The last league match before the FIFA World Club Cup gave Barça the boost they needed. A score of 1 – 0 against Real Sociedad consolidated their position on the La Liga table.
As mentioned, final score was 1 – 0 with Barcelona winning.
Barcelona chose to use the 433 formation with three forwards. It is quite clear that Barça chose to play their usual offensive style. Everyone thought that this match should be a walk in the park for the Catalans. Afterall, this is the top team against the second bottom team. How hard can it be? But it was an awful drawn out match with kooky linesmen, several denied goals and a dramatic finish. Let me take you through this match.
Note: The video coverage for this match isn’t good, but we have to make do. I’ve already placed time markers to help you all know exactly which moment in the video is being highlighted.
Xavi, my man
(Watch: 0m0s to 0m54s)
This match is undoubtedly Xavi’s. There were several occasions that Xavi displayed some amazing decision making skills and lightning reflexes. Almost as though tired of being in Iniesta’s shadow, Xavi was all ready to show his midfielding skills.
In the 18th minute, Xavi was on the left side of the pitch. A decisive cross by Xavi had the ball slicing between the four Real Sociedad defenders. The breadth of the gap was so narrow it really takes some guts to attempt it. Gudjohnsen was on the receiving on for the ball. He attempted a shot on goal but was ruled offside. The ball actually found the the net, but it denied.
Barely 3 minutes later, Ronaldinho attempts a shot on goal but the ball was deflected by keeper, Bravo. Xavi tried to send the rebound shot into the goal post. Once again, the ball found the net but he was ruled offside.
What goes round, comes round
Much of Camp Nou was howling in disagreement at the seemingly harsh offside rulings. Perhaps, it’s karma or perhaps the sight of Giuly up close frightened the linesman too much. In the 25th minute, the linesman was found hopping on one foot. Giuly was caught on camera doing the “It’s got NOTHING to do with me” motions. Replays proved that the linesmans simply twisted his own ankle by himself. How Mrs. Ronaldinho laughed.
Ronaldinho failed to recreate history
(Watch: 0m7s to 0m24s. Angle 2: 0m25s to 0m30s)
In the 31st minute, Ronaldinho attempted to do a trick again. While the shot was beautifully set up. From Xavi, who tossed a sideways kick to Deco. Deco picked up the ball effortlessly. Belletti then dashed through the edges of the Real Sociedad defence. Then a long, elegant overhead cross from the right side of the field reached Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho reacted perfectly with a scissors kick, reminiscent of Iniesta’s earlier efforts against Villareal. But it failed to find the net. It would be SO dramatic if it had found the net.
Real Sociedad in the first half
While I was not overly worried about the results of this match, I become more and more aware of how Real Sociedad could be a force to reckon with. They might have lost the match to Barcelona, only because they lack that essential teamwork that was beautifully displayed during the setting up of the Ronaldinho scissors kick attempt. On their own, Real Sociedad has more a few quality players moving in the true Totall Football spirit.
In the 24th minute, midfielder Mikel Aranburu assisted Jesuli of Real Sociedad. While the goal flew wide, it highlighted the less than stable Barça defence. Perhaps Barcelona was trying to find balance as Carles Puyol had just left the field for Oleguer Presas to come on due to injury. If so, Real Sociedad displays a sharp eye for making the best of the situation to their benefit.
Winning goal: Ronaldinho’s eleventh goal in the league
This a night of long, accurate passes. The ball hurtled in from midfield and found Giuly. Giuly, who had a poor showing the whole night finally made good. He fired a tight, deadly pass to Ronaldinho who immediately converted it to goal. The ball fired past 3 stunned defenders and a brave keeper. It’s not the most prolific or jaw dropping of goals, but a goal’s a goal nonetheless.
Giuly, poor showing?
Yes, I do mean that. Giuly had fluffed many chances to either assist or score simply because he was too slow or hesistated far too long. For Giuly, playing in the position that many have come to recognise Messi for, a comparison is inevitable. While Giuly and Messi are two rather different strikers, one still cannot help noting that the younger striker has a greater thirst for goal as compared to Giuly. Put Messi on the pitch and he’d move so quickly and surely that the defenders end up running into each other. For Giuly, he tends to be unable to decide if he wants to go head on or attempt a bypass. But Giuly does shine when he doesn’t have to decide between two routes, as illustrated in the previous video.
