Highlights : FC Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan FC

Match statistics

FC Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan FC
Aggregate 2-3
Goals scored 1 0

Possession (%) 75 25
Attempts on target 4 0
Attempts wide 8 1
Fouls committed 20 15

Venue : Camp Nou Stadium (Barcelona)

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Barcelona - Pertandingan semi final antara tim yang berada dalam zona grup yang sama dalam babak penyisihan, Barcelona melawan Inter Milan di laga kedua UEFA liga champions 2009 / 2010 berhasil dimenangi Barcelona dengan skor 1-0 melawan Inter Milan. Namun kemenangan ini tidak mampu membawa Puyol dkk melaju ke final liga champions tahun ini dikarenakan kalah aggregat dengan Inter Milan 2-3, adapun di laga pertama Inter Milan berhasil memenangi ertandingan dengan skor 3-1.

Juara bertahan yang mendapatkan 6 gelar musim lalu ini, harus terhenti langkahya di semi final liga champions musim ini.

pada pertandingan ini, Barcelona lebih menguasai pertandingan, terlebih usai inter bermain dengan sepuluh orang, lantaran Thiago Motta mendapatkan kartu kuning keduanya di menit 28, setelah sebelumnya mendapatkannya di menit 10'.

Walaupun bermain dengan sepuluh orang, pertahanan Intr Milan pun tetap kokoh hingga Barcelona yang bermain di kandangnya sendiri kesusahan menjebol gawang Inter Milan. Motta dikeluarkan wasit lantaran diduga melakukan pelanggaran terhadap Busquets.

Anak asuhan Jose Mourinho akhirnya kebobolan oleh Gerard pique di menit 84', namun Iter tetap melaju ke final tahun ini dan akan menghadapi Bayern Munchen yang menaklukkan Lyon dengan aggregat 4-0.

Melajunya Inter Final ke final ini, adalah pertama kalinya sejak tahun 1972.

Keberhasilan maju ke final jelas dapat sambutan sangat antusias dari pemain Inter. Tak terkecuali Eto'o, yang musim lalu justru mengantarkan Barcelona berhasil menjuarai kompetisi ini dengan mengalahkan Manchester United di final.

Dengan kesempatan ini, Bayern Munchen dan Inter Milan juga bisa meraih treble winner tahun ini dikarenakan Inter juga masih memiliki kesempatan di final copa italia, dan berada diurutan pertama Serie A, begitu juga bayern Munchen yang masih memiliki final piala Jerman dan saaat ini bertengger di posisi pertama bundeliga.

Susunan Pemain :
FC Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Xavi, Ibrahimovic (Bojan 63'), Messi, Keita, Busquets (Jeffren 63'), Pedro, Milito (Maxwell 46'), Yaya Toure
Inter Milan : Cesar, Zanetti, Lucio, T. Motta, Eto'o (Mariga 86'), Sneijder (Muntari 66'), Maicon, Cambiasso, Diego Milito (Cordoba 81'), Samuel, Chivu

Goals :
Pique 84'

Referee
	Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)
Assistant referees
	Peter Hermans (BEL), Walter Vromans (BEL)
Fourth official
	Serge Gumienny (BEL)

Match statistics

Barcelona		Internazionale
1	Goals scored	0
4	Attempts on target	0
8	Attempts wide	1
1	Yellow cards	5
0	Red cards	1
20	Fouls committed	15
9	Corners	2
4	Offside	4
44' 42''	Possession (time)	14' 44''
75	Possession (%)	25

Player Ratings : FC Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan FC

BARCELONA

Valdes: NA – Just what exactly does Victor Valdes look like again? He was absolutely unnecessary as a shot stopper, given that Inter had only one shot all night, and that was off target. He didn’t even bother going up for the late corner!

Dani Alves: 6.5 – Beyond anything else, he needed to stay onside more. On at least two occasions he got himself into good positions on the overlap, but invited the referee’s assistant to raise his flag. With real chances at a premium for the home side, his ability to get crosses in was vital for Barca, which he did more so late on... after Ibrahimovic had been withdrawn.

Toure: 5.5 – Had little to do at the back, and was left punting balls forward as Barca looked increasingly desperate to break through the stubborn Inter rearguard.

Pique: 7 – Started marauding forward from early on, and did superbly well to keep his calm before slotting home Barca’s apparent lifeline.

Milito: 5 – Supplied no width and few crosses in his role as an emergency left-back before being replaced at the interval.

Xavi: 7 – Yet again he was the man pulling all the strings, but he had two chances to pull the trigger early on which he may rue not taking.

Busquets: 5.5 – His role was deemed almost unnecessary by Inter’s defensive gameplan. Hardly covered himself in glory with his reaction to Thiago Motta’s stray hand, but his play on the ball was generally neat and tidy in his hour on the pitch.

Keita: 6 – Decent enough in midfield, but never had the cutting edge that was needed on a night like this.

Messi: 7 – Despite the constant attention from the likes of Cambiasso, Zanetti and Samuel, he still contrived to forge some crucial openings for his team-mates. Looked devastated at the end, and it it’s a shame he won’t be in Madrid on May 22.

Ibrahimovic: 5.5 – Saw very few chances come his way, but ironically was asked to watch on as Barca finally started crossing high balls into the box immediately after his substitution. Has progressed as a Champions League footballer this season, but didn’t show it tonight.

Pedro: 6 – Supplied decent width in the Blaugrana attack, but his indecisiveness sometimes cost his side some chances, not least when he had rare chances to cross from in behind Maicon.

Subs:

Maxwell: 6 – Brought the necessary width to Barca’s play in the second half, but often missed the target with his crosses as Barca struggled for service from the left all night.

Bojan: 6 – What might have happened if Bojan had headed home just before Pique’s goal? And what would have happened if the referee had not ruled out his 92nd minute effort?

Jeffren: 5.5 – Lively, but ultimately couldn’t supply the added edge that Barca were lacking late on.

INTER MILAN

Julio Cesar: 7 – He may have only had four shots to save, and on one of them he was beaten by Pique, but his command of the area throughout was superb. Regularly, he was forced to come and punch, or claim crosses, as Barca laid siege to his goal.

Maicon: 8 – Another superb showing in Europe from the big right-back, whose market price must have gone through the roof during Inter’s run to the final. Worked tirelessly at the back, whilst also supplying a decent percentage of the Nerazzurri’s completed passes in their rare forays into Barca territory.

Lucio: 7.5 – The Brazilian gets better and better on European nights. A colossus in the air once more as he saw off Ibrahimovic for a second week running, whilst also throwing himself in the way of countless attempted throughballs.

Samuel: 8 – Another heroic effort from the Argentine, regularly getting in vital blocks and tackles as Messi and Ibrahimovic tried to exploit his side of the back four with regularity. He put in a couple of outstanding challenges on Messi which will be worth playing back to his grandkids in years to come.

Zanetti: 7.5 – The heroic captain was at the top of his game once more as he led his battered and bruised troops through a traumatic 90 minutes. Who could deny that this man deserves to lift a Champions League trophy before his career finally comes to a close?

Cambiasso: 7 – Another fantastic defensive display up against Lionel Messi, he was the base around which Inter built the gameplan that has led them to the Champions League final.

Thiago Motta: 5 – His night was a short one, and his red card means his participation on May 22 will be ever shorter. Though a straight red may have been harsh, it was reckless in the least for him to be waving his arms around when already on a yellow card. Left his side short-handed for over an hour, but luckily they got away with it.

Chivu: 6.5 – For a man who was thrown in less than 15 minutes before kick-off, he stood up to the challenge superbly, regularly becoming a fifth or sixth defender to help keep the red and blue hoards away from the Inter goal.

Sneijder: 6.5 – Got through a huge amount of hard work in midfield, and also held onto the ball as well as anyone to give his side’s defensive players a rest between the waves of attacks Barca were subjecting them to for the most part.

Eto’o: 6.5 – Rarely can the Cameroonian have put in such a committed performance without hardly seeing the ball. His teamwork has shone through at times this season, but he outdid himself tonight as he constantly drove forward on rare attacks and immediately sat in in midfield when needed as defensive cover.

Milito: 6.5 – The one player Inter cannot do without was asked to put in yet another display of real heroism, until finally running out of legs late on. Jose Mourinho will just wish he could wrap him in cotton wool between now and May 22, but he is desperately needed for Inter’s challenges for two other trophies.

Subs:

Muntari: 6 – Replaced Sneijder to provide fresh legs in Inter’s bid to hold on, and provided a decent disciplined effort in his 25 minutes on the pitch.

Cordoba: NA

Mariga: NA

FC Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan FC

An immense display of intelligent defending and sheer determination took FC Internazionale Milano into the European Champion Clubs' Cup final for the first time since 1972, ending FC Barcelona's hopes of becoming the first team to defend the UEFA Champions League.

Once again José Mourinho's tactics proved decisive, Inter overcoming the loss of Goran Pandev minutes before kick-off plus the dismissal of former Barcelona midfielder Thiago Motta inside the first half-hour and even a fine 84th-minute goal from Gerard Piqué. That late strike was the only moment when it looked as if Inter, who gave everything to protect their 3-1 first-leg lead, were not going to thwart the reigning European and world champions at every turn as they look to win the trophy for the third time.

The atmosphere had been febrile for an hour before the game, although amid the tension there were warm embraces between Xavi Hernàndez, Samuel Eto'o and Víctor Valdés. There was no let-up in the intensity on the pitch, however, although Inter had been forced into an emergency reshuffle even before Motta's red card. Pandev broke down in the warm-up and Mourinho opted for Cristian Chivu as his replacement.

Inter's counterattacking tactics meant there were often nine white shirts behind the ball while the European champions tested their version of safe-breaking skills. Try as they might it was impossible to unpick the Italian champions, although Pedro Rodríguez darted in front of Motta and Maicon to prod Daniel Alves' cross narrowly wide. Inter's response was instant. An excellent combination between Diego Milito and Wesley Sneijder sucked Seydou Keita, an experimental left-back, towards the danger, so suddenly that Eto'o was alone with the ball in sight of goal. Only the timely arrivals of Gabriel Milito and Pedro spared Barcelona.

Then came five minutes that made Inter's task even harder. Motta had already been booked but his use of an outstretched hand on the face of Sergio Busquets brought him a straight red card. As Inter looked to reorganise yet again, it was another Brazilian who came to their rescue. Yaya Touré released Lionel Messi and the competition's leading scorer bent in a vicious drive which Júlio César finger-tipped round the post.

It needed an immense diving block by Samuel to prevent Zlatan Ibrahimović getting off a shot just before the break, yet the Nerazzurri were impressive. Diego Milito and Sneijder worked tirelessly to win possession and always stretched the home side when they had the ball. The degree to which Inter remained largely untroubled was shown as Guardiola first replaced Ibrahimović with Bojan Krkić, then urged Piqué to push up as an auxiliary centre-forward. Another striker, Jeffrén, followed as time began to ebb away and Inter's relentless blocking and retreating forced the normally slick Barcelona to shoot wastefully from distance.

Searching for inspiration, Messi drifted left and curved in a cross which, at last, eluded Samuel only for Bojan to nudge a free header past the post. Then came the breakthrough. Xavi slipped a trademark pass to Piqué, he turned substitute Ivàn Córdoba and swept into the open net. It proved too little too late for the holders, however, Inter holding out to end their reign and set up a meeting with FC Bayern München on 22 May.

Highlights : FC Barcelona 3-1 CD Xerez

Goals :

Jeffren : http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1435836214083&ref=mf

Henry : http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1435890095430&ref=mf

Ibrahimovic : http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1435903535766&ref=mf

Player Ratings : FC Barcelona 3-1 CD Xerez

FC Barcelona 3-1 CD Xerez

A much-changed FC Barcelona side moved four points clear of Real Madrid CF, who face Real Zaragoza later, at the top of the Spanish Liga thanks to a 3-1 victory at home bottom-side Xerez CD.

Josep Guardiola's team selection suggested he had Wednesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at home to FC Internazionale Milano in mind - Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodríguez were among the regulars on the bench - but their fluency remained as Jeffrén confidently struck a 14th-minute opener.

Zlatan Ibrahimović broke through the Xerez rearguard and unselfishly squared for Thierry Henry (24) to add a second but arrears were quickly reduced when Dmytro Chygrynskiy's error culminated in a vicious finish from Mario Bermejo. The visitors missed a number of chances after the break and Ibrahimović (56) slid in the third to confirm the victory before Xerez had two players dismissed in stoppage time. Third-placed Valencia CF host RC Deportivo La Coruña in the last of Saturday's games.

Highlights : Inter Milan 3-1 FC Barcelona

Match statistics

Inter Milan 3-1 FC Barcelona

Goals scored 3 1
Possession (%) 32 68
Attempts on target 5 7
Attempts wide 3 1
Fouls committed 18 21

Venue : Stade San Siro (Milan)

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Milan - Semifinal liga champions tahun ini yang mempertemukan dua klub yang sebelumnya pernah bertemu di babak grup kualifikasi. inter miln melawan FC barcelona.

Laga yang ihelat di kandang Intr Milan lebih dahulu ini mampu dimenangkan Inter milan. FC Barcelona harus takluk dengan skor 3-1.

Masih seperti biasa, permainan Barcelona yang selalu menguasai bola pun juga terlihat dalam pertandingan ini. Posisi bola 32:68 sebenarnya bisa dibilang sangat menguntungkan Barcelona.

Pertandingan berjalan ketat sejak peluit tanda kick-off dibunyikan. Barca yang tetap mengandalkan Lionel Messi berusaha menghadang tekanan-tekanan yang langsung dilancarkan Inter. La Beneamata sendiri cukup lugas dalam melakukan serangan dengan ketiga penyerangnya; Goran Pandev, Diego Milito dan Samuel Eto'o.

Inter Milan harus kebobolan terlebih dahulu di tangan Barcelona di menit 19'. Namun melalui operan Diego Milito akhirnya Inter berhasil menyamakan kedudukan melalui Sneijder di menit 30'.

Di babak kedua barcelona pun harus gigit jari, karena Inter berhasil melesakkan dua gol tambahannya ke gawang FC Barcelona. Di menit 48' dicetak oleh Maicon. Berawal dari bola yang berada di kaki Milito, operan kemudian diberikan kepada Maicon. Maicon langsung menghujamkan bola ke jala Valdes dan skor pun berubah menjadi 2-1.

Di menit 61', Inter Milan kembali unggul. Gol tersebut tercipta setelah umpan Eto'o dari sisi kanan disambut dengan sundulan oleh Sneijder di sisi kiri. Bola kemudian langsung disambar oleh Milito, juga dengan sundulan, tepat di depan gawang valdes.

Pertandingan dimenangkan Inter Milan dengan skor 2-1. Perjalanan di laga kedua yang akan diadakan di Camp Nou, barcelona harus menang 2-0 atau lebih bila menginginkan ke partai puncak final liga champions yang diadakan di kandang rivalnya, Santiago bernabeu Real Madrid.

Goals :

0 - 1 19' Pedro
W. Sneijder 30'1 - 1
Maicon 48'2 - 1
D. Milito 61'3 - 1

Referee
	Olegário Benquerença (POR)
Assistant referees
	Jose Manuel Silva Cardinal (POR), Bertino Miranda (POR)
Fourth official
	Artur Soares Dias (POR)

Match statistics

Internazionale		Barcelona
3	Goals scored	1
5	Attempts on target	7
3	Attempts wide	1
2	Yellow cards	5
0	Red cards	0
18	Fouls committed	21
2	Corners	4
9	Offside	2
18' 35''	Possession (time)	38' 8''
32	Possession (%)	68

Player Ratings : Internazionale 3-1 Barcelona

INTER MILAN

Cesar – 7.0: Only required to pick the ball out of the net in the first half, but his point-blank save from Sergio Busquets when the score was 2-1 could prove to be a vital moment in this tie.

Maicon – 7.0: A bizarre decision at the opening goal saw the Brazilian step into no-man’s land, allowing Maxwell a free run in on goal. But, he provided the perfect response, showing splendid technique to flick the ball past Valdes.

Lucio – 7.5: Up against former Inter charge Ibrahimovic, and it was testament to the assurance of the former Bayern Munich stopper that the Swede barely got a kick in the entire evening. Another solid and dependable display from the centre-half.

Samuel – 7.5: Has built a coherent understanding with Lucio as the tournament has progressed, and barely put a foot wrong all evening, although the static Ibrahimovic made his work easier in truth. Fantastic block denied Pedro as Barcelona went in hunt for a response.

Zanetti – 8.0: The veteran was a tower of strength in the closing stages as Barcelona pressed, and used all of his experience to guide his side to a famous result. The 36-year old showed the industry and drive of a man half his age, and was a true inspiration.

Cambiasso – 7.5: Perhaps gave up too easily in his pursuit of Maxwell for the opening goal, but dragged his side from the doldrums to play an integral part in the comeback. He broke up the play when Inter were superior, and offered a strong defensive shield to his back four as they drifted deeper into their own territory.

Motta – 7.0: Slotted in alongside Cambiasso and attempted to be link between defence and attack, but on many occasion needlessly surrendered the ball back to Barcelona. However, he stayed close to Messi as he drifted infield, and was instrumental in the diminutive forward having a reasonably quiet evening.

Sneijder – 8.0: The former Real Madrid attacking midfielder came back to haunt Barcelona, keeping his head to net a vital equaliser, and the Dutchman was as ever looking to devise openings for the strike pairing of Milito and Eto’o. A typically offensive run helped Milito net number three.

Eto’o – 7.5: Operated from a right-forward role, and his powerful running and direct nature upset Puyol and Pique, who did not enjoy the constant attentions of the Cameroonian. Provided the cross from which Sneijder eventually levelled things up, and was also heavily involved in Milito’s crucial third.

Milito – 8.5: The prolific front-man bounced back from squandering a first-half chance to play a pivotal role as Inter clawed their way back into the match. He showed awareness to lay a perfect pass to Sneijder for the equalising goal, and he also sent through Maicon for Inter’s second. His close-range header for the third rounded off a wonderful night’s work.

Pandev – 6.5: The former Lazio star gave Alves a difficult evening, constantly harassing him, and refusing to allow him to settle. His driving runs on the left always gave his midfielders an out-ball, but was replaced just-after the interval by Dejan Stankovic.

Subs

Stankovic – 5.0: Replaced Pandev to shore up the midfield, and did his utmost to starve the opposition of any time on the ball.

Balotelli – 4.5: On for Milito in the closing stages, but struggled to come to terms with the pace of the match.

Chivu – 5.0: Replaced the injured Maicon for the Barcelona onslaught and kept them at bay.

