Barcelona could only take one point home from Asturias as an early goal and some resolute defending earned Sporting Gijon a hard-fought draw.David Barral secured the lead for Sporting Gijon in the 17th minute, and it wasn't until the 80th minute that David Villa was able to cancel out the strike with a fantastic equalising goal. The Blaugrana kept seeking the winner but were unable to find it.
Barcelona came close early on, as Messi played a great ball to Iniesta in the 3rd minute. Iniesta fired a shot towards goal, forcing a great save from Pichu.
It was Sporting who eventually opened the scoring however, after David Barral scored a great goal in the 17th minute. He cut in from the left wing, exposing Diego Milito and he made no mistake in firing the shot past Valdes into the bottom corner.
Sporting did a fantastic job of defending their lead in the next few minutes, cutting out numerous through balls and stopping some deadly runs from Iniesta and Messi.
Barcelona did not look their fluid best in the first half hour. Gijon did a fantastic job of preventing them from creating chances, but in truth they should still have been able to create more than they did.
Afellay came close to levelling the game in the 29th minute, after picking up the ball from a wonderful passing move, and firing a shot from 20 yards just wide.
Sporting again came forward on the half hour mark, with David Barral charging forward into the box, but Pique made a vital tackle to deny the Asturians. De Las Cuevas was to the side of him, and the pass would have been a much better option to put
Gijon two up.
Barcelona began to control the game in the manner we have come to expect after half an hour, connecting well and dominating possession. Iniesta came devastatingly close to an equalising goal in the 33rd minute, making a lovely run from the left wing, and forcing another great
save from Pichu.
Despite being in control for most of the first half, Barcelona were unable to find an equaliser before half-time, and the half ended 1-0. Sporting looked good value for the lead at this point,
defending well and denying Barcelona the opportunity to turn their possession into goals.
Both sides exchanged chances in the opening minutes of the second half, with De La Cuevas and Villa both having a pop, but neither were able to trouble the opposition keeper.
Barcelona again came close on the 49th minute, with Villa and Messi exchanging passes in front of a packed defense, which they could find no way past.
The introduction of Pedro for the second half added some much needed energy to the front-three, with Messi and Villa seemingly feeding off of his energy and improving
vastly at the beginning of the half.
Barcelona came within touching distance of an equaliser in the 54th minute, after a great cross from Alves on the right wing found Xavi in the centre, but Pichu was on hand once again to make a vital interception.
Just minutes later Barcelona were denied again, as Messi unleashed a powerful effort from inside the box, both saved brilliantly by the Sporting custodian.
Sporting again threatened, but Valdes came out of the box to get the ball out of danger in elaborate fashion.
The Catalans, desperate for an equaliser, took a far more attacking approach after the hour mark, replacing Milito for Keita.
David Villa finally found the goal that the Blaugrana had been seeking with an audacious chip over Pichu, who was caught well off his line. The keeper had been having a fantastic
game, but will have to take at least some of the blame for the equaliser.
Pedro came close to taking the lead for Barcelona in the 87th minute, after some great play from Messi set him free, but he knocked the ball wide, inches from goal.
The referee played 5 minutes of injury time, allowing Barcelona the opportunity to win the game, but it was ultimately and opportunity they couldn't take, as the game ended 1-1.
The draw hands Real Madrid the opportunity to close the gap on Barcelona to just 5 points, should they beat Espanyol tomorrow night. Sporting will be happy to take a point from this difficult fixture, as a point can often make the difference in a tight relegation battle.
0 komentar:
Post a Comment