BARCA TRIPLE BILL
Barcelona 3-0 Valencia (La Liga)
The first of three clashes see’s Messi and co make it look all too easy at the Camp Nou.
After what was a bright opening from the visitors, enjoying possession and creating some decent half chances, the homeside finally got there foot on the ball and taught their opponents a footballing lesson.
With Iniesta on the bench it was down to Rakitic to pull the strings for Barca, and he did so with pinaché. The Croat’s vision to find De Bruyne in the 30th minute was breathtaking, and the flame haired midfielder finished as assuredly as we’ve all come to expect from the ex-Man City midfielder.
Valencia shot themselves in the foot, conceding a second inside first half stoppage time. Los che’s defensive line caught uncharacteristically high on this occasion, allowing Luis Suarez to break away from the halfway line under heavy pressure from Kagawa. The Uruguayan stayed the course and finished explosively past the onrushing Adrian.
Rakitic was at it again less than 5 minutes after the break, stopping any Los Che fightback dead in its tracks before it had even begun. The midfielder, drifting out to the left byline, hit a first time curling laser guided cross straight to the head of Lionel Messi. The gifted forward rising like a salmon and giving the keeper no hope.
You kinda feel bad for Mendieta and Valencia, who weren’t bad, not by any stretch. Barcelona were just so much better, pure class in every area of the pitch!
Valencia 1-0 Barcelona
(Copa del Rey quarter final 1st leg)
Advantage Valencia at the Mestalla! Los Che learn their lesson from last weeks humbling to take a slim lead into the 2nd leg of the quarter finals.
So much hard work on display from the midfield trio of Linetty, Kondogbia and Parejo. Chasing down every ball and setting the benchmark for what will be an unbelievably tough test in the 2nd leg.
It was the 20 year old loanee from mersyside who popped up with winner off the bench.
Lookman, sneaking in from the left on in the 79th minute to poke prod home at the near post from Arnold’s low cross. A maturity in Valencia’s play to keep that attack going from one side of the pitch to the other.
Barcelona (0)
0-0 (1)
Valencia
(Copa del Rey quarter final 2nd leg)
Valencia produce a gritty display under the flood lights to set up an unlikely semi final tie against Real Madrid.
The eleven men in white defended as an impenetrable unit to stifle the Barcelona attack. Barcelona’s best chance fell to centre half Pique, thrown up top in the 70th minute somewhat desperately, but he fired wide on the half volley when well placed, with Murillo and Gabriel closing in from both sides.
Dani Parejo should’ve finished the job for Los Che on 76 minutes through a lightning counter attack down down the right but his flick of the boot from close range found the post between him and glory. A good partnership is building between Arnold and Pavon on that flank. A frightening amount of pace to burn!
Madrid next round hahaha!
