What Barcelona Must Do to Decide the Champions League Tie in Paris

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images 

 

After Barcelona pulled off a win for the history books against AC Milan, every eye was focused on who they would face next. Now that the Catalans have been drawn with Paris Saint-Germain, Cules are forced to swallow their impatience until the first leg rolls around.
Between PSG missing a key star and Barcelona now hitting their stride, La Blaugrana can arguably win the tie in the first leg.
In this article we will look at the ways that Barcelona can decide the tie with PSG in just the first meeting between the two. Every Champions League tie is difficult, but Barcelona have what it takes to decide their own fate.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Take Advantage of the Absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic

There is no denying that PSG are heavily dependent on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But with the Sweden international set to miss the first leg due to suspension, Barcelona must capitalize on the advantage.
France’s richest club will certainly suffer in attack without their target man, which should make things easier for the Blaugrana defense. Without having to mark Zlatan, Barcelona will be able to commit even more focus on their attacking play.
But more than anything else, it will be the mere presence of Zlatan that could cost PSG.
Without the Swede in the lineup, PSG have clearly struggled. With such disorganization, this sets the stage for Barcelona to build a big enough lead to comfortably return to the Camp Nou for the second leg.
It has been clear that when playing against PSG, if Zlatan's effect is eliminated the level of play of PSG severely suffers. With Zlatan not even on the pitch, it is hard to bet against a big Barcelona win in France.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Be Prepared to Face a Parked Bus

 

 

Without their star striker, PSG are expected to focus heavily on the defensive side of the game. After already succumbing to the parked bus this season, Barcelona must absolutely be ready to face it again.
The Catalans showed that they do have what it takes it to beat the bus when at their best, but it certainly requires heavy concentration.
Tito Vilanova may opt to allow Lionel Messi to play behind the strikers again. With Thiago Silva likely to cause the greatest trouble for the Barcelona attack, using other players to create space for Messi will be very key.
But the attack must not rest solely on Messi’s shoulders.
Andres Iniesta will also be needed to penetrate the French defense, but he must not be fielded as a winger. Iniesta has been in brilliant form this season, but a true winger will be necessary if Barcelona are to score enough to decide the tie in France.

David Villa Must Start

David Villa appears to finally be back at his best. After scoring against Milan last week and enjoying a goal and two assists on the weekend, it is clear that the Spaniard is still vital to Barcelona’s success.

As stated in the last slide, Tito Vilanova will need to play with true wingers against PSG. David Villa is the only real option to secure the left-wing and has deserved to regain his starting spot.
Villa was used greatly to create space for Messi against Milan and could provide the same assistance against PSG.
Playing against a parked-bus defense will prove a daunting task, but a lineup consisting of both Villa and Messi will greatly raise Barcelona’s chances of winning big. But Villa is not solely a key to winning in France; he proves to be Barcelona’s tool for scoring multiple goals.
If the Catalans want to leave France with the tie decided, they will need to score several goals. David Villa clearly fits the bill for La Blaugrana. If he does not start, it will be a sign that Barcelona are playing for the return leg.

Begin Player Rotations Now

Barcelona will be forced to travel to France without some key performers. With players already set to miss the match, Vilanova must begin to rotate players now to avoid possibly losing other key performers.
Carles Puyol recently underwent knee surgery and is already set to miss the match. Adriano has also recently been sidelined after tests on his hamstring revealed the Brazilian would miss up to six weeks of action (via the official FC Barcelona website).
Xavi could also miss the test as well after suffering a hamstring injury, though it is unlikely that the midfielder will miss extended time (via the official FC Barcelona website).
Regardless of what happens between now and April, it is clear that Barcelona will fly to France with an already depleted squad. Knowing this, Tito Vilanova must make the right decisions to ensure that he can field his best lineup in Paris.
With Javier Mascherano the likely replacement for Puyol, Marc Bartra could be called upon to give the Argentine some rest in the next few weeks. But with Adriano out, Martin Montoya remains the only backup to fill in for either Dani Alves or Jordi Alba.
Xavi may be the easiest player to cover for with Thiago and Cesc Fabregas both enjoying strong seasons, but the game-reading ability of the midfield maestro can never be made up for.
Tito Vilanova will have a true test on his hands between now and April. If Barcelona are to decide the tie in Paris, the Catalans cannot afford anymore setbacks in their squad.

Can Barcelona take a strong enough lead in the first league? How should the Catalans prepare for the Champions League encounter in Paris? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts and comments below.

