Tuesday November 1, 2011 Group Stage: Group H Finished Synot Tip Aréna

Viktoria Plzen 0 - 4 FC Barcelona

  • Messi 24’ (pen.), 45’, 90’
  • Fábregas 72’

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  1. Barca cruise into last 16

    Barca cruise into last 16

    Barcelona sealed their qualification to the Champions League knockout phase with a comfortable 4-0 win at Viktoria Plzen. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Viktoria Plzen
    • FC Barcelona
    • 90+3' Beautiful back-heeled assist from Pique, who was still upfield for a prior free-kick, set him free to round the keeper and put the proverbial exclamation point on the win. Full-time and Barca are through to the knockout stages with two games spare!
    • 90+2' MESSI HAS HIS HAT-TRICK! 4-0!
    • 90+1' No real indication as to how many minutes will be added on, I'm afraid - not that it'll make much difference now.
    • 90' More great passing from the away side. Sanchez with the floated cross from the left and Messi... somehow misses another crack at a hat-trick from 4 yards out. Looked like he mis-hit that one.
    • 89' Hardly anyone has left the stadium early. The home support are proud of their team's efforts, and rightfully so. Hard work a man down against the best team in the world.
    • 87' Messi keeps on running until he gets into a goalscoring position, albeit at a bit of an angle, but the shot is closed down anyway.
    • 86' Duris catches opposite number (5) Puyol inside the Barca half. Free-kick.
    • 85' Fabregas latches onto a choice loft pass into the area but Majtoral gets in a challenge allowing Pavlik to gobble it up.
    • 84' Plzen have good numbers forward as they get into Barcelona's penalty area... but Duris is offside.
    • 83' Messi, seeking a hat-trick, gets greedy from the set piece despite it not being a good shooting range and the effort is Row Z-bound. Goal kick.
    • 82' Cuenca, who has been very impressive tonight, is tripped on the right wing by current armband-wearer Limbersky.
    • 81' Sanchez crosses into the box but it's hoofed away by Bystron.
    • 80' Plzen are still battling for every ball, despite looking understandably drained at this juncture.
    • 78' Pavlik saves well from Sanchez.
    • 77' Hovarth will play no further part, mostly thanks to his mouth I'd imagine. He hands the armband over to a team-mate before making way for Radim Reznik.
    • 76' The visitors take an eternity with the free-kick but the player booked as a result is Hovarth, for dissent as he continues to complain about it.
    • 75' Pique sheilds the ball away from an attacking Duris long enough to draw the foul out on the right by the corner flag.
    • 74' That was Fabregas' first CL goal for Barcelona, his 6th of the season in all competitions.
    • 73' And that's followed up by the final Barca change: Alexis Sanchez will continue his recovery from injury by replacing Abidal.
    • 72' Barcelona score number three! And it's Fabregas! Cuenca with a lovely cross met at close range by the head of the former Arsenal man!
    • 71' Abidal now in at CB with Maxwell on the left and Puyol moving to the right.
    • 70' Barcelona follow suit pretty quickly with their own second switch, and it's Maxwell coming on at the expense of Alves.
    • 68' Second change for the hosts sees Kolar make way for Michal Duris.
    • 67' At the opposite end and Messi puts Thiago through... he hits the bar!
    • 66' Plzen cross from the left and Petrzela is unmarked! Volleys wide of the near post! How did he miss that?
    • 65' First change for Barca, with Seydou Keita coming on for Busquets.
    • 64' As things slow down a bit here, the report on the other game in this group between BATE and Milan can be found here: Link
    • 63' The away side win a free-kick and a throw within moments of the other, and they'e happy just to keep possession from both.
    • 61' Bit of a pause in play as Busquets gets treatment. He took a boot to the ankle.
    • 60' Limbersky fouls Pique after losing the ball to the defender and gets booked.
    • 59' More patient attacking from Barcelona ends with a throw out near the left-hand byline.
    • 57' Barca string together a good 15+ passes on the outer realms of Plzen's final third but eventually lose possession when they try a longer pass by their standards.
    • 56' Cuenca is lucky to escape a booking for a foul around the halfway line.
    • 55' The corner is defended by the home side.
    • 54' Only a three-man wall in a curious decision, this one is only 20 yards or so from goal. Messi goes for the bottom corner with a curling shot, and it's put out for a corner by Pavlik! Great save.
    • 53' Kolar catches Messi and Barca have a free-kick similar to the one they had themselves at the opposite end.
    • 52' Fabregas is unable to pick out Cuenca with a short pass into the area.
    • 51' The free-kick hits wall and Thiago sends the ball upfield to spark a counter through Fabregas. His low cross looking for Messi has to be cut out by Rajtoral. Vital challenge.
    • 50' Messi tracks back to defend but only concedes a free-kick just behind the D on Bystrom.
    • 49' Alves is booked for a cynical foul on Kolar who was making space on the left wing. The resultant booking means Alves misses the Milan game, which at this rate will be a meaningless tie anyway.
    • 48' Pique comes across to prevent Petrzela from bursting into the box unimpeded at the expense of a corner which comes to nothing.
    • 47' Fabregas inside the D. Square to Messi who slips it straight back through to Cesc in a 1-on-1... he chips it over Pavlik but it goes wide! Should have been a better finish on that.
    • 46' Barcelona kick off the second period.
    • 45+3 Within seconds of the restart, it's half-time. Cruel time for Plzen to concede and that may be the goal which ends this match as a competitive fixture.
    • 45+2' Messi enters the area once again... to Adriano... and back to MESSI! 2-0!
    • 45+1' Two minutes of stoppage time to be played.
    • 45' Great pass into the area from Fabregas to Thiago, but the forward attempts to pass it back to Fabregas instead of going for goal and it's cut out.