BARCELONA

Valdes – 6.0: Looked nervy when pushing away an early Eto’o chance, and despite being exposed for Sneijder’s equaliser, may feel he could perhaps have done better to block the shot. Helpless at the second and third goals.

Alves – 5.5: Not the Brazilian’s best evening. He was wasteful in attack and was dragged infield allowing Sneijder time and space to slot home the equaliser. His booking for simulation summed up his night.

Puyol – 6.5: Picked up a booking for a blatant bodycheck on Milito that rules him out of the second leg, and the Argentine worked the experienced defender with intelligent running. Not the most secure of performances from the usually adept Spanish international.

Pique – 6.5: Camped in the Inter half as he tried to grab a vital goal, but could not convert, and never looked comfortable in the face of the movement of Eto’o and Milito.

Maxwell – 6.0: Superb, lung-bursting run took him into an ideal position to set up Pedro’s opening goal, but all three of Inter’s goals originated from his side of the pitch, and he will disappointed he allowed Eto’o the time and space to set up the first and third goal.

Xavi – 6.5: As ever, the man Barcelona looked to, to play the killer pass, and his ability to keep possession and provide slide-rule passes was in evidence on more that one occasion. However, he became increasingly frustrated as the match progressed, and he was unable to exert the influence he is normally capable of.

Busquets – 5.5: The young Spaniard appeared out of his depth on occasions this evening, and he was simply unable to track Sneijder’s telling contributions. Missed a guilt-edged chance to equaliser when the score was 2-1, and his miss could prove pivotal in the tie.

Keita – 6.0: Employed to add some steel to midfield and settled well, but was out-fought in key moments when Inter were at their most vibrant, and did not produce enough of an attacking threat, nor protect his defence suitably.

Messi – 6.5: Closely monitored by both Motta and Cambiasso, who strangled his space in the gap between the midfield and Ibrahimovic, and as a result he was forced to fend on scraps in wide areas and long range efforts on goal.

Ibrahimovic – 4.0: Was he fit? Ibra had only played ten minutes of football since the first leg versus Arsenal in the quarter-finals, and it showed; the Swede was a yard behind the pace of play, and did not show anything like the level of movement required to keep Barcelona flowing.

Pedro – 6.5: Beautifully neat finish to open the scoring set the tone for an good display from the industrious young winger, but was caught napping at Sneijder’s equaliser as he refused to get back to help his defenders.

Subs

Abidal – 5.0: Replaced Ibrahimovic as Guardiola shuffled his side, and the French full back played almost as a left winger as Barcelona went all-out attack, but could not provide a telling contribution.

Internazionale 3-1 Barcelona

Internazionale are a huge step closer to a spot in this year's UEFA Champions League final following Tuesday's 3-1 win over Barcelona.

The match began with a slightly dominant Barcelona, who took the lead on 19 minutes when Maxwell's pass from the left allowed Pedro to hit the target with a lot shot from about 11 meters.

But Inter reacted well and it was Wesley Sneijder to level the score after Diego Milito extended a cross from Samuel Eto'o on the half hour mark.

And the Italian champions completed the turn-around three minutes after the interval. Milito was again of great importance, this time delivering the ball to Maicon whose quick touch left keeper Victor Valdes beaten.

Milito himself scored Inter's third goal one minute after the hour. Wesley Sneijder attempted to get his head to a cross from Eto'o but missed, although the ball ended up in front of the Argentinian who made no mistake from close range.

Although Barcelona continuously attacked in the final ten minutes, the Italian defense held on to maintain their 3-1 lead.

The second leg will be played at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium on Wednesday, April 28.

Match statistics

Internazionale		Barcelona
3	Goals scored	1
5	Attempts on target	7
3	Attempts wide	1
2	Yellow cards	5
0	Red cards	0
18	Fouls committed	21
2	Corners	4
9	Offside	2
18' 35''	Possession (time)	38' 8''
32	Possession (%)	68

Highlights : Espanyol 0-0 FC Barcelona

Player Ratings : Espanyol 0-0 FC Barcelona

ESPANYOL

Kameni: 6.5 - Amazingly he had almost nothing to deal with, but made a routine save from Maxwell and was confident when collecting crosses.

Chica: 7 - He struggled when Messi came over onto his flank but was more comfortable against Maxwell and didn't allow Henry to get into the game.

Victor Ruiz: 7.5 - Very assured performance as he kept a tight backline to prevent Barcelona from having many options inside the penalty area.

Pareja: 7.5 - Dominant in the air against the miniature Barcelona attack, while he made a crucial tackle on Messi late on to deny the Argentine a shooting opportunity.

Didac Vila: 7.5 - The promising youngster didn't allow Dani Alves much time on the ball in the final third, and the Brazilian was clearly uncomfortable with such close attention.


Baena: 7 - He was almost acting as a fifth defender as he sat deep and provided extra cover. Trod a tightrope after being booked in the second half but coped with the pressure successfully.

Forlin: 7.5 - Almost boundless energy reserves - constantly pressed and harried the Barcelona players, allowing Espanyol to have two-on-one situations all around the pitch.

Callejon: 7 - His delivery was sometimes disappointing but worked very hard on the wing. Put in a great cross just before half time from which Osvaldo hit the post.

Verdu: 7 - Allowed a free role behind Osvaldo, floating from wing to wing as well as dropping deep. Ensured that Xavi did not have much time on the ball.

Luis Garcia: 6.5 - He was creating problems on the flanks for the Barcelona full backs but he wasn't quite as involved as Callejon on the opposite wing.

Osvaldo: 6 - He should have scored when he hit the post just before the break or when he was given a free header in the second half but his movement was good.

Substitutes:

Ivan Alonso: 5.5 - Didn't have any great influence on the match after coming on with 15 minutes remaining.

Sahar: N/A - Only had a few minutes on the pitch.

BARCELONA

Valdes: 6.5 - He turned Osvaldo's effort onto the post just before the break, although there was an element of fortune about the save, and had very little else to do.

Dani Alves: 4.5 - Not comfortable under the heavy pressure from Espanyol and was sent off on the hour after picking up his second yellow card.

Pique: 7.5 - He covered well for Dani Alves when the full back moved forward, and generally dealt with the threat of Osvaldo and Verdu very well.

Milito: 6 - The Argentine centre back didn't look at his best, and Osvaldo's movement was starting to get the better of him before he was replaced.