Read More

Why Jordi Roura Can't Be Content Despite Barcelona's Huge UCL Win

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images 

 

Barcelona have enjoyed a really tasty sandwich this last week: The bread formed by their staple wins in La Liga over Deportivo La Coruna and Rayo Vallecano; the filling by their extra special Champions League hammering of AC Milan.
Without that sandwich, panic stations, which were already setting in, would have been blown into full-scale danger warnings.
Thankfully for Tito Vilanova's assistant, Jordi Roura—who has been keeping the shop open—that didn't happen, but he still won't be completely satisfied with his enforced tenure as No.1 at Camp Nou.
There is, of course, an uneasiness in criticizing him too much, though—this is a man thrust from nowhere into the position of managing one of the world's biggest clubs, and not through choice, but through wanting to help his colleague who was fighting illness.
But that is exactly what has happened in the wake of some disappointing results in recent weeks.
Even the comments from within Camp Nou have moved from not missing Tito, which there was never any shame in admitting, to missing him greatly following defeats against AC Milan and Real Madrid.
"The team has gone for many days without a leader, this has seen the freshness dip," said President Sandro Rossell, while Sergio Busquets said Vilanova's absence is felt and day by day and is increasingly hard to cope with
Even Michael Cox, editor of the tactics site Zonal-Marking, as politely as possible, suggested that Roura doesn't have the know-how for the job when he wrote that "Barcelona are missing Tito Vilanova and his tactical ability, particularly his ability to change matches in-play, which was apparent even in Guardiola’s reign."

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Before the three big defeats in four games, Roura's reign was already filled with off-hand comments about how Barca would struggle with him, even victories didn't feel that good—notably the 2-1 comeback win away to Granada.
The 45-year-old has simply found himself in a job that is too big for him, as argued by journalist Ben Hayward on Goal.com.
In 2007 he was sacked as manager of third division side L'Hospitalet, the club later went on to be relegated, and he didn't venture back into management.
In 2009, Josep Guardiola brought him in as part of his team and his role was to analyse upcoming opponents before, in 2012, Tito Vilanova chose him as the man to become his No.2—we know the rest.
Roura, it is said, didn't particularly want to be elevated to top dog in the dressing room, but he was happy to do it to help his friend out.
Unfortunately, when a club has such high expectations, the finger-pointing starts if results don't go the right way. And, indirectly and as nicely as possible, comments passed by players, journalists and fans have hinted at the gap left by Vilanova. 
Roura will probably have enjoyed his time working with a group of such talented players, but it is unlikely whether he will have enjoyed his time in the limelight.
The win against Milan last week was just what he deserved for all his professionalism and hard work in a difficult time, but it may not wholly change the way his time as the boss will be viewed.

Read More

World Cup 2014 Qualifying: 5 Big Teams in Danger of Missing Out

Morten Olsen is not the only coach whose side are underperforming on the road to Brazil

Although the World Cup qualifiers are at different stages of advancement, there are a number of big sides already in danger of missing out in Europe, South America and Asia.
Despite it still being early days, the qualification groups have already started to take shape, and a number of World Cup regulars are in perilous positions.
Europe perhaps offers the largest number of potential surprise absences, but South America too is currently witnessing a close race to secure a place in Brazil.
Here are some of the biggest sides currently at risk.

Turkey

Turan and Turkey are already facing up to the prospect of missing out
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Having only ever made two appearances at the World Cup, in 1954 and in 2002 when they famously finished third, they don't have outstanding pedigree at this level.
However, a team boasting talents such as Emre Belozoglu, Arda Turan, Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop should be doing better than Abdullah Avci’s side are currently.
In a group with Holland, Hungary and Romania, it is going to be an uphill task for the Turks. They are already six points off the pace in fourth with three points from four matches.
A costly home defeat to Romania and an away one to Hungary saw them lose three and win one (a given against Estonia), shipping six goals in the process.
With that sort of talent, though, they should not be totally discounted from making a recovery and a challenge for second place in Group D.

Denmark

Denmark are experiencing a difficult period in international football
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

In a difficult Group B with Italy, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Armenia are all threats. But Denmark will not have expected to sit second-bottom of Group B after taking only two points from three matches.
That said, the Danes have only made four World Cup appearances, so the 1992 European champions won’t have been expecting it to be easy.
Their most recent qualification was in 2010, but Morten Olsen’s side are not profiting from their fine collection of talent (including Christian Eriksen) and look destined to miss out unless they can overhaul Bulgaria for second place.

 

Paraguay

Paraguay are World Cup regulars but face missing out this time around
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Regulars as part of the competition’s large South American contingent, Paraguay have competed in the last four consecutive tournaments. Eight appearances in total indicate a team with vast experience of this stage.
They also have plenty of talent in the likes of Oscar Cardozo, Nelson Valdez and Roque Santa Cruz.
However, they sit bottom of the South American standings currently, with seven points from nine games.
That is a big deficit to make up and likely almost impossible. Although Uruguay are only five points ahead in fifth, which would land them a playoff spot against the odds if they can lift themselves.

