clock, Deco broke up a weak Real attack by prodding a super pass out to the left for Ronaldinho. Streaking forward, the Brazilian glided past Sergio Ramos, cut inside Ivan Helguera, avoided the lunge of Roberto Carlos and wrong-footed Casillas with a near-post finish. It was a goal of pure quality from a player playing the game to the best of his ability.
Finally, Real Madrid were awoken into some sort of action and the hosts produced a couple of chances themselves. The faultless Robinho escaped down the flank before cutting inside and spraying the ball back across the area. It was a hugely inviting cross yet there was nobody there to turn the ball home.
Moments later Zidane had a weak effort comfortably saved by Valdes, who was no doubt thankful for something to do in the Barcelona goal.
The Madrid mini-revival was short lived and as Barcelona continued to play their attacking game at a superb pace, Samuel Eto’o waltzed past Helguera and selflessly dinked the ball towards Ronaldinho who was just crowded out inside the area.
The home cry of ‘GOL’ was finally heard in the 69th minute, however, Ronaldo’s neat finish after he had been played in by Zidane was ruled out for offside.
And then, the piece de resistance from Ronaldinho. Delicate footwork took the player past the dejected Sergio Ramos once more and striding into the area, ‘Dinho, calmly passed the ball past Casillas into the far corner. It was the completion of an amazing rout. Madrid players sunk to their knees, they had been outperformed on a massive scale by a team intent on succeeding and on succeeding with style.
At the final whistle, tears in the capital were met with shrieks of delight in Catalonia and there will be a heroes welcome for the warriors who not only beat their dreaded counterparts, but slayed them by putting on an exceptional display of football.
From Paul Bryan in Madrid.
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FC BARCELONA Fan Club, Viva Barca !!!
