Saturday October 15, 2011 Day 8 Finished Camp Nou

FC Barcelona 3 - 0 Racing Santander

  • Messi 11’, 68’
  • Xavi 28’

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  1. Milestone for Messi in Barca win

    Milestone for Messi in Barca win

    Lionel Messi surpassed Ladislao Kubala's tally for Barcelona when scoring his 195th and 196th goals in a 3-0 win against Racing. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • FC Barcelona
    • Racing Santander
    • 90+2' FULL TIME. Barcelona take top spot thanks to two goals from Messi and one from Xavi.
    • 90+1' Messi fouled as he produces another clever back heel. It's been quite the performance from the Argentina star again.
    • 90' We will have two minutes of added time.
    • 88' Barca win a free-kick but David Villa blasts his shot well off target.
    • 86' If Abidal had scored that the place would have erupted. 3-0 doesn't even come close to underscoring Barca's dominance this evening.
    • 84' Ooh! Abidal with an overhead kick as the ball pops up to him in the box but Tono saves.
    • 83' Diop replaced by Marc Torrejon.
    • 81' Villa is set free by a lovely pass from Thiago and unleashes a fierce effort that flies off target from a tight angle.
    • 80' Bedia goes into the book for a really horrible, late challenge on Thiago that catches him on the ankle. Arguably a red.
    • 79' Abidal - what is he doing up there? - is penalised for offside as Messi accelerates into the box.
    • 78' The substitutions have disrupted Barca's rhythm a touch and they appear to be going down the gears with the final ten minutes approaching.
    • 76' What chances a Messi hat-trick? I'd think it is almost certain. He already has 10 league goals in seven games this season.
    • 74' Dani Alves cuts the ball back to the edge of the box where Messi is lurking, but he turns the ball wide of the post with his favoured left foot.
    • 73' Adriano comes on for Pedro as Barca make their second change.
    • 72' Seydou Keita is on for Iniesta, who has been impressive upon his return to the side.
    • 70' Messi is just hilariously good. There's nothing else to it.
    • 69' GOAL! 3-0 Barcelona! Brilliant from Messi, again. He plays in Iniesta with a wonderful pass and the midfielder lifts the ball over his marker before smacking a shot against the bottom of the post. Who is following up? Messi of course and he bangs the ball home on the half-volley.
    • 68' Barcelona's possession has crept up to 83 per cent.
    • 67' Messi slaloms away from two men as he drives into the box with purpose and is brought down by an outstretched leg from Alvaro. The referee somehow neglects to give a spot-kick as Pedro rifles the loose ball wide.
    • 66' Kone, who has been bright in patches, is replaced by Manuel Arana.
    • 65' Barca string together another mesmeric set of passes but Villa gets ahead of himself and tries to lift the ball over a marker for Messi, only to get it wrong.
    • 63' Messi is squeezed out of space in the box as Racing scramble the ball clear. It seems a matter of time before the home side get a third.
    • 61' Brilliant defensive work from Pedro as he tidies up at the back. That's the kind of thing that makes him such a valuable player, despite his modest profile.
    • 60' Messi takes ages to line up the shot as he is not happy with how far back the wall is. Getting no response from the match officials he whacks in a shot that Tono punches clear.
    • 58' Messi holds off his marker and is fouled by Christian as he attempts to shield the ball. Free-kick in a dangerous area wide on the right.
    • 57' Messi and Alves link up again down the right but Alves over elaborates with a back heel and loses possession.
    • 56' Alves sprays the ball out to Messi and he darts in from the right, only to be halted and possibly winded when colliding with a defender.
    • 55' Change for Racing as Alexandros Tziolis is replaced by midfielder Edu Bedia.
    • 53' Messi finds space in the box and rifles in a low effort that Tono blocks at his near post.
    • 52' Xavi has a shot deflected off target as the home side go in search of a third goal. There could be a few more in Barca tonight.
    • 50' Barcelona are set to go one point clear at the top of the table if they win tonight by the way, as Real Madrid beat Betis 4-1 earlier.
    • 48' An unexpectedly nervy start to the second half for Barca but they haven't been particularly accomplished at the back so far tonight.
    • 46' An early chance for Racing! Kone fires a low effort back across goal after a neat piece of control and Valdes is at full strength as he clasps hold of the ball.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
    • - Want to discuss the first half? Get in contact with me on Twitter and I will try and use some of your comments. @tomEurosport
    • 45' HALF TIME. Barca in full control thanks to goals from Messi and Xavi. Cruise control.
    • 43' Another fine passing move from Barca and Maxwell turns the ball back to Messi, who sees his firm effort blocked by Bernardo. It's hard to put into words how brilliant this Barca side are, and they aren't anything like near top gear.
    • 41' Another great chance goes wasted! Messi picks out the run of Villa with a perfectly weighted pass and the striker takes a touch wide of the keeper before failing to steer the ball back between the posts.
    • 39' Barca don't really do long range, but Villa smacks a shot just wide of the upright.
    • 37' How did he miss that?? Xavi plays a pass round the corner to pick out a fantastic run from Pedro. He pulls the ball back for Puyol but from close range he cannot stick the ball home.
    • 36' Barca break as the referee plays advantage and the ball is worked to Pedro, whose deflected shot rolls invitingly into the path of Messi. However, he cannot connect at full strength. Racing clear from the corner.
    • 35' Hold the front page: Messi just played a poor pass out of play. Yes, you did read that correctly.
    • 34' Pedro tries to sniff out a third goal when diving into the box but Tono is off his line quickly to smother the ball.
    • 32' Stat from Opta: "Barcelona have won 36 of their 43 matches at home to Racing in the league, losing just two."