Xavi, the second showing
In the 57th minute, Deco tried to set Xavi up for goal, but unfortunately, Xavi fired his effort directly into Bravo. Later, closer to fulltime, Ronaldinho tried assist Xavi, but his right footed shot was just offmark. Though in the second half, Xavi did not find the net but it is the first time I’ve sat up to notice Xavi. He had always been a bit of shy midfielder i.e. not of the attacking stock. This night’s performance gives us more food for thought as Rijkaard has found himself another midfielder that’s more all rounded than we ever imagined. The choice to not start with Iniesta brought out some interesting elements in Xavi.
Valdes’s heroics
As thought to prove Shiren wrong that he is no world class keeper, Valdes performed a world class save in stoppage time for Barcelona. Without this save, Barcelona can probably only content with 31 points and tying with Sevilla for top point on the table. Imanol Agirretxe’s header from the centre of the box was staunchly punched away by Valdes with such calm and force, the commentators all went crazy. Mrs. Ronaldinho and I agreed vehemently that Valdes truly performed wonderfully under this pressure. Just watch the video and be convinced.
Hat’s off to you, Valdes for securing the three points for Barça.
Sylvinho’s sending off
Frankly, it makes scant sense to me. I usually don’t like to wax lyrical about sending offs, unless it’s of gross injustice like Motta’s sending off in the recent Zaragoza match. But do feel free to discuss and analyse. That’s what commenting is for.
What do you think?
I found this match one of the more drab matches my short experience of watching La Liga matches. There were indeed spectacular moments like Xavi’s showings and Valdes’s amazing save. But in comparison to the previous matches that had Ronaldinho’s awesome bicycle kick, Iniesta’s kungfu styled scissors kick, it pales. It is extremely apparent that Rijkaard had told his team to play offensively, but conservatively. Afterall energies (and possibly injury risks) are better deployed in the upcoming FIFA World Club Cup.
What’s next?
Expect reports for the Chelsea-Arsenal match. I sure did not enjoy that match, but by special request from Mr. X, I sat through that match and shall do ‘civic’ duty in a day or two’s time.
Oh, just read the news about Alan Pardew’s sacking. Looks like West Ham is in for rough time. I swear…. Tevez and Mascherano had just made the worst career move in their lives. I’m a little upset about this.
That would be the second time after their embarassing lost to Brazil a month or so back.
And what frustrates me further is, I’m unable to analyse anything because I haven’t laid eyes on the match itself. Does this mean is it is time for me to return to my Bittorent days?
On a side note, the winning of this match actually is a great heave of relief for Spanish coach, Luis Aragones. Apparently he’d been under quite some flak for being unable to lead Spain to victory since World Cup till now…. And Argentina had to be the meat for them. Very soon it will be Basile’s turn to under fire too. But with Riquelme gone, Crespo and Heinze out on injuries, Basile had little material to work with it. Argentine coaches seem to subscribe firmly to the “saving the best for last” principle. Still, I’m not writing Basile off. 2 matches is way too early to fathom his prowess.
It should be noted that Messi finally starts in this match. We’ll be seeing more of him soon. Argentina’s lone goal was by relative unknown, Daniel Bilos. Daniel Bilos plays for St. Etienne in the French Ligue 1. That’s also where French legend Michel Platini was from too. St. Etienne is one of the top clubs in France.
But in any case, the spotlight for this game is definitely on Spain and Aragones. Now that he had saved his face, Aragones looks set to stay on the bench, yelling at his Spanish boys to run faster.
I’m not gloating… I’m just irritated. Well, even friendlies are a good indicator to the state of things.
With Riquelme out of the team and Puyol down with a wonky groin injury, most of us Argentine fans are in for a nailbiting time for their next international friendly against Spain. Sure, Puyol out of the game should mean some good news for the white and blue side but we DO lack Riquelme.
