-
-
-
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rayemon
a good pass from iniesta
return pass to messi from iniesta
-
xaviiiiiiiiiiiiiii barca 2-0
-
Barcelona 3-0 Racing Santander: Messi scores two as the champions return to Primera Division summit
A Lionel Messi brace and a Xavi header were enough to give Barcelona a much deserved 3-0 victory over a lacklustre Racing Santander at Camp Nou this evening.
Pep Guardiola's side were in charge of the game from the kick-off, and their possession paid off in the 11th minute when Andres Iniesta picked up the ball just inside the Racing box on the right-hand side and reversed a pass into Lionel Messi, who, with six defenders around him, flicked the ball out of trouble and dragged it past Tono before finishing from a tight angle.
Barcelona grabbed their second goal of the match in the 27th minute and it was far too simple for the hosts from a Racing point of view. Pedro picked up the ball on the left hand-side and clipped a lovely cross into the edge of the six yard box for Xavi who ghosted in unmarked to guide a header into the bottom right corner.
It should have been three for Barcelona in the 36th minute when Xavi found space on the right hand-side of the Racing box and slipped a pass through to Pedro, who got to the byline and crossed along the goal for Puyol, but the Barcelona captain somehow scuffed his shot from a yard out and Tono in the Racing goal managed to gather.
Barca took the game far beyond Racing in the 68th minute when Iniesta showed incredible skill in the box to neatly juggle the ball over two challenges before rifling a left-footed half volley off the right-hand post before Messi smashed in the rebound for his second goal of the match.
In front of a vibrant Camp Nou crowd, the hosts dominated the match for most of the 90 minutes, and should have added to their lead on a few occasions. David Villa should have done better in the 82nd minute when he found some room just inside the Racing box to the right but ended up blazing the ball over the bar.
Eric Abidal also came close minutes later when he attempted the spectacular overhead kick from eight yards out but Tono managed to make the save.
This result shoots Barcelona straight back to the top of La Liga on 17 points whereas Racing find themselves still on four points and languishing in the relegation zone
-
Real Madrid 4-1 Real Betis: Gonzalo Higuain hat-trick the highlight as Jose Mourinho's side record comfortable win
Despite performing poorly in the opening 45 minutes, Real Madrid made up for it with a fantastic performance in the second period to defeat Real Betis 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Gonzalo Higuain was the hero for Madrid this evening, as he continued his wonderful form in recent weeks. His well-taken hat-trick tonight made it nine goals in four games for club and country in the past 11 days. Kaka netted the home side's other goal.
With the scores still level in the first half, Betis keeper Casto did well to push Cristiano Ronaldo's devilish cross to relative safety only for Mezut Ozil to hack the ball back towards goal and it was only a decent block from Dorado that ensured the scores remained level.
Betis' best chance of the first half fell to Ruben Castro but he could only volley over from 10 yards out after being found in space inside the penalty area.
It was a disappointing half for the home side, and as the whistle was blown their efforts were meeted with jeers by an expectant crowd at the Bernabeu.
Having said that, it was not long before they broke the deadlock in the second half - less than 45 seconds in fact.
Marcelo hooked a wonderful ball over the right back and Ronaldo exhibited his electric pace to get the wrong side of the defender and pull the ball back to Higuain, who calmly slotted into an empty net from six yards out.
Kaka made it 2-0 with a superb effort after Ronaldo found him on the edge of the area after steaming past Chica down the left. Kaka took a touch to set himself and then whipped the ball round Casto and into the bottom corner of the net. The Brazilian was clearly delighted with his strike and despite being substituted immediately after was sporting a grin as he took his place on the bench.
Betis pulled a goal back minutes later, after hesitancy in the Madrid area allowed Castro to burst through, the ricochet fell to Jorge Molina who controlled the ball well and fired past Casillas.
Higuain made it 3-1 on 70 minutes, rounding Casto and slotting home from an acute angle after another glorious assist, this time from the substitute Angel di Maria.
Di Maria was the provider yet again as Higuain completed his hat-trick, his second in a row in La Liga. The Argentine saved the best til last, lobbing a beautiful finish over Casto's head after racing through one-on-one.
Betis meanwhile, will be disappointed to be beaten in such a manner in the second half, but will not have been surprised by the form of some of Madrid's in-form stars.
-
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5wsF7eTfDY]Barcelona vs Racing Santander (3-0) All Goals and Highlights 15/10/11 - YouTube[/ame]
-
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K552kFSq4zc]Real Madrid vs Real Betis (4-1) All Goals and Highlights 15/10/11 - YouTube[/ame]
-
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRs7GO4pYn8&feature=player_embedded[/ame]
-
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hitman87
:whistle1::whistle1::whistle1:
