Sunday April 29, 2012 Day 36 Finished Vallecas

Rayo Vallecano 0 - 7 FC Barcelona

  • Messi 16’, 90’
  • Correa 26’ (o.g.)
  • Keita 38’
  • Pedro 47’, 87’
  • Thiago 77’

30 comments | Write your comment

  1. Barcelona put seven past Rayo Vallecano

    Barcelona put seven past Rayo Vallecano

    Barcelona bounced back from recent disappointment to thrash Rayo Vallecano 7-0 at the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Rayo Vallecano
    • FC Barcelona
    • FT The referee blows up full-time with Mascherano still receiving treatment. It's been a rout - Rayo Vallecano 0-7 Barcelona.
    • 90+2' Mascherano's in a lot of pain after a clean challenge from Michu.
    • 90+1' There will be two minutes of added time.
    • 90' That puts Messi level with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the La Liga top scorer standings. Who's your money on?
    • 89' GOAL! There's the seventh! Pedro tees up Messi and the Argentinean slides a cool finish to take his league tally to 43.
    • 88' Credfit to the Rayo fans, they're still in fine voice despite the scoreline.
    • 87' That's Pedro's second of the night and fifth in the league this season.
    • 86' GOAL! And it's six! The corner's half-cleared but only to Messi, who finds Pedro inside the box and the 24-year-old fires past Cobeno.
    • 85' Montoya pushes forward from the left full-back position and earns Barcelona a corner.
    • 84' Barcelona host Malaga in their next game, while Rayo travel to Mallorca.
    • 83' Rayo corner. Michu rises to meet it but heads over.
    • 82' Mascherano slides in with an excellent challenge to thwart Michu's run.
    • 80' Michu attempts to bring down a long cross-field pass but can't get enough on the ball and it goes out for a throw-in.
    • 79' BARCELONA SUB: The visitors make their final change, with Alexis replaced by Tello.
    • 78' Alves and Thiago celebrated that goal in typically Brazilian fashion with a little dance but Puyol quickly came over to the duo to put an end to that. There's not a lot to celebrate at Barca at the moment, even if they are winning 5-0.
    • 77' GOAL! And it's five! Alves whips in an axcellent cross from the right and Thiago heads the ball into the ground and past the keeper.
    • 76' Barca are happy to keep possession, knocking the ball around in defence while looking for an opening further forward.
    • 75' This is the 15th time this season that Barca have managed to score at least four in a game.
    • 74' Rayo have lost six of their last seven league games (10 goals scored, 17 conceded), though their win was also their biggest-ever in the top-flight (6-0 vs Osasuna).
    • 73' BARCELONA SUB: Afellay comes on for Busquets.
    • 71' Mascherano appears to use his arm but the referee gives the free-kick to Barca as the Argentinean was pushed. Good decision.
    • 70' Diamanka cuts in from the left and unleashes a powerful shot with his right foot which Pinto saves at full stretch.
    • 69' Rayo need three points from their remaining three games after tonight to guarantee survival.
    • 68' Puyol is taking out by a slightly late challenge but the Barca defender is soon back to his feet and the ref takes no action.
    • 66' Barca are inches away from making it five, but Alves' cross just evades Messi's outstretched leg.
    • 65' RAYO VALLECANO SUB: Costa makes way for Benito.
    • 63' A Rayo attack is thwarted by the linesman's flag - another excellent decision from the linesman.
    • 62' Alexis takes a tumble on the right flank close to the by-line but the referee's having none of it and waves play on.
    • 61' Messi charges into the Rayo box and picks up a one-two but sees his effort deflected over the bar for a corner.
    • 60' BARCELONA SUB: Alves comes on for Adriano.
    • 59' It looks like Barca are preparing to bring on Alves.
    • 58' Arribas gets up well to nod the ball behind for another Barca corner when Puyol was lurking.
    • 57' Alexis does well on the left to win a corner.
    • 56' Messi strikes a fierce left-footed free-kick which hits the wall.
    • 55' Barca look to launch an attack with a quick free-kick but Pedro's offside.
    • 54' Poor defending gifts Thiago the ball on the edge of the box but he misses the target with his shot.
    • 53' Messi looks to break through the middle and it takes two Rayo defenders to stop him.
    • 52' Pedro goes into the referee's notebook for a foul.
    • 50' Current Barca boss Pep Guardiola and incoming manager Tito Vilanova are locked in deep conversation on the bench.
    • 48' Rayo earn a free-kick in the right channel but it's headed clear.
    • 47' GOAL! Barca take just 60 seconds to make it four. Alexis crosses from the left, Messi heads against the bar and Pedro smashes home the rebound from close range.
    • 46' Barcelona get the second half underway...
    • HT There goes the half-time whistle - it's Rayo Vallecano 0-3 Barcelona at the break.
    • 45+1' The ref books Arribas, not necessarily for the foul he commits on Alexis but for his reaction afterwards.
    • 45' There will be two minutes of added time.
    • 44' Messi looks to curl an ambitious shot into the top corner but it drifts wide for a goal-kick.
    • 43' Messi shows superb poise and balance to control a lofted through-ball and eventually win a corner.
    • 42' Barcelona are completely dominating possession, with Rayo unable to get out of their own half. Will we see another goal before half-time?
    • 41' Cobeno has to be quick off his line to intercept a through-ball and clear.
    • 40' This is an excellent response from Barca after the disappointment of the past couple of weeks.
    • 39' GOAL! It's three! Messi cuts in from the right, beats two men and slides a beautifully weighted pass to Keita, who makes no mistake in beating Cobeno with a low shot.
    • 38' Pedro produces a sublime flick to get a Barca attack moving, with the visitors going on to win a corner.
    • 37' Alexis picks up the ball wide left and floats in a cross but it's headed clear.
    • 36' Alexis looks to find Messi in a crowded penalty box but there's no way through.
    • 35' Here's what Rayo boss Jose Ramon Sandoval had to say before kick-off: "We must respect Guardiola's decision to quit as he has lit up Spanish and world football. He's like a messiah, having illuminated the path, changed the way we think about things. All we can think about though is getting as many points as we can to stay up."
    • 34' That's the second smart save that Pinto's made tonight. Impressive stuff from the number two.
    • 33' Pinto produces a fine save to keep out Trashorras' curling free-kick! That was destined for the top corner but Barca's stand-in keeper got a strong hand to it.
    • 32' Thiago's foul hands Rayo a free-kick in a dangerous position, 25 yards from goal and just left of centre.
    • 31' Not a great evening for Rober, eh? This was only his second start and it's ended before half-time with an own-goal to his name.
    • 30' The injured Rober's night is over after just half-an-hour and he's replaced by Nunez.
    • 29' It's almost three! Messi throws himself at the ball in an attempt to meet Pedro's cross but the Argentinean can't connect.
    • 27' Rober needs treatment after sliding into the post when attempting to clear Rober's cross/shot. Double agony for the Rayo defender!
    • 26' GOAL! Barca double their lead! Alexis breaks through the middle, rounds the keeper, squares the ball and Rober puts it into his own net!
    • 24' This is the seventh successive league away game in which Messi has scored.
    • 23' Messi breaks free on the left flank and cuts a low cross but to Alexis, but Pulido slides in with an excellent block to put the ball out for a corner.
    • 22' Messi lines up the free-kick but his effort hits the wall and deflects out for a corner.
    • 21' Rober is the first player to go into the book after taking out Alexis Sanchez, who had made a clever run to try and latch onto Messi's through-ball.
    • 20' Barcelona have enjoyed 77 per cent of possession in the opening 20 minutes.
    • 19' That goal will do a lot to settle Barcelona after a tough couple of weeks.
    • 18' Rayo look to hit back instantly and Costa forces a smart save from Pinto with a flicked header.
    • 17' That's Messi's 42nd league goal of the season.
    • 16' GOAL! Barca lead and it's Messi! Alexis twists and turns on the edge of the box and slips the ball wide to Pedro, who opts to cross and puts the ball on a plate for Messi, who taps home at the back post.
    • 15' Barcelona have not lost two consecutive league matches since May 2009 (vs Mallorca and Osasuna).
    • 14' Mascherano tackles Costa, who in turn has a tug on the Barca midfielder's shirt. Foul.
    • 12' Pedro looks to beat the offside trap but the lino's flag is straight up. That was a tight one but it looks like the assistant called it correctly.
    • 11' Rayo have a throw-in but it's delayed after Costa sits down to call for treatment.
    • 10' Barcelona have only won three of their last nine league clashes with Rayo (D3 L3).
    • 9' Rayo have won three of their 12 league matches at home to Barcelona (D6 L3), with all wins being by a single goal.
    • 8' Barcelona enjoy a good spell of possession on the edge of the box and Pedro darts behind the hosts' defence but sees his low cross cleared.
    • 7' Pep Guardiola before kick-off: "I know that I'm leaving the best place to work in. I am very satisfied with the results we have achieved. I have had the great privilege of coaching fantastic players. I want to thank them. I don't know what I will do now but I will not go straight to coaching."
    • 6' Barca make their first foray forward, but Adriano's low cross is blocked and the home side clear their lines.
    • 5' Having seen a replay, that looked like a penalty. An early let-off for beleaguered Barcelona...
    • 4' The hosts have a huge penalty appeal waved away after Costa is brought down in the box but the referee waves play on!
    • 3' Guardiola has rung the changes for tonight's match, with Martin Montoya and Jose Pinto handed rare starts, while Keita, Thiago, and Busquets make up the midfield trio, with Iniesta and Fabregas on the bench, and Xavi missing with a claf injury.
    • 2' This is, of course, Pep Guardiola's first match in charge since announcing he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season and there's plenty of support for the Barca boss in the stands, with numerous banner draped over the advertising hoardings.
    • 1' And we're off! Rayo Vallecano get the game underway...
    • 20:25 RAYO VALLECANO: Cobeño; Tito, Arribas, Pulido, Ismael; Rober, Movilla, Trashorras, Michu; Tamudo, Diego Costa... Subs: Delibasic, Pacheco, Michel, Nunez, Joel, Benito, Diamanka /// BARCELONA: Pinto; Montoya, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano; Busquets, Keita, Thiago; Messi, Alexis Sánchez, Pedro... Subs: Valdés, Alves, Iniesta, Bartra, Tello, Cesc and Afellay
    • 20:20 Earlier today, Real Madrid moved to within touching distance of their first Liga title since 2008 after a 3-0 win over Sevilla at the Bernabeu. Match report - Real Madrid close in on La Liga title
    • 20:15 Welcome to LIVE text commentary of Barcelona's trip to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. Kick-off 20:30 (UK time).

