Barca Player rating against Malaga 01/11/2008

Valdes - 7 - The goal was not at all his fault. Was solid through out. Didn't see much of the ball but in tricky conditions never made a mistake.

Alves - 7 - Struggled at times to go forward due to watery pitch. But again a spirited display and created the fourth goal.

Marquez - 7 - Didn't had much to do and was solid.

Pique - 7 - Had an excellent night apart from the mistake which led to the Malaga goal. Was more comfortable than Marquez with the state of the pitch.

Puyol - 7.5 - Great night playing at left back. Was caught out at times but did well while going forward.

Busquests - 6 - Average performance by the youngster. Was very clumsy with his challenges.

Toure - 7.5 - Another solid display from the Ivory coast player. Did well turning defense to atatck. Most admirable fact was that he won most of his challenges well in such tricky conditions.

Xavi - 8.5 - Without any doubt the best player of the night. His early goal from free kick settled the nerves and was instrumental in all moves.

Messi - 8 - I will say this was the best performance of his this season. He adjusted to the pitch well and god only know how he found the space for the second goal.

Eto - 7.5 - Great performance. He may not have been in the scoresheet. Like Messi he understood the pitch early and dropped back to help his mates.

Iniesta - 5 - Never was in the game. He couldn't get a grip of watery pitch and was rightly replaced.

Substitutions:

Henry - 7 - Great performance by the Frenchman. Used his experience well in a the watery picth. For once he looks like enjoying the game at Barca and looks like more than ready to do his part.

Sanchez & Bojan - Didn't get much time.

Man Of The Match - Xavi Hernandez

Malaga Rained Away; Malaga -1, FC Barcelona - 4

FC Barcelona produced one of their best displays of this season to defeat Malaga 4-1, and go to the top of the table. Courtesy of Valencia's loss to Racing Santander FC Barcelona will remain in the top of the table this week. FC Barcelona players showed great composure and skill to notch up their eleventh consecutive win in all competition in a water flooded La Rosellada pitch. Why did the referee let the game to start is still a question in my mind; but like most Barca fans I am not complaining. FC Barcelona players did adjust to the conditions pretty early and better than their rivals. It was a great treat to watch both set of players chipping the ball to pass to one another. Pep Guardiola post match analysis sound perfect - "The Players Judged The Game Well". As I mentioned in the match preview Guardiola put Puyol as left back, Pique, Marquez and Alves formed the rest of the defense ahead of Valdes. Busquests, Toure and Xavi formed the midfield. Eto, Messi and Iniesta formed the attacking trio.

FC barcelona adjusted to the state of the pitch early and went up ahead in the 5th minute from an excellent Xavi free kick from 25 yards out. The free kick was given for a shirt pulling on Messi. Malaga immediately responded with a great goal Duda. Pique failed to deal with a long ball to Adrian; Valdes did really well to save Adrian's initial shot but the rebound fell to Duda who rounded off Pique again and shot past a hapless Valdes.In the 19th minute FC Barcelona regained their lead when Messi shot through the most tightest angle at the near post on the right. It was sheer power on the ball which made that goal after the initail Messi shot was blocked by Arnau. Nothing much happened in the second half and FC Barcelona went to half time guarding a precious one goal lead.

Malaga tried to wrestle the initaiative early in the first half; there was a six minutes period where Barca has to restore to desperate defending. In the 50th minute Guardiola brought in Henry in place of an out of sort Iniesta. That produced immediate result. In the 52nd minute Henry set up Xavi for the third goal with a well cushioned header from an excellent cross from Eto. In the 67th minute a trade mark long range Alves free kick was deflected just wide by the wall. In the 77th minute Busquests shot was saved by Arnau after an excellent ball from Toure to Xavi was cleared by the defense. In the 79th minute Guardiola took off Messi and brought in Victor Sanchez. In the 81st minute FC Barcelona took the game to 4-1; when another long range Alves free kick was deflected this time to goal by Wellington. In the 84th minute Eto was taken off for Bojan. In the 88th minute Puyol had a shot wide outside box. Altogether it was a great performance by Barca side in toughest conditions. Xavi deservedly would be adjudged man of the match.

Fc Barcelona - Malaga Preview

FC Barcelona's great form in recent weeks should have send the shivers down the Malaga camp when the Catalan visit La Rosaleda tonight; but Malaga's sensational upset of Sevilla last week had boosted their confidence and they would be looking to stop the free rolling Barca team. FC Barcelona is seeking a 11 consecutive victories in all competion and seven consecutive in the league. Guardiola has excluded Pedro and Gudjonsen from the squad even after the medical team has given all clear for them. The squad picket for Malaga clash is Valdés, Henry, Márquez, Xavi, Piqué, Iniesta, Puyol, Cáceres, Sylvinho, Bojan, Eto'o, Messi, Hleb, Alves, Touré, Pinto, Sergio Busquets and Víctor Sánchez. Guardiola is expected to pick his best eleven available for tonight's clash. Malaga will play a very defensive style while attacking on counter; tonight's match will a clear test for FC barcelona's title ambitions especially in the Europe. If they are successful in breaking the Malaga defense then this would seriously elevate FC Barcelona to Champions League top contender. Malaga goal is being guarded by the ex-barca player Francesc Arnau, who sounded cautious about the encounter. Malaga has been into an excellent run of form similiar to Barcelona after a shocking start. One of the team has to lose that winning streak; may be both of them.

With Abidal out with injury, Sylvinho is expected to take the Left-Back role. Another option left to Guardiola is to put Puyol on the left and have Marquez and Pique at the centre. But I expect the combination of Sylvinho, Puyol, Marquez and Alves ahead of Valdes. With the unavailabilty of Gudjonsen, the midfield can be expected to be same as the Almeria match formed by Toure flanked by Xavi and Iniesta in both sides. Up front of the pitch Messi and Eto are sure guarantee; but Guardiola may be preferring Hleb ahead of Henry. FC Barcelona should be able to win this tough match. La Rosaleda is not a great place to travel and Barca's previous results stands as a testimony to that. But this FC Barcelona side with their determination to grind results should be able to see oof the Malaga challenge, maybe very narrowly.