FC Barcelona Beat Real betis 5-0 in Copa Del Rey Quarter Final first Leg
The newly crowned FIFA-Balon D'Or World Player of Year, Lionel Messi celebrated his scuccess in grand style scoring a hat-trick in the first leg of Copa Del Rey quarter final clash against Real Betis. The scoreline would give us an impression of a very easy outing, but it wasn't that easy. Real Betis should consider themselves unlucky to have lost by a 5-0 margin. Apart from Messi Pedro and Keita scored the rest for Barca. Lionel Messi displayed his FIFA-Balon D'Or to the Camp Nou crowd in a night where three of them - Iniesta, Messi and Xavi all were honoured. We lined up with a very strong eleven with Pinto on goal, Alves, Puyol, Pique and Maxwell and in defense. Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets were in the midfield. The front trio had the usual formation of Pedro, Messi and Villa. It was clear from the line-up that Guardiola wanted the tie to end tonight and that was what his team did.
It was going to a herculean task for the Second division leaders and FC Barcelona from the start were dominating major chunk of possession. Real Betis was looking to attack at every oppurtunity and have to say was getting forward more than many of the first division team does against us. In the 14th minute David Villa had it shot clip the outside of post. The build up was really great - Xavi played the ball to Villa, who stepped over and left it for Maxwell on the left and moved into the centre, Maxwell sent in a great cross but Villa could only hit the post, that build up deserved a goal. In the 21st minute Betis showed a glimpse of the real danger they pose us with a fast counter attackk which almost caught us napping. In the 24th minute Messi had his first shot on target and boy oh boy that was some skill. Messi received a cross from Maxwell, chested and turned inside the defender and blasted the ball at the goal but the keeper was really alert. In the 29th minute David Villa's free kick from 25 yards outside of box was saved by the keeper. In the 33rd minute David Villa was played on by a great ball by Xavi but once again the shot was saved by the keeper. In the 36th minute Pinto has to stretch full length to keep a Betis header after Dani Alves gave away the ball. In the 43rd minute Iniesta send in a great ball putting Villa through and he finished calmly, but was ruled offside and had to admit was a very tight call. But Barca made it 1-0 when Messi beautifully dinked the ball above an on rushing keeper in the very next minute. Iniesta played the ball to Messi on the right and the finish showed why he is the best player in the world. The first half ended with Real Betis' Castro almost destroying the bar with a thunderous strike. Betis was giving us quiet some headache with some heavy pressing and Dani Alves was a mess throughout the first half.
The second half started with us once again being very complacent. In the 48th minute Pinto was forced to make yet another save. Pedro and Alves were having a nightmare of night and I was surprised to see Guardiola not bringing on Bojan. In the 60th minute Pinto had to make yet another save after Pique this time gave away the ball. In the 62nd minute Messi scored the second of the night after stunning quickfeet skills inside the box. Villa played tha pass to Messi whose first shot was blocked by keeper but picked the rebound and slotted it into the far corner. In the 69th minute Xavi played a great ball to Put Alves on, he had two players in centre but went to shoot at goal and ended shooting wide. In the 73rd minute Messi completed his hat-trick with a great finish after being played on by Xavi for some 30 yards away from goal. Guardiola immediately took off Villa and brought in Keita. In the 76th minute a below par Pedro made the score 4-0 after some excellent work from Alves on the right. In the 80th minute Afellay was brought in for Pedro. In the 82nd minute Xavi Played Alves on, once again Messi was available in the centre but again he went for goal. But the very next minute Keita made it 5-0, all courtesy of a great ball from Iniesta. Iniesta claimed the ball in the toughcline and scooped the ball into centre to find Keita. In the 86th minute Messi was taken off to be replaced by Jeffren.
A number of players were too complacent throughout the match. Pedro, Alves and Busquets were all the culprit there and that put too much pressure on Iniesta and Xavi. We have to appreciate the work done by Betis. They were pressing really hard and whenever Iniesta or Xavi had the ball they did press hard. This big vistory has already killed off the tie and gives Guardiola the chance to rest most of his star players for the second leg. Man of the Match was once again Lione Messi but the most consistent players for me were Puyol and once again Iniesta. We have once again started scoring loads of goal and weekend match against Malaga is a good place ton continue the form.
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