Sporting Gijon vs FC Barcelona Pictures

Back On Track; Gijon-1, Barca-6

FC Barcelona registered their first win of this La Liga season with an emphatic 6-1 thrashing of minows Sporting Gijon. FC Barcelona may not have been in total flow as the scoreline suggest; they had real problems against the minows especially in the start of second half. But it was good to see the team scrambling hard when it was tough and in the end it could be said that it was a well deserved victory. And it was good to see Barca scoring many goals from headers and also nice to see FC Barcelona winning emphatically away from home. Guardiola went back to the familiar 4-3-3 formation with Iniesta joining Messi and Eto on top. Puyol, Abidal, Marquez and Alves formed the defense. The midfield was made up of Keita and Xavi who joined Busquests who played the holding midfielder role to perfection. Iniesta undoubtedly for the second match in succession was the best player on the pitch. Messi scored twice and created a goal for Iniesta. But he was far from his convincing best. In fact he came back to life only after the sending off of Gerard. Actually like the Lisbon match he sprung to life in the last ten minutes.

FC Barcelona started the match very quietly. Actually it was Gijon who settled prertty early. In the 5th minute Gijon had their first attack from the left but Castro shot wide of the far post. In the 8th minute Gijon attacked on the counter with Abidal almost getting caught, but he some how managed to intervene. FC Barcelona's passing was tentative in the begining and only became precise after Iniesta started taking control of the game. In the 21st minute Messi dribbled past defenders into the box but he dragged his shot pst the far post. Then in the 27th minute Xavi put Barcelona ahead when a great ball from Iniesta found Xavi in the box. It was such a great ball that even if Xavi missed it Messi could have put it onto the goal. Then in the 33rd minute Eto put FC Barcelona two up. Puyol wins the initial header from Xavi's corner and the ball looked like going into the far post; Eto didn't took any chance and made sure that it reached the back of the net. The first half went without anymore fanfare with Eto shooting wide in the last minute.

For all who expected that FC Barcelona would take complete control after going two up was proved wrong. Gijon came out with full throttle. FC Barcelona defense were repeatedly somehow defending a rampagant Gijon attack. In the 49th minute Xavi's great corner was diverted into goal by Sporting's Jorge. He had too little time to react. Gijon replied back in the 50th minute from a goal from Maldonado after poor defending saw him get away. FC Barcelona players seemed to have switched off after the break and the defense were constantly peppered by Gijon's attacks. But then in the 56th minute Gerard was sent off for bringing down Messi after his Goal Keeper hit the ball straight to Messi. That was god send for FC Barcelona and they took complete control from thereon. In the 62nd minute Valdes has to rush forward outside the box to clear a clear cut chance for Gijon. In the 68th minute Bojan was brought in for Eto. Then in the 70th minute Iniesta capped a great performance with a goal of his own. Messi pas to Iniesta was excellent bu his finish was more exquisite. In the 85th minute Iniesta returns the favour to Messi by providing the cross for Messi to score, it was another excellent finish. Then in the 89th minute, Xavi provided an inch perfect pass after receiving the ball from Bojan; Messi converts from simplest of the headers.

It was a good performance. But FC Barcelona fans should remember one thing before going ecstatic about this - Gijon was expected to lose this match. FC Barcelona still has the problem of players getting switched off from the game like that. Messi's attitude is a real problem and he is proving the great Maradona right again with his antics. FC Barcelona forwards have not yet fired in full cylinder and they are winning because of two guys - Xavi Hernandes and Andres Iniesta. It is time everyone got up and bowed to these incredible talents.

Barcelon - Gijon Match Preview

FC Barcelona would be hoping to to win their first match of this La Liga season when they face Sporting Gijon at El Molinon. FC Barcelona had a rather rocky start to their League season - losing at Numancia and Racing held them to a draw. But last two matches have showed very good improvement in the attitude and we should be able to see FC Barcelona returning bact to some form. FC Barcelona lies now 15th in the table whereas their opponents are the lies at the bottom. Barcelona's inability to lift their game away from home would be the biggest problem for Barca. But still we can realistically hope that Barca will be able to register their first win away from home today. Thierry Henry is not available for this match as he has not yet recovered from a throat infection. The squad picked by Guardiola is Valdes, Pinto, Alves, Pique, Marquez, Puyol, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Eto’o, Abidal, Toure Yaya, Caceres, Bojan, Keita, Messi, Pedro and Busquets. It is not still clear who will play what position. There has been a spate of criticsm to messi's attitude so he could be stumbling into troubled waters.

The biggest question will be which formation would Barcelona prefer to play? Barcelona may for a second time in succession would be going for a 3-4-3 formation rather than their usual 4-3-3 formation. In that case Abidal will miss out from the starting eleven. Henry should be replaced mostly by Iniesta and Busquests should return back to the midfield along with Xavi and Keita. But Iniesta has been the creative haed of the midfield, so we can see Bojan or Pedro taking Henry's position, whereas Iniesta will remain in midfield. If I had my way I would have dropped Messi from eleven and brought Pedro. The attitude shown by him in last match was pathetic and Guardiola needs to make it clear to Messi.