    • 44' Puyol beats Petrzela to a ball and is fouled for his troubles. Defensive free-kick for Barcelona.
    • 43' Adriano's shot is deflected away for a corner from which Plzen come out with the ball and attempt to break.
    • 42' Barca stringing the passes together at a decent rate now after failing to do so early doors...
    • 41' Messi cuts inside from the right and shoots! Pushed around the near post by Pavlik!
    • 40' Cuenca claims he has been checked by Limbersky as he strives to complete a 1-2 with Fabregas but nothing is given.
    • 38' Thiago fouls Jiracek for a free-kick inside the Plzen half. Victor Valdes has now beaten the club record for shutouts.
    • 37' Jiracek's deep cross goes out for a goal kick.
    • 36' Cuenca wins possession from about 30 yards out and takes on a pair of defenders before shooting over the bar.
    • 35' It's sent into the danger zone but headed clear. A quick break by Plzen fails.
    • 34' Cuenca is pulled back by Limbersky for a free-kick near the right-hand corner flag.
    • 33' Fabregas fouls Jiracek as the Czech side look to counter from some Barca pressure.
    • 31' Messi has an effort parried by Pavlik from just outside the area.
    • 30' The hosts continue to move forward but are stopped by the offside flag.
    • 29' Plzen attack down the left and win a throw.
    • 28' Alves attempts to go for goal from such a distance, but it's blocked by the first man in the wall.
    • 27' Jiracek fouls Thiago 30 yards out.
    • 26' Pilar beats three in a magical run but eventually loses possession.
    • 25' Low to the keeper's right and Barcelona have the advantage, both on the scoreboard and in numbers. Was a promising start from Plzen, too. They understandably make a defensive switch as Bakos is sacrificed for Frantisek Sevinsky.
    • 24' It's Messi who'll take the spot kick himself... SCORES!
    • 22' Penalty Barcelona! Red card for Cisovsky! Messi the man brought down... the referee didn't appear to flinch but then gave it. Assistant's decision methinks.
    • 21' Busquets tries his luck from distance... parried by Pavlik!
    • 20' A rare instance of poor passing accuracy from Barca allows Plzen to break, but Abidal outruns an attacker to play it back to Valdes.
    • 19' Messi's attempt to complete a give and go with Thiago in a dangerous area is cut out at the last second. Good work from the duo there.
    • 18' The visitors win a free-kick inside their own half.
    • 17' Kolar! Off target. Goal kick.
    • 16' Petrzela is through! One on one with Valdes! The keeper makes himself big and blocks it well!
    • 15' Pilar gets the first yellow of the game after knocking into the ref protesting a decision not given the home side's way moments earlier. Limbersky is lucky to avoid the same fate after hacking down Cuenca.
    • 14' Thiago almost sets Messi clear though, but for once he's unable to control it properly.
    • 12' Fabregas goes down in the box after collecting a pass from Alces. Looked like a definite case against Jiracek.
    • 11' Thiago shoots over the bar after Barca play on quickly from a short free-kick.
    • 10' Valdes takes a cross from Pilar before Petrzela can get onto the end of it.
    • 9' Cuenca gives away a free-kick just outside Plzen's box with a rash foul after losing possession.
    • 8' Cuenca and Messi play a series of 1-2s but the latter's final ball is heavy and goes out for a goal kick.
    • 7' Messi drives one from 25 yards which Pavlik deals with.
    • 5' Pilar slides in to challenge Pique quite deep upfield as the hosts continue their promising start.
    • 4' Cuenca's attempt to flick a ball onto a team mate's run comes to nohting.
    • 3' Barca press Plzen all the way back to their own box, but the Czechs maintain possession and begin to advance once more.
    • 2' It's the home side who start brightest, threatening to penetrate the penalty area of Barcelona, wearing all black tonight, on a couple of occasions.
    • 1' Plzen get the game started.
    • 19:45 The teams are out on the pitch. Kick-off is moments away!
    • 19:40 With a win at Plzen, Pep Guardiola’s team would guarantee qualification for the round of 16 if Milan manage at least a draw in the group’s other game on matchday 4.
    • 19:35 Barcelona‘s overall record in the CL against Czech opposition is now six wins, one draw and two losses. Just another stat leaning against the underdog hosts.
    • 19:30 "It will be my 200th match in charge of this great team. I did not expect to be Barcelona coach for such a long time. Not everything has been perfect during these four years, but we have won lots of trophies together, and that speaks for itself." Pep Guardiola is a happy man.
    • 19:25 Viktoria Plzen coach Pavel Vrba: "What would be a good result for us? We want to get at least a point. We have a good home record. We want to win at home, although we are aware that in this case it will be extremely hard." Extremely hard? Yes, my friend. Yes it will.
    • 19:20 In their 0-2 defeat at Camp Nou in the first leg, Viktoria were the first team in this season’s CL who did not fire a single shot during the entire game. Let's hope they're a bit perkier at home, eh?
    • 19:15 Goalkeeper Marek Cech injured his knee playing for Viktoria Plzen in Barcelona, and has not featured since. Fellow stopper Roman Pavlik returned to action in a domestic victory over Zizkov, after suffering knee ligament damage in July.
    • 19:10 Tonight's ref is Robert Schorgenhofer of Austria.
    • 19:05 Xavi is on the bench following the injury worries that hang over him at the moment, so Cesc Fabregas starts for Barca.
    • 19:00 TEAMS: Plzen: Pavlik, Rajtoral, Bystron, Cisovski, Limbersky, Jiracek, Horvath, Petrzela, Kolar, Pilar, Bakos. Subs: Tichacek, Duris, Fillo, Reznik, Sevinsky, Darida, Hora ///// Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Busquets, Thiago, Fabregas, Adriano, Messi, Cuenca. Subs: Pinto, Xavi, Iniesta, Sanchez, Mascherano, Keita, Maxwell
    • - Welcome to our live coverage of Viktoria Plzen v Barcelona. Kick-off is at 7.45pm UK time - we'll be here from around an hour beforehand with the latest team news and pre-match build-up.

