Carrying on winning! (3-0)
It was another party night at the Nou Camp tonight as Barça began the second half of the season with a convincing 3-0 win over Racing, who were chasing the game from the very first minute.
Barcelona (FCB).- Barça continued with their brilliant season, seeing off Racing in the first game of the second half of the campaign. A very early goal from Pedro was followed by a penalty from Messi just past the half hour before Iniesta rounded off the scoring with a second half strike. Guardiola brought back Sergio, Iniesta, Pedro and Villa for the game and the team had virtually wrapped things up within the first half hour.
The win leaves Barça seven points ahead of second placed Read Madrid who are at home to Mallorca on Sunday evening.
Pedro chests the opener
With the fans still taking their seats, Barça went one up as Xavi, Messi and Pedro worked the ball well after an early corner which ended with the young Spanish forward chesting in an inch perfect Messi ball. Another great start to a game at the Nou Camp !
Messi and Valdés decisive at both ends
Barça’s front three were terrorising the Racing defence and Villa forced a foul in the box from Henrique to set up a penalty on 33 minutes. Despite missing on Wednesday in Seville, Messi stepped up again and coolly fired home, dedicating the goal to his mother. There were a couple more chances for Guardiola’s team, but Valdes was also called on to show his mettle with an excellent stop from a close range Adrian effort.
Back heel sets up Iniesta
Barça continued to dominate after the break, when Piqué replaced Puyol who had felt a twinge, and although the team maybe dropped their intensity a little, they maintained possession and patiently waited before striking lethally when a lovely back heel from Pedro set up Iniesta to shoot past Toño. The Racing keeper was perhaps unfortunate, as Iniesta’s shot got a deflection off the defender Cisma. The Nou Camp crowd reacted to their team’s brilliant touches with a massive Mexican wave.
Toño keeps the score down
Guardiola’s team turned the final half hour, with Keita and Bojan on the pitch, into a possession exercise and both Villa and Iniesta came close to making it four, but Toño did well to keep the score down as Barça started the second half of the league where they’d left off with the first – a convincing win, majestic football and goals, goals, goals.
THE DETAIL
Goals
1-0, Pedro (min 2)
2-0, Messi (pen, min 33)
3-0, Iniesta (min 66)