Puyol: 6.5 - Out of position on the left hand side but more at home on the right after Dani Alves was sent off, but was as combative as ever to prevent Espanyol from having many clear cut chances.

Xavi: 6 - A performance to show that he is, in fact, human. Usually he orchestrates the midfield and dominates proceedings but he was almost on the periphery of the match tonight.

Busquets: 7 - Ready for the physical battle in midfield, but he was forced to drop back into central defence after Dani Alves' dismissal.

Toure: 5.5 - He was caught in possession on a number of occasions, putting pressure on his own defence, and he was taken off before the hour for Henry.

Messi: 6 - He was forced to drift around from right to left and from high up the pitch back into midfield to find the ball, but while he was able to beat players with ease he was well marshalled when he arrived in the penalty area.

Pedro: 5.5 - His deflected cross came off the top of the crossbar in the first half, but he was otherwise largely ineffective on the right hand side.

Maxwell: 5.5 - Played in a more advanced role than he was used to and his lack of attacking instinct was evident. Moved to left back after Henry was brought on.

Substitutes:

Henry: 5 - Had no effect on proceedings in the half hour that he spent on the pitch.

Keita: 5.5 - Provided more of an aerial threat than was on the pitch before he arrived.

Ibrahimovic: N/A - Brought on too late to affect the game.

Espanyol 0-0 FC Barcelona

RCD Espanyol gave Real Madrid CF some encouragement in the Liga title race by holding leaders and city rivals FC Barcelona to a goalless draw on Saturday.

The champions have a four-point lead ahead of Madrid's home game against third-placed Valencia CF on Sunday. Pedro Rodríguez went close to giving Barcelona the lead early on at Cornellá-El Prat when his cross came back off Carlos Kameni's upright. At the other end, Pablo Osvaldo's centre met a similar fate as Víctor Valdés stretched to touch the ball onto the woodwork.

Barça played the final 28 minutes with ten men after Daniel Alves was shown a second yellow card, although there was some cheer ahead of the holders' UEFA Champions League semi-final opener against FC Internazionale Milano on Tuesday with the appearance of Zlatan Ibrahimović as a substitute following a calf injury.

Highlights : Barcelona 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna

Goals :
Bojan Krkic 16'1 - 0 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1426396778103&ref=mf
Pedro 69'2 - 0 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1426405938332&ref=mf
Y. Touré 72'3 - 0 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1426412898506&ref=mf

Player Ratings: Barcelona 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna

BARCELONA

Victor Valdes - 7.5: Only called on a couple of times but had a crucial hand in the second goal to relieve tension inside Camp Nou.

Daniel Alves - 7.5: Was central to much of Barca's first half attacking dominance and took it upon himself to make a lung bursting break to force the second.

Rafael Marquez - 7.5: Stepped in to Puyol's shoes and produced a composed performance. Made his presence felt up front too and tested Aranzubia on a couple of occasions.

Gerard Pique - 6.5: Solid but unspectacular, hit some stray passes when his side were probing for the second goal.

Maxwell - 7: Got forward less often in the second half as Depor frustrated Barca but overall he put in another good shift.

Yaya Toure - 7.5: Ensured the hosts dominated the ball, worked tirelessly to win it back when they did lose it and his passing was simple, straightforward and accurate. Took his goal well.

Xavi - 8: When Barca got frustrated he stayed calm, continuously seeking an opening. His delivery from set pieces was excellent and inevitably lead to Toure's goal.

Jeffren - 6.5: Worked hard to get involved and had his moments in the first half including playing a hand in the opening goal.

Lionel Messi - 7: Made some terrific runs and his passing was tidy but his decision making wasn't as clinical as we've come to expect. Guilty of being too selfish on two notable occasions.

Pedro - 8: Tireless, selfless effort. A real team player. Brilliant finish for the second goal, he was a constant threat and always looking for possession.

Bojan - 7: Good finish for the opener and can't be faulted for effort but Pedro has stolen his thunder at Camp Nou, no doubt.

Substitutes

Seydou Keita - 7: Made a difference when he came in, added a certain steel to the midfield and was a real presence in the Depor area for set pieces.

Thierry Henry - 5.5: Didn't really make much of a contribution. Had one tame effort at goal.

Sergio Busquets - 6: Slotted into midfield but had little to do as the game was won when he came in.

DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA

Daniel Aranzubia - 8: If it wasn't for him the game would have been finished inside half an hour. Made a number of fine saves, rarely spectacular but still had to stop them.

Manuel Pablo - 5: Never looked comfortable as Barca's attack turned him inside and out from the outset.

Adrian Lopez - 6: Kept Depor in the game with a robust aerial defensive presence, made some vital interceptions to keep the Blaugrana out for so long.

Lopo - 4.5: Stopped Messi and company by consistently fouling but got away with it so his coach and team-mates won't complain. Troubled by the skills and speed of Messi and Pedro.

Laure - 5.5: Improved for the early part of the second half when his side had signs of hope but struggled to contain Alves presence up field.

Sergio - 6: Made one vital goal line clearance from Marquez when it was 1-0 and put himself about. He and Tomas had a thankless task chasing Barca's passing game.

Pablo Alvarez - 5.5: Had to come very deep just to see the ball and failed to influence the game in an attacking sense as a result.

Antonio Tomas - 6: Spent the entire game trying to disrupt Barca's rhythm and did so effectively until Pedro scored that long range effort.

Jose Andres Guardado - 6.5: Depor's best outfield performer. Defended well against Messi and wasn't afraid to have a go on the few occasions he got into attacking positions.

Juan Rodriguez - 4: Barca owned the ball and he was almost non-existent.

Riki - 5.5: Put himself about and had a couple of half chances but lacked the necessary quality to make them count. Did well as an aerial defensive presence.

Substitutes

Juan Dominguez - 5.5: Did nothing to influence the flow of the game.

Niouoi Lassad - 5: Given a run out purely to give Riki a rest it seemed. Never involved.

Ivan Perez: N/A

Barcelona 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna

FC Barcelona followed up their weekend defeat 6f Real Madrid CF with a 3-0 victory against RC Deportivo La Coruña on Wednesday which extended their Liga leadership to six points.