Some of you might think that I’m putting way too much emphasis on Riquelme’s position on the Argentine lineup. Let me explain a little why I feel quite strongly about Riquelme’s absence. Many thanks to Mr. X, who spent time and countless YouTube references of Riquelme’s intriguing style of play, all of which enabled me to give a humble opinion on him.
Without further ado…
The Riquelme Analysis
The moving balls waits for no man, except Riquelme
Riquelme is a well respected figure in the Argentine football squad. Sure, he may not be as well loved or as celebrated as Lionel Messi, but even Lionel Messi would, in a heartbeat, acknowledge this man’s vision and skills as playmaker.
Jorge Valdano was quoted describing Riquelme as such, “If we have to travel from point A to point B most of us would take the six-lane highway and get there as quickly as possible. Riquelme would choose the winding mountain road, the beautiful scenic route which takes him six hours instead of two.“
That’s what sets Riquelme apart from the other players. Most players would prefer a pounding, relentless game over a slow, meditative match. Make no mistake, Riquelme is no time waster. He is a careful man who thinks 3 passes ahead of anyone. His careful analytical skills was put to show in the now famous Serbia-Montenegro match during the World Cup 2006. Sure, the amazing 24 passes was a product of the Argentina game at it’s full glory, but Riquelme was instrumental to the success of it. He made a long pass to Ayala. Near him were other players like Sorin, but Riquelme had to foresight to pass it to the distant Ayala… not only that move caught the Serbian defense offguard, it gave his team-mates time to rearrange themselves, assess the situation before continuing the passing game. And it proved useful, Sorin was able to take a leaf from Riquelme’s move and actually took time to SEE who actually might get the ball before passing. Don’t even get STARTED on how foolish some passes have been made……………..
I’m not the only one who agrees that Riquelme was the centrepiece of the 24 Pass Argentine Show, Budweiser named Riquelme as Man of the Match.
Anyway, playmaker cannot succeed if he does not understand the strengths and weaknesses of his team-mates. He will not make the game flow as well as it should if he cannot think on feet, if he cannot surprise, if he is predictable. Riquelme is well known to a be a slow player. Some even go so far to say, an old man on the field. But this old man knows his cards, he will draw another card and yet another card from the deck, then finally stun with a royal flush, tossed down onto the card table with a flourish too.
And you want to say Riquelme cannot move fast? I do remember during the match against Mexico in the World Cup, Riquelme was dealing with a this tough nut who was buzzing around him. Suddenly, Riquelme sidestepped him and began to run like never before, this went on for about 20 metres before he sent the ball neatly to Crespo. Sure, he probably can’t even run half as fast as Messi can, but it sure made me sit up. This illustrates Riquelme unpredictability.
As I said… it is a strange time to be an Argentine fan. Numerous changes are happening to the squad as I type this… and of course as I type this, Argentina is probably giving it their best on the field against Spain…
I’m more than a little worked up about being unable to get any form of live telecast of the match against Spain. We’re looking at chances of Ibanez or Juanito of stepping into the arena. Regretfully, I cannot offer any insights onto how these two players might stack up against the odds of Spain… Dearth of Argentine (or DECENT matches of any kind) telecasts have led to my poor growth as a student of the world game.
I’m wearing my Argentine jersey and praying hard for our eventual victory.
To Meghna:
I’m not certain what Basile will do for this Spanish match. I’m not even sure how he coaches the team. I know for sure Pekerman made a fool of himself at the World Cup. He had the BEST men in generations and he had to go fuck it up. Let’s hope Basile will be a wiser man… I will comment more when I have a chance to watch an Argentine match soon, or read some sensible and objective reports.
But like you, I’m gunning for Ayala… he has the charisma and that inherent instinct of when to be aggressive and when to back down to guide the game.
Yea, I guess it IS pretty rare to find a soccer blog that actually is not about gushing over delectable players…and written by a girl to boot. Thanks, I will keep this place going.
UPDATES
I’m changing this blog’s name to Valerie on the Ball for the time being.. the current title is just too misleading… Despite my best efforts to tell people that the selection is over, I still get emails asking about it.
I’ll trying to think of a less cheesy name to come…
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