 

Australia

Osieck is struggling to help Australia emerge from the shadows of a talented but ultimately disappointing previous generation of talent
Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Currently in second place in Asia’s Group B, that position will claim them a World Cup berth if they stay there. However, Holger Osieck’s side have not pulled clear of Zico's Iraq yet, so it is by no means guaranteed.
They do have a game in hand so you'd expect them to still qualify, but further complacency will drop them into the Asian zone playoff.
That playoff is to decide who will dispute the intercontinental playoff between Asia's third-best team and South America's fifth. It is a tie that the Socceroos know only too well as it regularly saw them beaten by the likes of Uruguay.
Australia won’t want that to happen this time as they struggle to rebuild after the loss of a golden generation of the likes of Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton and Vince Grella that failed to deliver.
They have made three appearances to date, most recently in 2010. Expect them to make it four, but it won’t be convincing.

 

Other Possibilities

Suarez is another talent in danger of not making it to Brazil
Julian Finney/Getty Images

Uruguay
La Celeste are fifth in the South American table and are underperforming. The inaugural winners of the event have been represented 12 times, and there is so much talent that it would be criminal not to be there once more this time.
Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Cristian Rodriguez are some of their bigger names. The 2011 Copa America champions, who finished the 2010 in fourth place, have the potential to do as well, if not better if they can make Brazil.

Chile
Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, Humberto Suazo, Mauricio Isla, Jorge Valdivia and Gary Medel are some of Chile’s top footballing talents right now.
Eight-time qualifiers, they are struggling along with Uruguay on 12 points in sixth. But unless they can overhaul Venezuela, in which case one of the pair would go into the playoff with Oceania, they risk losing out.
A managerial change mid-campaign, with Jorge Sampaoli now in and Claudio Borghi sacked in November 2012 for poor performances, is a risky manoeuvre. Chile continue to struggle to adequately replace Marcelo Bielsa who led the side to the last 16 in South Africa in 2010.

USA
Played one, lost one so far in CONCACAF, so hardly a reason to push the panic button just yet. It is early days but still a warning for Jurgen Klinsmann. A surprise 2-1 defeat in Honduras is hardly likely to prove fatal, but it leaves no room for further complacency.
Despite a shaky start, the U.S. have reached the World Cup nine times in their history—the last six consecutively. Don’t expect them to miss out this time.

Serbia
Perhaps not the biggest of names, but individually they are a highly talented side. Currently third in Group A, six points behind Croatia with four games gone, Belgium are romping away at the top. It was a tough draw, but there is enough quality in the side for Sinisa Mihajlovic's men to expect to do better.

 

 

Read More

Rio Ferdinand Pulls out of England Squad, International Future Again in Question

Rio Ferdinand has withdrawn from the England squad for two upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In doing so, the 34-year-old Manchester United defender has again cast doubt on his international future.That's not to say that it's over. The fact that Ferdinand was in manager Roy Hodgson's squad at all proves otherwise. But one cannot help but think that this is—once again, admittedly—the beginning of the end.
Let's back up.
Last summer, Ferdinand's international career appeared to be over when Hodgson left Ferdinand out of England's Euro 2012 squad. Hodgson instead picked Chelsea's John Terry, citing "footballing reasons" (via The Guardian) for the decision.
Complicating the situation was Terry's ongoing trial over alleged racist comments towards Ferdinand's brother, Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand (who is now on loan with Bursaspor in Turkey).
"Rio Ferdinand for me is not a player that you call up as a substitute, or to cover for the players that you have," Hodgson said at the time.
Ferdinand responded angrily via Twitter, famously tweeting "What reasons?????!!" (via Daily Mail). In his official statements, he was more measured.
"You would have to say it might be over with England for me," Ferdinand said (via The Guardian). "If I'm not getting picked now, especially when people are out injured, then it's unlikely I will be picked again."
The same logic could apply now, although this time, it's Ferdinand who is responsible for his own omission.

Rio Ferdinand's most recent international appearance was in 2011 against Switzerland.  

 

Hodgson last week recalled Ferdinand to the England squad (via Daily Telegraph). Terry, who has battled injuries this season, was not selected. Had he stayed with the team, Ferdinand likely would have been in line for his 82nd international appearance and first since June 2011 against Switzerland.
Instead, Ferdinand withdrew, with fitness—though not an injury—cited as a concern. Tottenham Hotspur's Steven Caulker has taken his place.
BBC Sport reports:

The decision was taken following a meeting on Sunday with Ferdinand, 34, and England boss Roy Hodgson.
At the meeting, Ferdinand confirmed he wants to continue playing for England.
"I'm disappointed Rio will not be available, but due to the detailed medical programme he must follow it's not possible," said Hodgson.

This shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Last week, Hodgson reportedly took measures to reassure Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that Ferdinand would be watched after on international duty.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The Sun reported that Hodgson was actively trying to "placate" Ferguson. In his remarks following Ferdinand's withdrawal, Hodgson said the decision had to do with Ferdinand's "detailed, pre-planned training programme."
After two years away from the squad, it's fair to wonder what damage Ferdinand might be doing to his international chances by pulling out of the team this week. Last week's call-up could be interpreted as a metaphorical olive branch from Hodgson to Ferdinand; now, the United defender has pulled out on his own.