Xavi Hernández was the architect of both Barcelona goals against Madrid and the Spanish international was quick to pick up from where he left off against Deportivo, perfectly laying on Bojan Krkić for a simple finish on 16 minutes. The visitors stood firm but were undone again on 69 minutes in uncharacteristically direct fashion.

Víctor Valdés expertly picked out marauding full-back Daniel Alves and although Deportivo goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubía reached the ball first, his swiped clearance landed at Pedro Rodríguez's feet and the 22-year-old found the unguarded net with consummate ease from 30 metres. Yaya Touré completed the scoring three minutes later, drilling the ball in from a corner, to leave Madrid six points adrift ahead of their trip to UD Almería on Thursday.

Highlights : Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona

Goal : Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona

0 - 1 33' L. Messi http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1421694140540&ref=mf
0 - 2 56' Pedro http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1421706140840&ref=mf

Player Ratings: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona

REAL MADRID

Casillas – 7: Dashed off his line to try and close down the angle on Messi, but was beaten by a clinical strike. Try to do likewise to stop Pedro, but his defenders left him exposed. Made two superb saves to deny Leo a hat-trick.

Sergio Ramos – 6: Surged forward constantly as usual but never had the confidence to take on players. Had to run tireless to backtrack to make sure the Blaurgana didn't have too much space to exploit.

Albiol – 6.5: Charged with the main task of shadowing Messi but was twisted inside out by the Argentine for the first goal. Had a few intriguing tussles with his uncompromising tackles. The best of the lot at the back for Madrid.

Garay – 5.5: Deployed to close down space rather than to mark a specific player. But went asleep when Barca and Xavi in particularly played in the decisive through balls.

Arbeloa – 5: Had a solid first half and extremely relieved he didn’t have to face Messi one-on-one. But he was cruelly exposed at the back by Pedro for the second goal.

Van der Vaart – 5: Started brightly but disappeared from the game completely. Presented with the best scoring chance in the second half but could only shoot tamely at Valdes. Withdrawn after 70 minutes as he became more anonymous.

Gago – 5: Like Garay, he was used in midfield to plug the holes and to do the dirty work. A very quiet first half performance but got more involved in attack in the second.

Xabi Alonso – 6: An industrious performance at best to hold down the fort in midfield but rarely afforded a chance to leave his own half. His attacking influence was almost non-exsistent.

Marcelo – 7: Madrid’s best attacking player in midfield. Put his pace to good use when he ran at and beat the Barca defence on several occasions. But the final pass often let him down and that is perhaps the reason why he was replaced by Guti.

Ronaldo – 7: Worked tirelessly when recovering lost possession. Never looked comfortable after picking up a slight knock midway through the first half. Had a couple of decent freekick chances as well as one-on-one’s but didn’t trouble Valdes enough.

Higuain – 4: Barely had a touch of the ball in the opening 30 minutes. Had his team’s best chance in the first half but blazed his shot wildly over. Had another opportunity in the second but fired wide.

Substitutes:

Guti – 6: Took a while to get into the game, but started pulling the strings in midfield once he settled in. Tried his best to create openings for his side, but was often hassled off the ball.

Raul – 5: The only Madrid player to ripple the back of the net, but the whistle had already gone.

Benzema – 5: A clumsy handball from Ronaldo’s lead to the cancellation of Raul’s goal. Sent a free header wide in injury time.

BARCELONA

Valdes – 8: Hardly tested in the first half but pulled off at least three crucial saves after the restart to keep his side ahead.

Puyol – 7: Deployed as a right-back in the first half but spent most of his time in midfield and left the rearguard stretched. Looked more comfortable at left-back in the second half.

Milito – 7: Surprisingly never looked troubled in the heart of defence as he easily kept Higuain quiet. Read the game and had good positioning and never needed to make too many desperate tackles.

Pique – 7.5: Covered for Puyol frequently by peeling out wide to the right and did well to keep pace with Ronaldo. Had a slip up while dealing with a long ball which allowed Higuain in late in the first half, but otherwise, a flawless evening.

Maxwell – 6: Didn’t attack at all in the first half. Given more freedom to roam upfield in the second when he was moved up to midfield but still didn’t have much to show.

Xavi – 9: Another magisterial display in midfield. Set up Messi’s goal with a delicious chip before threading in a delicate through ball to assist Pedro. Put through Leo on two other occasions but the Argentine couldn’t finish.

Busquets – 7: Like all good defensive midfielders, he did his job without much fuss. Had to constantly drop deep to win back possession. Not a commanding performance, but he was there to make up the numbers.

Keita – 7: Collaborated well with Busquets and like his midfield team-mate, worked hard to frustrate and hassle the ‘Men In White’ off the ball. Did well to win possession and distribute it to Xavi to instigate an attack.

Dani Alves – 7: The right-back started all the way up in attack but contributed almost nothing significant other than drawing a few fouls. Moved back into defence in the second half when he was able to use his explosive pace. Still, didn’t offer to much offensively but solid enough in dealing with Ronaldo.

Messi – 8: Superb movement off the ball to receive Xavi’s return pass en route to scoring the opener. Had to constantly move about to create space for himself and ghosted in behind the defence unattended on several occasions. Could have had yet another hat-trick.

Pedro – 7: Troubled Sergio Ramos with his pace, something that Arbeloa was not able to handle. Other than his well-taken goal, Pedro had a quiet outing.

Substitutes:

Iniesta – 6: Showed some great touches on the ball especially in tight spaces out on the flank.

Rafa Marquez – N/A

Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona

FC Barcelona completed the double over Real Madrid CF in the latest instalment of 'El Clásico' with a 2-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu that gives the Spanish titleholders a three-point cushion at the top of the Liga.

Having laid down a marker in their UEFA Champions League defence with a comprehensive quarter-final victory over Arsenal FC in midweek, Barça's next task was to show similar intent in the league. It was man of the moment Lionel Messi who set the wheels in motion on 33 minutes, the Argentinian collecting Xavier Hernández's delightful pass with his chest before cutting inside Raúl Albiol and poking past Iker Casillas for his 40th goal of the campaign.

Xabi Alonso and Messi's international team-mate Gonzalo Higuaín spurned Madrid's best openings of the first half, and they were soon made to pay after the interval. The second period was 11 minutes old when Pedro Rodríguez benefitted from another perfect Xavi pass and stroked past the advancing Casillas. The home goalkeeper produced two fine saves to prevent Messi salting Real's wounds, but it was still very much Barcelona's evening as they inflicted a first home league defeat of the season on their hosts.