    • 30' Messi tries the playground trick of touching the ball one side of the defender and darting the other but Alvaro is alert to the threat and throws out his leg to prevent himself from being embarrassed.
    • 29' That is Barcelona's first headed goal of the season, by the way.
    • 28' GOAL! 2-0 Barcelona! Xavi with the header from close range as he meets Pedro's dinked cross into the centre of the box. The marking was atrocious as Xavi was allowed the freedom of the box to leap and nod the ball in.
    • 26' Messi on the charge but after riding one challenge he is muscled off the ball. The pass to Villa out wide on the left would have been a better option.
    • 24' Munitis feeds Kone with a pass and he attempts to catch out Victor Valdes with a quick shot from range. However, the Barca keeper grasps the ball with the tips of his fingers.
    • 23' Dani Alves takes charge of the free-kick and tries to shoot from 35 yards. That was a poor effort and he was never going to score from that range. Pointless really.
    • 22' Spain international Thiago is brought to a halt 35 yards from goal and it is a free-kick to Barcelona.
    • 21' Diop goes into the book for chopping down Iniesta with a horrible challenge.
    • 20' Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez - Barcelona's two big summer signings - are sat together in the stands deep in discussion as they sit the game out due to injury.
    • 19' Messi is bundled to the floor after nutmegging Bernardo Espinosa and cutting in from the right. No foul, even though the forward wanted one.
    • 17' As sensational as they are going forward, Barca have lost possession a bit too frequently, even if Racing striker Kone can't get on the end of a ball into the box after the visitors win the ball in midfield.
    • 16' The oles ring out around Camp Nou already, but Kone helps to lead a break for Racing that fizzles out when Papa Kouly Diop is hustled out of it but Abidal at the touchline.
    • 15' That was Lionel Messi's 195th goal for Barcelona and his 14th of the season. He is just 24. What kind of a tally will he have at the end of his career? It's frightening.
    • 13' He almost gets another! Messi slips in Villa with a fine pass and the striker turns it back into the path of the Argentina star, who sees his effort deflected over for a corner. Barca fail to make anything of the set piece.
    • 11' GOAL! 1-0 Barcelona! Messi moves one goal ahead of the great Ladislao Kubala with another sensational goal. Messi slips a pass to Iniesta, receives it back, lifts the ball over one marker, shimmies round the keeper and rolls the ball home. What a genius.
    • 11' More pressure on Barca. Puyol just does enough to put off Kone when he attempts to head home from a dangerous cross.
    • 10' Munitis - always such a nasty player to play against - puts Puyol under pressure and forces the mistake, but Kone can't capitalise. More sloppy defending from Barca almost allows Racing in again. They need to tighten up at the back and quickly.
    • 9' It's Pique. He looks very disappointed as he walks off the pitch and is replaced by Abidal. There was no obvious injury to the classy centre-back but he must have pulled something. That's a blow for Barca.
    • 8' It looks as though Barca will be forced into an early change. Eric Abidal is stripped on the sidelines and it appears Maxwell may have to be taken off.
    • 7' Pedro makes a clever run into the box and lays the ball off for Villa, but the striker - who notched his 50th goal for Spain during the international break - produces an air shot. That is unusual for him, to say the least.
    • 6' Barca have a bit of a reputation for poor performances after international breaks - something that has been dubbed the 'FIFA virus' - but should win comfortably tonight. Racing look like they are hardly going to get the ball.
    • 5' Maxwell slips a pass into David Villa and the forward returns the ball first time, only to see his attempted pass roll out of play. He gave the left-back little chance there.
    • 4' Barca are guilty of overplaying at the back as Gerard Pique produces a far too casual pass into space when pressurised by former Real Madrid man Pedro Munitis.
    • 3' Here's a stat from Opta: "Barcelona have averaged 73 per cent possession in La Liga this season, 11 per cent more than the next side (Real Madrid, 62 per cent)."
    • 2' Racing have had one touch of the ball so far at Camp Nou. Barca settle into their stride early on and will monopolise the ball tonight.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 19.01 The return of Iniesta from injury is superb news for Barca and he and his team-mates are all smiles as the teams go through the traditional pre-match pleasantries. Now that famous anthem comes rolling down from the stands at Camp Nou: "Barca, Barca, Baaaaaaaaaaarca!"
    • 18.58 By the way, if you want to send across your own predictions or get something off your chest, get in contact with me on Twitter and I will try and include some of your comments. Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 18.56 Racing, by the way, are yet to win a game under Hector Cuper this season and started the day in 18th place with four points from six games. If they get even a draw today it would be a shock of fairly monumental proportions. What appears more likely is that we will get another masterclass from Barca. I'm predicting 7-0.
    • 18.55 Real Madrid have gone two points clear at the top of the table after defeating Real Betis 4-1 at home so the gauntlet has been laid down to their great rivals. Pep Guardiola isn't messing about, and decides against fielding anything as brutish as a holding midfielder. Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Thiago form the midfield three, with the famous MVP in front of them.
    • 18.50 Teams: Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell, Thiago, Iniesta, Xavi, Villa, Messi Pedro. Subs: Pinto, Abidal, Fontas, Keita, Mascherano, Adriano, Busquets. /// Racing: Tono, Zuniga, Alvaro, Fernandez, Francis, Tziolis, Diop, Samperio, Gonzalez, Stuani, Munitis. Subs: Mario, Torrejon, Bedia, Rodriguez, Serrano, Domingo.
    • 18.45 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Liga clash between champions Barcelona and Racing Santander at Camp Nou.