  • Summary

    • 89' GOAL! There's the seventh! Pedro tees up Messi and the Argentinean slides a cool finish to take his league tally to 43.
    • 86' GOAL! And it's six! The corner's half-cleared but only to Messi, who finds Pedro inside the box and the 24-year-old fires past Cobeno.
    • 77' GOAL! And it's five! Alves whips in an axcellent cross from the right and Thiago heads the ball into the ground and past the keeper.
    • 70' Diamanka cuts in from the left and unleashes a powerful shot with his right foot which Pinto saves at full stretch.
    • 66' Barca are inches away from making it five, but Alves' cross just evades Messi's outstretched leg.
    • 54' Poor defending gifts Thiago the ball on the edge of the box but he misses the target with his shot.
    • 47' GOAL! Barca take just 60 seconds to make it four. Alexis crosses from the left, Messi heads against the bar and Pedro smashes home the rebound from close range.
    • 39' GOAL! It's three! Messi cuts in from the right, beats two men and slides a beautifully weighted pass to Keita, who makes no mistake in beating Cobeno with a low shot.
    • 33' Pinto produces a fine save to keep out Trashorras' curling free-kick! That was destined for the top corner but Barca's stand-in keeper got a strong hand to it.
    • 29' It's almost three! Messi throws himself at the ball in an attempt to meet Pedro's cross but the Argentinean can't connect.
    • 26' GOAL! Barca double their lead! Alexis breaks through the middle, rounds the keeper, squares the ball and Rober puts it into his own net!
    • 23' Messi breaks free on the left flank and cuts a low cross but to Alexis, but Pulido slides in with an excellent block to put the ball out for a corner.
    • 18' Rayo look to hit back instantly and Costa forces a smart save from Pinto with a flicked header.
    • 16' GOAL! Barca lead and it's Messi! Alexis twists and turns on the edge of the box and slips the ball wide to Pedro, who opts to cross and puts the ball on a plate for Messi, who taps home at the back post.
    • 4' The hosts have a huge penalty appeal waved away after Costa is brought down in the box but the referee waves play on!
    • 20:25 RAYO VALLECANO: Cobeño; Tito, Arribas, Pulido, Ismael; Rober, Movilla, Trashorras, Michu; Tamudo, Diego Costa... Subs: Delibasic, Pacheco, Michel, Nunez, Joel, Benito, Diamanka /// BARCELONA: Pinto; Montoya, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano; Busquets, Keita, Thiago; Messi, Alexis Sánchez, Pedro... Subs: Valdés, Alves, Iniesta, Bartra, Tello, Cesc and Afellay