Sevilla FC had earlier enhanced their claims for a top-four finish with a 2-1 victory at Málaga CF. It was not all plain sailing for the Andalusian side, though, Felipe Caicedo putting Málaga in front on 15 minutes. Sevilla had to wait for the midway point in the second half for Juan Cala to equalise and it was not until five minutes from time that Lolo struck the winner.

At the other end of the table, bottom-placed Xerez CD are seven points adrift of safety having lost 1-0 at home to Getafe CF, who ended the game with ten men. Just two points better off than Xerez are Real Valladolid CF, who drew 0-0 at CD Tenerife, while Villarreal CF are sixth having beaten Real Sporting de Gijón 1-0 thanks to Diego Godín's 16th-minute goal.

Highlights : Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal

L. Messi 21'1 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1417559197169&ref=mf
L. Messi 37'2 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1417569157418&ref=mf
L. Messi 42'3 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1417580917712&ref=mf
L. Messi 88'4 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1417594118042&ref=mf

Player Ratings: Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal

BARCELONA

Valdes: 7.5 - Should have taken his deckchair and enjoyed the Messi show in comfort. Had little to do for the most part but did make a good block to deny Bendtner before the Danish striker scored off the rebound. Apart from that it was a quite night between the sticks.

Alves: 8 - Works tirelessly for his side and chases every loose ball. Tonight was
typical of his work rate as he made a good block early in the first half and chased back to deny Bendtner with a last ditch tackle before the forward gave the visitors a surprise lead.

Milito: 7.5 - Slotted into the back four without any apparent problems and put some manners on Nasri with a slalom tackle. Did well to deny Bendtner with a perfectly timed tackle on the hour mark just when Arsenal were threatening.

Marquez: 6.5 - Certainly not the player of old and doesn't have the pace to play at this level any longer. One of the few Barca players to give the ball away but in his defence he did clatter into Rosicky early on making the Czech a spectator for the remainder of the match.

Abidal: 7 - Reasonably good and would have been expecting a harder night with Walcott starting for Arsenal even if he was left for dead on a handful of occasions. Supplied a poor ball which eventually led to Messi's second and was withdrawn with an injury shortly after half-time.

Busquets: 7 - Guilty of some cynical play in the first half by slicing down the speedy Walcott with some bad challenges. Dished out the rough stuff and threw himself to ground when Eboue appeared to send an elbow in his direction.

Xavi: 8 - A modicum of consistency as he patrolled the midfield with his usual brand of class. Simply doesn't give the ball away. No wonder Barca had 75% of the possession at one stage.

Keita: 8 - Good all-round performance as he was the iron fist to Xavi's velvet glove. Supplied the assist for Messi's hat-trick with a neat header which set the number ten on his way.

Pedro: 8 - Looked lively from the start fizzing an early shot wide. Tracked into his own to win the ball back when he gave it away and delivered some good
crosses.

Messi: 10 - A perfect ten for the world's perfect ten. The magician was simply unplayable scoring a mesmerising four goals with each one of them assisted by his unique brand of genius. His first was a rocket strike, the second an instinctive piece of the art of goalscoring, the third an outrageous cheeky chip while his fourth showed his relentless refusal to be beaten. Nobody can touch Messi on his present form so enjoy him at his breathtaking best. As tonight's exhibition showed it's the greatest show in town.

Bojan: 6 - Very quiet night in front of goal replacing Ibrahimovic. In truth though everyone was in Messi's shadow.

Substitutes

Maxwell: 6.5 - Replaced Abidal in the second half and was never tested by Walcott's pace mainly because Barca hogged the ball.

Yaya Toure: 6.5 - On for Bojan in the 55th and steadied the Barca ship ensuring they didn't go to pieces like the final 20 minutes in the Emirates.

Iniesta: N/A - A five minute cameo near the end meaning he should see some action in the Clasico this weekend.

ARSENAL

Almunia: 5.5 - Not a top class goalkeeper, never has been and never will be.
While Messi's goals were all superb a better shot-stopper would have done better on at least the final goal where he was made to look silly. Potential England goalkeeper. Yeah right.

Sagna: 6 - A spectator for the most part but did charge forward at times sending in the occasional good ball.

Vermaelen: 6.5 - Made a vital block to deny Bojan in the first half and was Arsenal's best defender on a sorry night for the north Londoners.

Silvestre: 4.5 - Awful night for the former Manchester United player. Can no longer cut it at this level and his errors led to both of Messi's first two goals. Needs to be sent packing and fast.

Clichy: 6.5 - Fizzed in a terrific ball for Bendtner's header which struck the post in the second half. Later tried a very optimistic shot from range which his
side were well beaten.

Denilson: 5.5 - Picked up a harsh booking for a fair tackle on Messi in the first-half when he clearly won the ball. Rarely seen afterwards.

Nasri: 6 - Picked up an early knock and was left clutching his ankle making his contribution rather fleeting while he battled on.

Diaby: 7 - Won the ball brilliantly in the midfield to go on a lung bursting run to set up Walcott to create Bendtner's shock early goal. A rare bright spark for the Gunners on a sad night for Arsene Wenger.

Walcott: 5.5 - Given a start he should have done better and while his pace was a threat it was seen in only fits and starts. Not a patch on his introduction a week ago.

Bendtner: 7 - Took his goal well and was a threat up front when he saw got some service. His touch let him down on the hour mark when he could have got a second.

Rosicky: 5 - Didn't look fit and even worse not particularly interested. Marquez's early bone crunching challenge set the tone for his night and he wasted a good chance when he was clean through on goal.

Substitutes

Eboue: 5.5 - Picked up a booking for using his elbow aiming it at Busquet's face.

Eduardo: 5 - Replaced Rosicky but struggled to get a kick in his quarter on an hour stint in the Camp Nou.

FC Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal

It required a performance of absolute brilliance and four wonderful goals from Lionel Messi but FC Barcelona underlined their status as European champions by sweeping past Arsenal FC to advance to a semi-final against FC Internazionale Milano.

Even after falling behind to Nicklas Bendtner's early goal on the counterattack, Barça built on last week's impressive display in north London as Messi contributed a sumptuous 22-minute hat-trick and added a fourth two minutes from time. The 6-3 aggregate scoreline took the UEFA Champions League titleholders into the semi-finals for the third year in a row and will also give food for though to José Mourinho, whose Inter side now face the task of stopping the Barça juggernaut in the last four.