On the one hand, it could mean nothing. Hodgson hinted last week (via Daily Telegraph) that Ferdinand is in the mix for a spot on England's 2014 World Cup team, should the Three Lions qualify. But it's unlikely that Ferdinand's training program will be any less detailed next summer.
Then again, it's also unlikely that Hodgson, considering their bumpy history, will select a 35-year-old Ferdinand if others are available.
Ferdinand's England career might not be done after all, but neither does this feel like the dawn of a long-running second act.

Read More

Ronaldo focused on trophy hunt

Cristiano Ronaldo has reiterated his ambition to win a trophy with Real Madrid while refusing to comment on whether he will remain at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo: 'The league is difficult but we must fight to the end'

The Portuguese has been the subject of rumours throughout the last few months that he may leave the Spanish giants with former club Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain both linked with the player.
The 28-year-old has been consistently scintillating and would surely win all possible accolades were it not for the existence of Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
At a ceremony to receive the Alfredo Di Stefano Trophy, awarded by Spanish newspaper Marca to the top player in La Liga last season, Ronaldo did not break his silence on what his future holds.
Instead, he spoke of his hopes for Real, who stand second in the Primera Division - although 13 points behind leaders Barcelona - with a Copa del Rey final against city rivals Atletico and Champions League last-eight clash with Galatasaray looming.
He said: "Much remains. We are in the cup final and we have taken a major step in the Champions League.
"The league is difficult but we must fight to the end.
"Things personally with me are going well but what I want is to win a major trophy with Madrid."
On receiving the award from the Real Madrid legend Di Stefano, Ronaldo added: "It is an honour to receive this award from the hands of Alfredo Di Stefano and I want to thank everyone."

Di Stefano said: "He is a great player and a team player. I am very happy."

Read More

David villa not leaving Barcelona in summers

David Villa: Continues to be linked with a summer switch away from Camp NOU

Barcelona have reiterated that David Villa is not for sale.Barcelona have no intention of parting with David Villa as it would be difficult for them to find a replacement of similar quality.

Speculation continues to suggest that Villa's days at Camp Nou are numbered, with Arsenal mooted as a possible destination for the Spain international.
Barca have, however, offered no indication that they are looking to move the striker out in the summer.
Villa remains one of the most natural finishers in Europe, when deployed in his favoured central role, and is still working his way back from a badly broken leg.
Barcelona see no reason why they should disrupt their squad by moving out a proven performer, especially as they would then have to spend big to reinforce their ranks.
Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said of Villa: "We do not usually comment on anything. We spoke and talked with him and his representative. Nothing is concrete.
"The market is not what it was a couple of years ago, we cannot find solutions as we did before.
"Villa has goals, a feel for the game, end product and aspirations."

Read More

Barcelona 3-1 Rayo Vallecano: 6 Things We Learned

 

Barcelona welcomed Rayo Vallecano to Camp Nou and won the game by a convincing 3-1 scoreline.
In reality, els Blaugrana could have had eight on another night, and the scoring was eventually opened by David Villa as Lionel Messi broke free and slid him in.
Messi then struck twice to make it safe, before Raul Tamudo pulled one back within one minute of coming on.
What did we learn from the game?

Lionel Messi Makes It 18 in a Row

David Ramos/Getty Images

Lionel Messi's 39th-minute strike ensured he continued an unbelievable hot streak in front of goal.
He has now scored in 18 straight La Liga games—smashing records left, right and centre—and simultaneously brought his tally to four against Rayo Vallecano this season.
Considering the amount of times he slipped over, this was starting to look like mission impossible—but eventually, the Argentine's golden touch shone through.

David Ramos/Getty Images

Still Clicking Offensively Without Xavi

There have been concerns voiced over the past few weeks about Barcelona's ability without Xavi.
He was in and out of the side during els Blaugrana's rut in form and never looked fully fit. He was passed as OK to play for the demolition of Milan, but then promptly sat out Sunday night's game.







Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets dominated the game with ease, with the former, in particular, playing with a confidence we haven't seen for a while.

wikimedia commons
David Ramos/Getty Images

But Can They Manage Games Defensively Without Him?

As wonderful as Barcelona look going forward, the defence is still a massive concern.
The Catalan club have kept just six La Liga clean sheets this season, and it's interesting to note that Xavi played in all of those games bar the most recent—the 2-0 shutout against rock-bottom Deportivo La Coruna.
The midfield maestro manages games like an on-field general and can slow the pace of the game down to a minimum if he so chooses. At 3-0, all els Blaugrana needed to do was see it out, but instead, they conceded and looked genuinely vulnerable late in the second half.