  • Summary

    • 84' Ooh! Abidal with an overhead kick as the ball pops up to him in the box but Tono saves.
    • 69' GOAL! 3-0 Barcelona! Brilliant from Messi, again. He plays in Iniesta with a wonderful pass and the midfielder lifts the ball over his marker before smacking a shot against the bottom of the post. Who is following up? Messi of course and he bangs the ball home on the half-volley.
    • 67' Messi slaloms away from two men as he drives into the box with purpose and is brought down by an outstretched leg from Alvaro. The referee somehow neglects to give a spot-kick as Pedro rifles the loose ball wide.
    • 43' Another fine passing move from Barca and Maxwell turns the ball back to Messi, who sees his firm effort blocked by Bernardo. It's hard to put into words how brilliant this Barca side are, and they aren't anything like near top gear.
    • 41' Another great chance goes wasted! Messi picks out the run of Villa with a perfectly weighted pass and the striker takes a touch wide of the keeper before failing to steer the ball back between the posts.
    • 37' How did he miss that?? Xavi plays a pass round the corner to pick out a fantastic run from Pedro. He pulls the ball back for Puyol but from close range he cannot stick the ball home.
    • 28' GOAL! 2-0 Barcelona! Xavi with the header from close range as he meets Pedro's dinked cross into the centre of the box. The marking was atrocious as Xavi was allowed the freedom of the box to leap and nod the ball in.
    • 13' He almost gets another! Messi slips in Villa with a fine pass and the striker turns it back into the path of the Argentina star, who sees his effort deflected over for a corner. Barca fail to make anything of the set piece.
    • 11' GOAL! 1-0 Barcelona! Messi moves one goal ahead of the great Ladislao Kubala with another sensational goal. Messi slips a pass to Iniesta, receives it back, lifts the ball over one marker, shimmies round the keeper and rolls the ball home. What a genius.
    • 18.50 Teams: Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell, Thiago, Iniesta, Xavi, Villa, Messi Pedro. Subs: Pinto, Abidal, Fontas, Keita, Mascherano, Adriano, Busquets. /// Racing: Tono, Zuniga, Alvaro, Fernandez, Francis, Tziolis, Diop, Samperio, Gonzalez, Stuani, Munitis. Subs: Mario, Torrejon, Bedia, Rodriguez, Serrano, Domingo.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • FC Barcelona

    Manager: Josep Guardiola

  • Racing Santander

    Manager: Héctor Cúper

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.1 -
      Defenders
      7.1 -
      Substitution Out9′ 7.1 -
      7.4 -
      6.3 -
      Midfielders
      6.5 -
      Goal 7.8 -
      Substitution Out72′ 7.6 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out74′ 6.8 -
      6.9 -
      Goals ×2 8.3 -
      Subs
      Substitution In9′ 7.1 -
      Substitution In72′ 6.5 -
      Substitution In74′ 6.4 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.3 -
      Defenders
      4.9 -
      5.4 -
      5.1 -
      5 -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out55′ 4.3 -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out83′ 4.9 -
      4.7 -
      5.4 -
      Strikers
      5.6 -
      Substitution Out66′ 5.6 -
      Subs
      Substitution In83′ 5.8 -
      Substitution In66′ 3.6 -
      Substitution In55′ Yellow Card 3.5 -

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