The visitors had started full of self-belief and intensity of purpose, unfazed by Barça's attacking arsenal. Abou Diaby combined telescopic tackling with lung-busting runs, and that earned his team their 18th-minute breakthrough. The Arsenal midfielder robbed Gabriel Milito on the halfway line, Theo Walcott sprinted down the right and passed towards Bendtner. Daniel Alves arrived in time to block and Victor Valdés pawed away the loose ball, but the Dane was up quickest to prod in.

By then it had already taken a fine fingertip save from Almunia to turn away a Messi drive. It was obvious the inspirational Argentinian wanted to appear in a third successive semi-final, and he duly took matters into his own hands. Three minutes after Bendtner's strike, Messi's attempted pass bounced back off Mickäel Silvestre so he simply crashed a left-footed drive high past Manuel Almunia from outside the box.

After the power came the finesse as the European champions started to find their passing rhythm. Eight minutes before the break that culminated in Messi sending Eric Abidal through and, though Thomas Vermaelen got a foot to the left-back's low cross, Pedro Rodríguez tapped the loose ball to Messi. One touch to take him free of a challenge and the next to dink over Almunia and Barcelona were in control.

Two become three when Arsenal were caught pushing up. Seydou Keita headed a loose ball into the path of Messi and the No10 was bearing down on Almunia again. Once more the Spanish goalkeeper was reduced to the role of helpless spectator as the 22-year-old deftly scooped the ball up and over his dive to complete his hat-trick in style.

Although Messi's play was sublime Arsenal continued to push Barcelona close to their limit, Diaby and Denilson striving to contain Xavi Hernàndez. Josep Guardiola's side lost Abidal, in his second comeback match after seven weeks out injured, Maxwell coming on, and the home coach added a tactical change with Bojan Krkić being replaced by Yaya Touré.

Arsenal would not concede defeat and although both were offside, Bendtner and Walcott hit the woodwork with efforts which showed the spirit in Arsène Wenger's team. It was their misfortune to come up against a team at their imperious best, and Messi underlined that with one last flourish in the 88th minute, rounding Vermaelen and Gaël Clichy before clipping past Almunia at the second attempt – only the sixth time a player has scored four goals in a UEFA Champions League match.

Highlights : Barcelona 4-1 Athletic Bilbao

Jeffren (1) http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1414330236447&ref=mf
Bojan (2) http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1414343156770&ref=mf
Bojan (3) http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1414350316949&ref=mf
Messi (4) http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1414359517179&ref=mf

Player Ratings : Barcelona 4-1 Athletic Bilbao

BARCELONA

Valdes: 6.5 - Despite Barcelona's dominance he had to make a couple of good saves, particularly from Iturraspe in the 80th minute.

Puyol: 7.5 - Almost seemed to be Dani Alves-esque as he often cut inside and operated inside the Athletic half, picking out some excellent passes.

Pique: 6 - Occasionally beaten on the ground by Llorente and was fortunate that the Basques' finishing was below-par.

Chygrynskiy: 5 - Awful game as he was found wanting for pace and frequently out of position, no more so than when he tried to play Susaeta offside with disastrous consequences.

Abidal: 6.5 - Created the opening goal with a delightful cross for Jeffren to turn home, and gallopped up and down the left flank all evening.

Busquets: 7 - Played some marvellous balls from the middle of the pitch to pick out Jeffren or Messi as he dictated the tempo of the game.

Toure: 7 - Should have been sent off for a head-to-head with Javi Martinez following a foul by the Athletic midfielder on the Ivorian.

Maxwell: 7 - Played in a less familiar role in central midfield, but linked up well with Busquets and Toure to keep the Blaugrana's attacks flowing.

Messi: 8 - Belatedly found the net in fortuitous circumstances, but he had ben a threat throughout - one which Athletic never found the means to deal with.

Bojan: 8 - Stood in for the injured Ibrahimovic, and staked his claim for more regular football with an excellent brace, sweeping the first home effortlessly before unleashing a superb second.

Jeffren: 7 - Found the net with a simple tap-in to open the scoring but was forced off with an injury just before the hour mark.

Substitutes:

Xavi: 7 - Came on to shore up the midfield when Athletic began the second half promisingly, and was typically elegant and serene on the ball.

Pedro: 6.5 - Set up Messi's goal with an excellent low.

Dos Santos: N/A - Replaced Toure late on.

ATHLETIC BILBAO

Iraizoz: 5.5 - Should have done far better with the fourth goal, but he did make some good saves to keep the scoreline from becoming embarrassing.

Iraola: 5.5 - Like Koikili, he didn't get close enough to his man on the left and was unusually quiet in the offensive third.

San Jose: 2 - Unbelivably far out of his depth tonight. Had no idea what to do against Messi and was culpable for more than one of the goals.

Amorebieta: 5 - Alongside San Jose, he was trying to do the job of two defenders and couldn't cope with Barcelona's movement up front.

Koikili: 5 - Often not close enough to the various wingers Barcelona employed on the right hand side, which enabled them to create multiple opportunities from the right.

David Lopez: 5 - Had one opportunity to set up a goal on the counter-attack but his pass was awful and allowed the Barcelona defence to recover.

Javi Martinez: 5 - Should have scored in the 53rd minute, and his frustrations at a poor performance were on show after Athletic went 4-0 down.

Gurpegui: 5.5 - Lucky not to be sent off for a challenge with 10 minutes to go, but he did what he could to break up Barcelona's attacks around his own penalty area.

Gabilondo: 4.5 - Very little influence on the left hand side and struggled against Dani Alves. Taken off at half time.

Susaeta: 7 - The only Athletic player to really come out of the game with any credit. He scored the consolation and was always a danger when breaking forward.

Llorente: 4 - He had a couple of excellent chances to score for Athletic, both with his feet and his head, but couldn't hit the target and was replaced with 20 minutes to go.

Substitutes:

Toquero: 6 - Never gave up but had few chances of his own as the Basques based their attacking play around Llorente.

Yeste: 6.5 - Created the goal with an excellent pass to Susaeta, and his creativity opened up Barcelona on several occasions.

Iturraspe: 6 - Brought two greats save from Valdes late on.