David Ramos/Getty Images

 

 

 

  

Rayo Stick to Their Guns

David Ramos/Getty Images

  

David Ramos/Getty Images

It's fair to say Rayo Vallecano—despite being a serviceable side in general—didn't expect anything out of this game.
The 5-0 loss earlier in the season, combined with Barca's rampant destruction of Milan earlier this week, was probably enough to suck the belief out of the Franjirrojos players and to rub salt in the wounds—their star man Leo Baptistao was suspended for this encounter.
There didn't seem to be a particular game plan to deal with Barca, and no player looked overawed. Rayo played their own way, created a chance for Raul Tamudo to score and came pretty close to another.
The result? A respectable 3-1.

David Villa Is Back

David Villa has had so many fitness concerns in the last year-and-a-half that some actually forgot he was an attacking option for Barcelona.
His recovery has been slow, frustrating and filled with controversies (including the suggestion of a January transfer), but he's back in the side and performing at an elite level.
He was pivotal as a No. 9 against Milan in detracting attention from Lionel Messi, and against Rayo Vallecano, his linkup play with the Argentine was borderline telepathic.
They were on the same wavelength all game long, and the Vallecanos felt his full wrath.

 

 

 

The False-Nine Still Works

In the wake of the 2-0 defeat to Milan, then the subsequent 4-0 victory in the second leg, many asked the question: Should Barcelona abandon the false-nine tactic?
The use of David Villa as a No. 9 was enough of a distraction to occupy Milan's centre-backs, and there was speculation that Lionel Messi would go back to playing as a No. 10.
In reality, Barca have merely pocketed two successful strategies, as Messi returned to a false-nine role against Rayo Vallecano and really should have had a hat-trick.
The performance Villa put in from the edge was also jaw-dropping.

 WE are BARCA ------------------------

Read More

Match Report: FC Barcelona 3 Rayo Vallecano 1

Two goals from Leo Messi and another from David Villa earned Barça an entertaining 3-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou tonight to retain the 13-point advantage over second placed Real Madrid with just ten games remaining in the 2012/13 season. However, there was a price for the victory as Adriano Correira will now miss the next four to six weeks after tearing a muscle in his right thigh.

With Carles Puyol and Xavi out injured and Victor Valdés suspended, Tito Vilanova and Jordi Roura also gave a rest to Dani Alves and Pedro, putting out a starting XI of Pinto, Adriano, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba, Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta, Alexis, Messi and Villa. Paco Jemez’s Rayo have the third highest rate of possession in La Liga and right from the start they showed ambition to get forward with Trashorras turning in the area but shooting wide after just 44 seconds.
With both teams playing a similar high pressing the result was an open game but Barça’s class began to show quickly. Messi should have scored in the fifth minute after Villa and Fabregas set him up but a slip after his first control denied him a sure goal. Two minutes later Messi won a free kick twenty five yards out which he curled over the wall only to see the ball bounce out off the crossbar.

 

With Villa and Alexis in the side Barça continually looked for the pass behind Rayo’s high defence and there was also plenty of threat from the full backs getting forward. In the 20th minute Iniesta sent Alba into the left of the area but his cross was cleared, the ball came back to Iniesta who sent a long cross-field pass to Adriano who was charging into the area on the right but the Brazilian needed to stretch at speed and the unfortunate result is yet another muscle injury which meant an early substitution with Dani Alves coming on sporting his new look blond haircut.
Barça took the lead soon after. Iniesta played the ball to Messi near the halfway line and with the subtlest touch to skip past Figueras and the four-time Ballon d’Or winner was streaking away into the Rayo half. There were only two Rayo defenders in his path and Messi had Villa to the left and Alexis to the right, he chose a perfectly timed pass to the left and Villa’s finish was typically clinical past the advancing keeper Ruben.
Rayo continued to try and push forward but despite managing around 40% of the possession throughout the game nearly all of their shots came from distance. Trashorras had their best effort before Villa’s goal, with a dipping shot straight at Pinto, while the Barça keeper also had to be alert to gather Piti’s low drive in the 35th minute. Then five minutes before half time Busquets won the ball and played a quick long pass for Villa to chase, the Asturian held the ball up before touching the ball on for Messi’s run and the Argentinian hammered low past Ruben to extend his incredible record-breaking scoring run to eighteen league games. Villa might have made it 3-0 just before half time after Fabregas won the ball and sent a good pass into the area but this time El Guaje pulled his shot past the far post.
The chances continued to come at the start of the second half. Iniesta found Alves bursting into the area but, with players free to his left, Alves chose to shoot and he was unlucky to see his effort hit the inside of the post and fly out across the goalmouth. Pinto had two bouncing long shots to deal with from Chori Dominguez and Piti but the next good chance fell to Alexis after a brilliant combination from Alves and Messi on the right but when the Brazilian pulled the ball back, the Chilean fired disappointingly wide from ten yards.
There was then a good chance for Rayo after a corner caught the top of Piqué’s head and carried to the far post where Dominguez volleyed into the sidenetting. Then from Rayo’s next corner Alba sent a long clearance out towards the halfway line where Villa battled for the ball under pressure from Adrian, with Villa showing great fighting spirit to keep possession and then force a pass through for Messi. A quick spurt was sufficient to take Messi past the unfortunate Arbilla before stylishly finishing with a trademark dink over the keeper. Three-nil and just for the record that’s 55 goals in 43 games from Messi this season, 42 of them in 28 league games!
Perhaps understandably Barça’s intensity dropped in the last half hour. Old foe Raul Tamudo came on as a Rayo sub and brought back some unhappy memories for culés by scoring with his first touch, converting Piti’s cross after a short corner. At the other end Tito gifted the ball to Messi in the area, and after an exchange of passes with Villa, Messi’s goalbound shot was tipped over by Ruben. The result never looked in much danger but there were a few nervous looks around Camp Nou when Tamudo came close to a second in the 76th minute, only to be denied by Alves’s quick intervention.
There could have been more goals at either end with Villa testing Ruben again with a low shot after cutting inside. There was one final effort from Rayo with five minutes to go when Piti nearly surprised Pinto with a powerful shot that the Barça keeper managed to tip over. But with Rayo tiring the last two chances fell to Barça. First, Alexis made a good run into the area but when he pulled the ball back Alves missed his kick. Then in injury time Messi set off on a magnificent run past Arbilla on the right but Ruben just managed to get a touch on the dink to send the ball over the bar.


