Barcelona Players Rating against Gijon

Valdes - 6.5 : The Goal Keeper had a pretty decent night. He cannot be blamed for the Barcelona Goal, but could have done better with his position. He also made a crucial intervention in the 62nd minute; getting himself injured during the process.

Alves - 6.5 : Looked more comfortable than in earlier matches. Looked very confident while going forward. was wayward with passing at times. But overall a decent job; and he is improving every match.

Puyol - 7 : Did his role to perfection as usual. Was solid when Gijon went full throttle after the break. Made sure that the defense didn't crack that often. Looked more convincing than Marquez dealing with aerial ball. Linked well in attack and saw Eto stealing a goal.

Abidal - 6 : Wasn't great, but did little mistake. Almost put his team in trouble in the 8th minute. But after that somehow managed his role. Many a times Iniesta track back to help him.

Xavi - 8.5 : Only word to describe him is Solid. Controlled the game in midfield. With Iniesta he is forming the most deadliest partnership of recent times. Scored one goal and created one for Messi when he should have gone at the goal by himself.

Keita - 7 : Had a quite night compared to last matches. But was solid, won many challenges and never hesitated to get into the box. May not have full settled with the one touch style of Xavi and Iniesta but assited them very well.

Busquests - 8 : Another surprising performance. He played the holding midfielder role to perfection. Showed a tendency to go down easily on challenges. Won most of the challenges. Linked well with Iniesta and Xavi. We could very soon find ourselves treated to a midfield trio of Iniest, Xavi and Busquests.

Messi - 6.5 : I know many of you may not agree with 6.5 rating. But I believe he deserves just that. Look disinterested in most of the game. Switched on in the last ten minutes like the Lisbon match. It's better to bring him as a substitute if he continues these kind of performance. Against Gijon his lack of interest may not have caused any trouble but against quality opposition he will be a trouble if he continues with this attictude. Alves tried to bring him into play many times but was not simply interested and was extremely selfish.

Eto - 6.5 : Didn't do anything special. But there was no lack of effort. Was kept quiet for most of time, but tracked back to hel defense.

Iniesta - 9 : Simply man of the match of last night. The team settled when Iniesta settled and that say it all. He tracked back to help Abidal many times. Created goal for Messi and Xavi. Scored a wonderful goal with a hell off a finish. I still cannot understand how he did that.He deserved to be in limelight after a series of good performance.

Bojan - 6.5 : The lack of playing time is clearly frustrating him. Went for goal whenever possible. Was involved in the last goal. He needs more playing time. Guardiola could try him left side up front.

Gudjonsen - 6 : Had very little time. Showed good concentration. But too little time.

Caceres - 6 : Same like eidur had little time.

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.