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Rayo Vallecano

    Manager: José Ramón Sandoval

  • FC Barcelona

    Manager: Josep Guardiola

  • 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
      4.9 -
      Defenders
      Own Goal Yellow Card Substitution Out30′ 4.9 -
      Yellow Card 4.6 -
      4.8 -
      Yellow Card 4.6 -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out46′ 4.5 -
      5.4 -
      Yellow Card 5.3 -
      5 -
      Strikers
      5.4 -
      Substitution Out65′ 5.5 -
      Subs
      Substitution In30′ 5.5 -
      Substitution In65′ 4.8 -
      Substitution In46′ 4.8 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.5 -
      Defenders
      5.8 -
      7.8 -
      7.2 -
      Substitution Out60′ 6.3 -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out73′ 6.7 -
      Goal 6.8 -
      Goal 6.8 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out80′ 7.4 -
      Goals ×2 Yellow Card 7.4 -
      Goals ×2 8 -
      Subs
      Substitution In73′ 7.7 -
      Substitution In60′ 7.7 -
      Substitution In80′ 6.9 -

Comment 10 - 30 of 30

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. Barcelona are an average team playing mediocre sides­ most weeks.Messi wouldn't get in Ebbsfleet's­ squad !

    From RICHARD, on Mon 30 Apr 12:09

  2. comment 25 about chelsea sour grapes over two legs­ four attempts on target 3 goals thats what you call­ clinical, finishing, oh and by the way chelsea won a­ local derby 6-1

    From peter, on Mon 30 Apr 9:40

  3. more tap-ins against the little teams for Messi, yet he­ was nowhere to be seen for the last month when it­ mattered most.

    From W, on Mon 30 Apr 0:39

  4. Seth Lewis what exactly are you talking about? You­ expect them to play to this high standard all the time­ after how many games of the season? You know teams get­ tired after a hard season. Real Madrid and Barcelona­ felt the effects mid week there. They both looked­ rather sluggish. As for there domination in europe­ ending, I don't know about that. I wouldn't­ count them out just yet. Still the best team in europe­ in my eyes.

    From Gareth, on Mon 30 Apr 0:02

  5. it's a little too late if you ask me, why didnt you­ bring that type of performance against chelsea and real­ madrid. I guess you can't handle playing with the­ big boys all the time. and who the heck is rayo­ vallecano for that matter. I'm not even a madrid­ fan and i dont like barca. A bunch of diving midgets!!­ Barca's reign as Champions of europe is over.­ Without Pep, this is not going to be the same Barca­ next season.

    From Seth Lewis, on Sun 29 Apr 23:34

  6. Thought idiots like merciless committed suicide on­ Tuesday.

    From Cubes, on Sun 29 Apr 23:03

  7. Too little too late. No good doing it now. Too late for­ Europe, too late for la liga. Too late.

    From Waxwax, on Sun 29 Apr 22:52

  8. We're still the best team in the world up barcelona­ fc, I am barca fan 4life uppppp barca!!!!!!!!!! Messi­ it up again.

    From Emmanuel Onunze, on Sun 29 Apr 22:43

  9. Berca soon will be back for it's own truck,­ however, pep is a great loss but Berca's­ perseverance and endurance will be a great treasure for­ greater successes .....

    From Sirwan, on Sun 29 Apr 22:42

  10. Rayo 7 - Chelsea 0

    From Payman, on Sun 29 Apr 22:28

  11. Rayo played like men, showed balls, unlike those­ cowards from london who just stood around the box­ riding on their good luck!

    From merciless, on Sun 29 Apr 22:27

  12. messi is the best ever. like it or not

    From Payman, on Sun 29 Apr 22:26

  13. I know they are trying to send a message to fans, but­ d.amn!. I forgive you! Really nothing to forgive. Barca­ for life!!!

    From Server Error, on Sun 29 Apr 22:18

  14. Barca are the standard and the best team on the planet.­ Real have had the better season this time around but­ you just have to compare Pep's time at Barca vs­ Jose's time at Real. Pep Jose

    From Stuart, on Sun 29 Apr 21:41

  15. na na na na cnt touch dis

    From Bigboyshubh, on Sun 29 Apr 21:40

  16. nw the boys have recovered

    From Abraham, on Sun 29 Apr 21:37

  17. great first half barca

    From Abraham, on Sun 29 Apr 21:24

  18. Seydou KEITA is the best !!!!

    From Andras, on Sun 29 Apr 21:20

  19. 2-0 messi

    From Danzzz96, on Sun 29 Apr 21:03

  20. Barcelona fans, I know this may be a trying period for­ most of us but I can assure you that things will get­ better. Like Pep G. Earlier said during the weak, this­ may be a time to learn, learn from our failures and­ successes alike. No great who has ever walked this­ earth without such moments and times, and none will. If­ I have some opposition to this, i want a name.­ Win-lose; more than just a club is our motto and what­ we 'live' by.

    From Ntaizyo Mwila, on Sun 29 Apr 21:03
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