  • Summary

    • 90' More great passing from the away side. Sanchez with the floated cross from the left and Messi... somehow misses another crack at a hat-trick from 4 yards out. Looked like he mis-hit that one.
    • 72' Barcelona score number three! And it's Fabregas! Cuenca with a lovely cross met at close range by the head of the former Arsenal man!
    • 67' At the opposite end and Messi puts Thiago through... he hits the bar!
    • 66' Plzen cross from the left and Petrzela is unmarked! Volleys wide of the near post! How did he miss that?
    • 54' Only a three-man wall in a curious decision, this one is only 20 yards or so from goal. Messi goes for the bottom corner with a curling shot, and it's put out for a corner by Pavlik! Great save.
    • 47' Fabregas inside the D. Square to Messi who slips it straight back through to Cesc in a 1-on-1... he chips it over Pavlik but it goes wide! Should have been a better finish on that.
    • 45+2' Messi enters the area once again... to Adriano... and back to MESSI! 2-0!
    • 41' Messi cuts inside from the right and shoots! Pushed around the near post by Pavlik!
    • 24' It's Messi who'll take the spot kick himself... SCORES!
    • 22' Penalty Barcelona! Red card for Cisovsky! Messi the man brought down... the referee didn't appear to flinch but then gave it. Assistant's decision methinks.
    • 21' Busquets tries his luck from distance... parried by Pavlik!
    • 16' Petrzela is through! One on one with Valdes! The keeper makes himself big and blocks it well!
    • 12' Fabregas goes down in the box after collecting a pass from Alces. Looked like a definite case against Jiracek.
    • 19:00 TEAMS: Plzen: Pavlik, Rajtoral, Bystron, Cisovski, Limbersky, Jiracek, Horvath, Petrzela, Kolar, Pilar, Bakos. Subs: Tichacek, Duris, Fillo, Reznik, Sevinsky, Darida, Hora ///// Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Busquets, Thiago, Fabregas, Adriano, Messi, Cuenca. Subs: Pinto, Xavi, Iniesta, Sanchez, Mascherano, Keita, Maxwell

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Viktoria Plzen

    Manager: Pavel Vrba

  • FC Barcelona

    Manager: Josep Guardiola

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 5.7 7
      Defenders
      4.6 6
      4.6 5
      Red Card 5.7 3
      Yellow Card 5 5
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 4.5 6
      Yellow Card Substitution Out78′ 5.1 5
      4.3 6
      Substitution Out68′ 4.7 6
      Yellow Card 5.3 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out25′ 4.9 4
      Subs
      Substitution In78′ 3.5 4
      Substitution In25′ 4.7 5
      Substitution In68′ 3.1 5
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.6 7
      Defenders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out71′ 7.5 6
      7.7 8
      7.6 7
      Substitution Out73′ 7.5 7
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out66′ 7 6
      7.5 7
      Goal 7.9 7
      Strikers
      7.5 8
      7 7
      Goals ×3 8.4 9
      Subs
      Substitution In66′ 7.7 6
      Substitution In73′ 7.4 6
      Substitution In71′ 7 6

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