All in all a pretty satisfactory performance that leaves us needing just 18 more points from the last ten games to regain the league title. We didn’t play too well until the first goal and the level also dropped in the last half hour. However, Rayo’s high defence made things relatively easy for us and we adapted our style suitable with plenty of counter-attacks. Leo Messi was again in scintillating form and he deserves to be considered the man of the match but the most positive thing to tonight’s match was the continued improvement from David Villa. Playing a very different game to his centre forward role last Tuesday against Milan he was a constant danger attacking space on the left behind Rayo’s defence, completing the 90 minutes with a goal and two assists. We now have a two week gap until our next game at Celta which is followed by the Champions League quarter-final at Paris Saint Germain on April 2.

Barça: Pinto 7; Adriano 6.5 (Alves m23, 7.5), Piqué 6.5, Mascherano 7.5, Alba 8; Fabregas 6.5 (Song m82, 6.5), Busquets 7, Iniesta 7 (Thiago m64, 6); Alexis 6, Messi 9, Villa 8.5.

Rayo: Ruben; Tito, Gálvez, Figueras, Arbilla; Adrian (Lass m62), Trashorras; Jose Carlos, Chori Dominguez (Isaac m85), Piti; Delibasic (Tamudo m69).

Goals: m25 Villa 1-0, m40 Messi 2-0, m57 Messi 3-0, m70 Tamudo 3-1.

Yellow cards: m18 Piti, m29 Trashorras, m63 Tito, m68 Ruben, m91 Pinto.

Attendance: 68,197

Read More

Arsenal: Reviewing the Gunners' Victory at Swansea City

A vintage display this wasn't, but full points were taken...Yoda might say of Arsenal's 2-0 victory away at Swansea City.

The Swans
It is a testament to how far Swansea City have come since their return to the Premiership a mere season ago that Arsenal cannot take victory for granted when faced with this side from South Wales.
Their newfound reputation has come from some eye-catching displays and from a disciplined approach to the game—a discipline that has seen their effort crowned with a trophy already, securing a berth for them in Europe next year while fetching them some solid scalps from the first half of the season.
Top sides such as Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea—both Arsenal's competition for the top-four spots in the Premiership—are yet to play Swansea City in the run-in to the end of the season and cannot be guaranteed automatic victory against the Swans, something that should hearten Arsenal fans.

The Match
Perhaps it was the pedigree of their opposition that made Arsenal start tentatively, as has become their wont this season. Or maybe it was just this habit of starting slowly and digging themselves into a hole. Whatever it was, it wasn’t a good start for the Gunners.

The First Half
From a tactical point of view, the balance was all wrong in the midfield.
Abou Diaby had returned to the midfield to partner stand-in captain Mikel Arteta. Santi Cazorla reverted to the middle as the arrowhead there while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took Cazorla's place on the left flank, mirrored by Theo Walcott on the other flank, with Olivier Giroud in the striking position.
Lukasz Fabianski retained his place in goal and Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny partnered in central defense, with Nacho Monreal and Carl Jenkinson flanking them to form the back-four.

Lineup courtesy of Soccerway

With Abou Diaby and Mikel Arteta sitting rather deep and close to the back-four, a space opened up in midfield that allowed the Swans to grab control of the game. Although barring some close calls on a couple of occasions (answered by AOC striking the bar twice), it can be argued that this control was pretty toothless.
Nevertheless, for a side that went into this match needing a win, it didn't seem a particularly good strategy to cede such a control of midfield as they did in the first half of the match. The fact that Cazorla tended to roam the midfield added to the lack of control therein.
This fact contributed to the reason why Arsenal were unable to fashion out real goalscoring opportunities in the first half.

