FC Barcelona completed their tenth consecutive victory with a 3-1 drubbing of Sporting Gijon on Camp Nou. Two goals from Eto and one from Alves saw Barca again extending the lead at the top to twelve points. FC Barcelona's recent victories weren't that convincing when compared to Barca's standard; they are more than convincing when compared to any other team in Europe. But this one showed all the signs of Barca peaking once again. Guardiola has acknowledged this fact and said that Barca have re-discovered their intensity. In the process of thrashing Gijon, FC Barcelona completed the wonderful achievement of scoring 100 goals in all competition so far this season; the honour of doing that fell to Eto when he scored the first goal of the night. Guardiola fielded the best available side for the night. Valdes returned to Goal; Alves, Puyol, Caceres and Abidal formed the back four. Busquets played the defensive midfielder role with Iniesta and Xavi on his two sides. The front three were the familiar Messi, Eto and Henry combination. Iniesta had one hell of a match and it reiterates my point that "Iniesta should be played on the left".FC Barcelona took conrol of the game from the begining. In the 7th minute Iniesta send in a cross to Messi in the box but it was a bit high for the Argentinian. In the 11th minute Gijon Goal Keeper Lafuente made an excellent one hand save to deny a
Henry header. Iniesta's cross was played back into the box by a Alves header and the deflection took it to Henry's head. In the 23rd minute FC Barcelona scored their 100th goal of this season through a quick counter from a Gijon corner. Iniesta picked the ball up in his own box and accelerated towards the Gijon box; he played the ball to Hnery on the left at the edge of Gijon box and Henry's cross was met with a good finish by Eto in the centre. In the 27th minute Henry shoots high from outside. In the 37th minute Messi sets on his trademark run but was brought down just outside the box; the resulting free kick was put high by Xavi. In the 40th minute Eto doubles the score with an excellent finish; Messi played a delightful ball into Eto in the box; Eto cuts inside the defender to make room and shot past a hapless goal keeper.FC Barcelona did not lower the intensity even after the break. Shortly after the restart Henry saw his header go wide of another excellent cross from Alves. In the 60th minute Eto was denied by Lafuente after Messi and Eto combined well to create the
chance. In the next minute Messi was denied again by Lafuente with his legs after great dribbling. In the 65th minute Barca scored their third when Alves picked up the loose ball and rounded off one defender before shooting past the goal keeper. Sporting reduced the deficit immediately with a goal from Kike Mateo after a Xavi error. FC Barcelona were determined to increase the lead but was denied when Eto's header from an Alves cross hit the post. Alves again send in another cross but this time Henry headed it wide. After that it was Sylvinho, who came in for Puyol who headed another decent cross wide.This was the most clinical performance by the Barca side after the winter break. Caceres who formed the centre defense did well in the company of captain. Messi was subdued today. Iniesta and Alves had a great game. Xavi wasn't in his usual self but still marshalled the midfield well.
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