Sporting Gijon 0-1 Barcelona - Lineups/Stats
La Liga Fixtures, Results
Sporting Gijon pushed Barcelona all the way inEl Molinon , but went down by a solitary goal from Pedro as the Blaugrana extended their lead at the top of the table.
The visitors started the stronger of the two sides, dominating possession from the off, but los Rojiblancos were trying to stifle their illustrious opponents by pressurising them across the pitch.
Andres Iniesta almost broke his duck for the season after some excellent build up play through the middle of the pitch in the 12th minute, but the shot was saved. From the resulting corner,Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the post with his header before the rebound was tucked home, but the Swede was correctly adjudged to have been offside.
Sporting had an opportunity when Carles Puyol put the ball behind for a corner in the 17th minute, but the set piece was poorly executed. Minutes later, Miguel de las Cuevas played Mate Bilic into space, but the Croatian could only drag his shot wide.
It was a warning sign for the Blaugrana, who were looking more exposed in defence with Puyol moved to right back in the absence ofDani Alves . At the other end, Ibrahimovic was showing no signs of improving his recent poor form as he blazed a shot over the bar from inside the penalty area.
On the half hour mark, Barcelona took a quick free kick, albeit from the wrong position, and from Iniesta's through ball, Pedro raced clear and tucked the ball home for the opening goal. Sporting protested at the location in which the free kick was taken, but referee Paradas Romero allowed the goal to stand.
With their minds still on the opening goal, the hosts nearly found themselves two down when Messi flashed a shot across the face of goal but no one was following up at the far post.
After firing a free kick over the bar, Ibrahimovic was played in on goal in the 40th minute but he displayed a lack of conviction and his final shot was weak and easily saved by Juan Pablo.
The pace of the game slowed to that of a training game in the final few minutes of the half, and the referee ended the first 45 minutes with the score still at 1-0.
The second half started in the same vein as the first had ended, with Barcelona in the ascendancy. Just a few minutes in, Alberto Lora was booked for a handball on the edge of his own area, but Xavi couldn't hit the target with his effort after persuading Ibrahimovic that he should take the set piece.
10 minutes into the half, Iniesta slid the ball through for Ibrahimovic but Juan Pablo rushed out of his goal to clear the danger. The hosts were defending stoically, but a lack of options in attack led Manolo Preciado to bring on David Barral and Diego Castro in the 57th minute.
With two strikers on the pitch, Sporting were clearly going out for the equaliser. Bilic tested Victor Valdes with a 20-yard free kick just before the hour mark before Castro crossed towards Barral, but it was too close to Valdes.
The Blaugrana were being pressurised in defence for the first time in the match and looked to re-establish their authority by holding onto the ball and denying Sporting possession. The game could have been put beyond Sporting in the 65th minute when Pedro broke down the left hand side to cut back for Messi, but the Argentine's shot was wide of the target.
The rain continued to pour down inEl Molinon as the match drew towards its conclusion, making it difficult for the visitors to play their usual slick passing game. Nonetheless, they should have been 2-0 up in the 73rd minute. Xavi played a great through ball for Lionel Messi to square across the six-yard box, but it evaded the inept Ibrahimovic and Pedro blasted his shot high over the bar.
Minutes later, Ibrahimovic turned and cut the ball across goal but as Pedro looked certain to turn the ball in, Lora put him under just enough pressure to turn the ball away from danger.
The game was becoming more open in the final 10 minutes as Sporting tried to find an equaliser, but the greater amounts of space suited Barcelona as they threatened to double the lead. Xavi tried to play a ball over the top for Ibrahimovic to run onto, but Juan Pablo raced out of his penalty area to head the ball away from the former Inter man.
Pedro brought a save from the Sporting stopper in the dying minutes, but the game was still very much up for grabs as the clock ticked into injury time. Unfortunately for Manolo Preciado, his side were unable to make the most of their free kick opportunities and the Blaugrana claimed all three points to continue setting the pace at the summit of La Liga.
La Liga Fixtures, Results
Sporting Gijon pushed Barcelona all the way in
The visitors started the stronger of the two sides, dominating possession from the off, but los Rojiblancos were trying to stifle their illustrious opponents by pressurising them across the pitch.
Andres Iniesta almost broke his duck for the season after some excellent build up play through the middle of the pitch in the 12th minute, but the shot was saved. From the resulting corner,
Sporting had an opportunity when Carles Puyol put the ball behind for a corner in the 17th minute, but the set piece was poorly executed. Minutes later, Miguel de las Cuevas played Mate Bilic into space, but the Croatian could only drag his shot wide.
It was a warning sign for the Blaugrana, who were looking more exposed in defence with Puyol moved to right back in the absence of
On the half hour mark, Barcelona took a quick free kick, albeit from the wrong position, and from Iniesta's through ball, Pedro raced clear and tucked the ball home for the opening goal. Sporting protested at the location in which the free kick was taken, but referee Paradas Romero allowed the goal to stand.
With their minds still on the opening goal, the hosts nearly found themselves two down when Messi flashed a shot across the face of goal but no one was following up at the far post.
After firing a free kick over the bar, Ibrahimovic was played in on goal in the 40th minute but he displayed a lack of conviction and his final shot was weak and easily saved by Juan Pablo.
The pace of the game slowed to that of a training game in the final few minutes of the half, and the referee ended the first 45 minutes with the score still at 1-0.
The second half started in the same vein as the first had ended, with Barcelona in the ascendancy. Just a few minutes in, Alberto Lora was booked for a handball on the edge of his own area, but Xavi couldn't hit the target with his effort after persuading Ibrahimovic that he should take the set piece.
10 minutes into the half, Iniesta slid the ball through for Ibrahimovic but Juan Pablo rushed out of his goal to clear the danger. The hosts were defending stoically, but a lack of options in attack led Manolo Preciado to bring on David Barral and Diego Castro in the 57th minute.
With two strikers on the pitch, Sporting were clearly going out for the equaliser. Bilic tested Victor Valdes with a 20-yard free kick just before the hour mark before Castro crossed towards Barral, but it was too close to Valdes.
The Blaugrana were being pressurised in defence for the first time in the match and looked to re-establish their authority by holding onto the ball and denying Sporting possession. The game could have been put beyond Sporting in the 65th minute when Pedro broke down the left hand side to cut back for Messi, but the Argentine's shot was wide of the target.
The rain continued to pour down in
Minutes later, Ibrahimovic turned and cut the ball across goal but as Pedro looked certain to turn the ball in, Lora put him under just enough pressure to turn the ball away from danger.
The game was becoming more open in the final 10 minutes as Sporting tried to find an equaliser, but the greater amounts of space suited Barcelona as they threatened to double the lead. Xavi tried to play a ball over the top for Ibrahimovic to run onto, but Juan Pablo raced out of his penalty area to head the ball away from the former Inter man.
Pedro brought a save from the Sporting stopper in the dying minutes, but the game was still very much up for grabs as the clock ticked into injury time. Unfortunately for Manolo Preciado, his side were unable to make the most of their free kick opportunities and the Blaugrana claimed all three points to continue setting the pace at the summit of La Liga.
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