The Second Half
Balance in the midfield was found in the second half by pushing Abou Diaby in front of Mikel Arteta to act as the bridge therein.
This stopped the Swans' activity there and allowed Diaby to make some decent bursting runs with the ball, which, except for lack of final passes, would have yielded dividends for Arsenal.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Later on, much emboldened to play a higher line, greater control came to the team with the introduction of Aaron Ramsey in place of Abou Diaby. The higher and staggered line allowed this better control.
The much more courageous approach was also the reason why Arsenal were able to score their two goals. In fact, at this point, it appeared as though the Swans were tiring out, whereas Arsenal seemed to grow in stature.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

A Few Thoughts

• It is a good thing that Arsene Wenger has summoned some resolve to drop under-achieving players. I like Thomas Vermaelen, but I do think dropping him to the bench will allow him to catch some breath and regain his confidence. The same is true of Wojciech Szczęsny. I was happy to see Lukasz Fabianski carry on in place of Szczęsny.

• Olivier Giroud's confidence seems to have gone down a notch from what we had begun to see when he seemed to flower into form. Still, we should bear in mind that this is only his first season, and by that standard, he has done well. It appears that his presence as distraction to defenders could be reason enough to continue to play him. Otherwise I'd like to see more of Gervinho and even Lukas Podolski in the central position.

• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is beginning to look like the player we saw last season. His tenacity won Arsenal the corner that led to the second goal at Bayern Munich in mid-week. Here, his drive nearly bore fruit for Arsenal. I'd like to see more of this from him.

• I thought it was a wise substitution to bring on Kieran Gibbs in place of Theo Walcott to beef up Arsenal's defense when they needed to protect their goal advantage.

• If Arsenal are to finish their season strongly, they should try to shed their tentativeness at the beginning of matches. I needed to see the same drive that yielded an early goal at Bayern, alas, this was wanting for most of the first half. To wait until the second half to get serious only invites trouble. Hopefully, Wenger and his assistants can continue to work on this problem with a view to eliminating it.

Read More

Manchester United vs. Reading: 6 Things We Learned

 

The script was written for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney to score again against Reading, but that doesn't mean he played well.
Indeed, some of the things we learned were not conducive to United walking away with the Premier League title.
Nevertheless, they say that great teams win ugly, and that is what United did. Reading were workmanlike, but frankly on this form they are already "dead and buried" in the Premier League. So sacking January's Manager of the Month, Brian McDermott, seems to have been pointless.
And that's how the "Royals" left Old Trafford. But luckily for United, Manchester City left Goodison Park in the same condition, so their title challenge seems to be equally doomed.
But it's not all over "till the fat lady sings..."

 --------------------------------

Anderson of Manchester United
Michael Regan/Getty Images

United Will Still Sruggle to Nail the Title If They Play Like This

Following several of his players apparently being "knackered" (according to Sir Alex Ferguson's programme notes and, it seems, every interview he's given in the last week), he decided to ring the changes.
It is a mark of his dedication that he sat in sub-zero temperatures to watch United's Under 21s on Monday night when he could have been at home watching MUTV. It also seems likely that he asked coach Warren Joyce to include Chris Smalling, Alexander Buttner, Anderson and Nick Powell.
He must have liked what he saw, because the first three played on Saturday night and Powell was on the bench.
On Monday Anderson was pretty ineffectual in the first half. He improved and made the roster for the match against Reading. He was better than he has been lately, but he still can't last 90 minutes.
Together with his colleagues they put in a largely unimpressive performance. Were the players "knackered" or simply lacking in inspiration? They certainly weren't convincing.
They must have watched City fail to turn up against Everton a few hours earlier, offering the chance for United to snatch a 15-point lead, which would surely prove unassailable.
Luckily it was manager-less Reading they were playing, not soon-to-be-managerless Chelsea, or possibly-soon-to-be-managerless City. If they had played like this against their two major rivals, they would have been also-rans.
United have just nine games left. Or, more to the point, City do, in which to win all nine and hope that their runaway rivals lose at least five.
It's not going to happen. Or it shouldn't. But while the upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal and City probably look the most dangerous, relegation fighters Aston Villa, Stoke and Sunderland could still provide as stern a test.
However, the likeliest scenario is that United will be home and dry before the end of the season and able to give more chances to the likes of Powell and Buttner.

Rooney and Alexander Buttner
Michael Regan/Getty Images

Alexander Buttner Is Ready to Step Up

And probably so is Fabio da Silva, judging by his recent performances for QPR.
Buttner doesn't yet quite have the attacking edge that Patrice Evra has, despite having graduated from wing forward to wing back before he came to United. However, he is a more than competent footballer and he is better at tackling.
Some people don't seem to get Ashley Young, but they probably overlook the fact that his defensive skills are often needed when he is double-ganged with Evra down the left flank.
There is far less need with Buttner. He is fearless, heads the ball well, has good pace, is two-footed and can harry and tackle.
So that means less of a defensive worry down United's left if Nani or Zaha are playing in the future.
Buttner was one of the Under 21s' most effective players, being responsible for generating most of United's attacks against Wolves, despite patrolling the entire left flank on his own.
Today he was hardly under pressure and was able to display his attacking heritage.
That's one less signing United will need to make in the summer; especially with Fabio coming back from loan.

Nemanja Vidic Leaps High vs. Real Madrid
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Nemanja Vidic Is Still World Class

Club captain Nemanja Vidic was outstanding against Real Madrid and did not deserve to be on the losing side.
Against Reading he was simply world class and, by a country mile, Man of the Match.
His heading was utterly fearless and he had Noel Hunt in his pocket for much of the match. But he knows when to do the simple thing, like shuffling the ball out for a throw to buy time for United to reorganise. Some of his colleagues would do well to note that rather than try the clever thing.
He didn't have much chance to head the goalkeeper's fists, but he is the main reason why United are once again keeping clean sheets.
The Red Devils have now conceded only three goals in their last 10 Premier League matches; Vidic has played in nine of those. Statistics don't lie.
He seems back to his fittest best, but we won't necessarily know until the City crunch match.
If he plays every match until United have an unassailable lead, there is no chance of them slipping up this season.


 

Rio Ferdinand
Michael Regan/Getty Images

Rio Ferdinand Deserves His England Chance

Frankly, Rio Ferdinand has been treated outrageously by England.
He should never have had the captaincy taken off him and given to John Terry. Fabio Capello has a lot to account for. For Roy Hodgson to leave him out "for footballing reasons" was a nonsense. Did he really make that decision, or was there influence from the FA?
Having sorted out his back problems, he has been close to his best form this season.
Today he showed us why he could have been a world-class sweeper and should far more often have the courage to bring the ball out from the back.
Twice in the first half he showed attacking brilliance. He brought the ball out and hit a 50-yard diagonal pass that landed plum in front of Ashley Young to create a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity.
Then he repeated the dose, but kept his run going before slipping Wayne Rooney a pass at the last minute from which the striker scored the winning goal.
Sir Alex has given his permission and, with Rio surely being a certainty for at least one of England's World Cup qualifiers, they will qualify easily.

Robin van Persie
Michael Regan/Getty Images

Some Players Clearly Need a Break

But not Wayne Rooney.
Robin van Persie looked jaded on Saturday night. He has now failed to score in his last seven matches for United. Let's hope it has nothing to do with age. He carried the team with his goals earlier in the season.
Those who don't think he has done enough to win the PFA Player of the Year award should look at the shift he puts in for the defence. Today, for example, he threw himself into a points-saving block in his own penalty area.
But while he is not the only player looking tired, rotation doesn't necessarily always work.
As we said earlier, Vidic is playing almost every EPL match now and the defence is rock-solid. Meanwhile, Evans and Ferdinand are rotated, which works.
But while Anderson is finally finding some fitness, he frankly isn't in the same league as Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley or even Ryan Giggs.
He still gives the ball away too much, although he is showing signs of his former creative brilliance.
Sir Alex made eight changes to the team that played Chelsea only six days ago and it showed. It looked like once again they had to introduce themselves to each other.
Some of the passing and interplay was sterile and lacking in imagination or penetration. Some of the rotated players still have a lot to do to justify their place.
Danny Welbeck, for example, was excellent in the two Real Madrid ties. But he was ordinary today, which is a pity for Chicharito. 

Michael Carrick Against Chelsea
Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Michael Carrick Must Surely Be United's Player of the Year

Michael Carrick is one of seven United players picked by Roy Hodgson for England's next two World Cup qualifiers.
Like Ferdinand, it is in some senses an insult that he hasn't had more caps for England in recent years. While Frank Lampard is a regular, Carrick couldn't even make the squad for the European Championships.
However, at last Hodgson may have realised what the Stretford End has been celebrating for weeks.
Carrick is a class act.
He was on the bench today, but that was because he was one of the players who was clearly "knackered" last Sunday. He will also surely play in both of England's upcoming matches.
But today, in a 25-minute cameo, he showed his value to United. They were wobbling with just a 1-0 lead. Anderson needed substituting. Carrick came on and immediately brought a calmness to the proceedings.
He misplaced a couple of passes, but he settled things in front of defence, snuffed out Reading's attempts and was still able to motor forward to feed United's attacks.
He has played in all but one of United's Premier League matches this season and, together with Van Persie, is one of the main reasons why they are 15 points ahead in the run for the title.
He has had his detractors in the past. But at last people have realised how pivotal he is to United's success this season.

Read More