Barca v Chelsea, champions league, 31/10/2006
Barcelona v Chelsea
Nou camp. Home of the European champions.
Chelsea with maximum points so far.
Formations:
Barca-
Valdes
Zambrotta Marquez Puyol Van bronkhurst
Xavi Motta Deco
Messi Gudjohnsen Ronaldinho
Chelsea-
Hilario
Boulharouz Carvallho terry Cole
Essien Makelele
Lampard Ballack
Drogba Robben
Mourinho ‘you want theatre?? Ask Eidur!!’
1T
Boulharouz loses possession to Deco who is allowed to shape for a shot from 25 yards out, bangs one in to the far corner for 1-0 Barca…wicked strike,,,3’
9’MEssi cuts into the box down the right channel, pulls the ball back for Ronaldinho who blasts miles over.
13’Drogba pushed to the ground by Marquez after the giant african had given Motta a taste of his own medicine…blatant off the ball foul by Marquez. Unseen by the officials.
17’Ballack thumps one from 20 yards first time, but his shot flies just over the bar…
Bad blood between these sides.
22’Xavi exchanges passes with Ronaldinho then finds himself in the area…he then drives the ball towards goal but his effort is well saved by Hilario…
Marquez. a cheating pig.
27’ YELLOW for Cole.Dissent.(correction..yellow was for Lampard)
29- YELLOW for Robben after wild challenge on Puyol.
Chelsea are way too narrow. The midfield diamond allowing Barca to boss the flanks.
33’ wonderful flowing Chelsea move ends with Drogba’s delicate cross headed against the bar by Essien…
33’ Robben hits an explosive half volley towards goal that Valdes does well to turn around the post…
Chelsea gaining confidence.
Makele body checked by Marquez inside the box. nothing given. French-man was looking for it, but he did find the foul…
37- Cole booked for slightly mistimed tackle deep into Chelsea half..Should be sent off as second yellow…ref brain freeze???…he now books Messi for good measure to attempt to quell the fire brewing within the melee of players surrounding him. Cole miraculously STAYS ON THE PITCH!!!!!
Italian rules! unless Cole wasn’t the recipient of the earlier YELLOW for dissent.
Ballack has been anonymous. Chelsea need to get him on the ball.
replays now show Lamard earned the controversial YELLOW.. ‘first yellow for Cole’.(Dissent)
Motta YELLOW for despicable hack through the back of Essien’s legs…shows no remorse.
Ronaldinho also a cheating pig.
47- MEssi wins a free kick for losing possession..28 yards out…central FK..Ronaldinho>>charged down by the wall.
HT
Chelsea deserve to be on level terms with their Catalunian opponents but two fine saves from Valdes have prevented the London team finding their equalizer. Drogba has spent more time looking for fights and free-kicks than playing his essential role as point man for the team. Chelsea are attacking almost exclusively through the middle whilst Barcelona have made the wide areas of the park virtually their own. Either Drogba needs to regain his focus quickly or Mourinho must spread out his centralized midfield and reclaim some ground on the flanks. A game blessed with undeniably talented players but for now it is becoming increasingly suffocated by petulant fouls and disgraceful theatrics. If any of the officials had seen Marquez run 20 yards to push over the giant but at times egg-shell like frame of Drogba, he would have been OFF.
2T
47’ Puyol boots Drogba in the head.
Valdes takes out Puyol when dealing with a high ball into the box by Robben.
Typical time wasting by the Spaniards.
49′ Ballack holds up play near the corner flag, drags the ball back to Essien who crosses for Robben to head towards goal..well saved by Valdes.
50’ Lampard links well with Cole on the left wing, great ball played across the box but Robben scoops it just over.
52’ Lampard GOAL…from a seemingly impossible angle…concerted pressure from Chelsea ends with Lampard put through on goal by Makelele. He looked like he had taken the ball too close to the touchline but turns then chips the keeper, curling his shot into the top corner…amazing goal…1-1 .deserved.
Lampard scored an outstanding equalizer.
57- Motta replaced by fellow Brazilian, Edmilson.
58-Ronaldinho beats his man down the left wing, fires a high velocity ball into the path of Gudjohnsen who scores his first goal at the Nou camp against his old employers 2-1..hint of offside.
64’ YELLOW for Gudjohnsen for dissent.
64’ Lampard held back in the area…could have been a penalty..Nothing given.
65 Edmilson BOOKED for gunning down Carvalho.
Ballack still the biggest disappointment on the pitch.
Time for Joe Cole or Wright Phillips???
71’ Acrobatic clearance by Essien, then the Ghanian was stamped in the balls by Marquez. the Mexican has been ill discipline personified. No need for that stamp. No need for his earlier push on Drogba. Ugly and pointless. He should be punished.
72- SUB CHE Kalou on for Robben.
75’ CHE SUB Cole on for Boulahrouz…who will mark Ronaldinho??
76’ Gudjohnsen falls awkwardly after strong but fair challenge from Carvalho. the iceman leaves the fray on a stretcher!!.justified cheers from the chelsea faithful in the stands.
77’ SUB BAR Gudjohnsen off, Giuly ON.
82’ Little Joe Cole booked for scything down Edmilson. YELLOW.
83’ Zavi makes way for Iniesta BAR SUB
85’ Kalou is put through by Cole, the Ivorian pulls the ball back to Ballack who skies his shot miles over the bar.
Messi and Zambrotta are out of place at Barca because they play fair.
87’ Terry BOOKEd for smashing the ball at Deco after he had been put on the ground by Makele. Silly little Deco, I would pay good money to see Terry pound him to a pulp in a boxing ring.
89’ Marquez fouled by Essien, YELLOW. The Mexican rolls on the floor as if Rumsfeld has inserted a few inches into his rear.
90- Deco down injured. Replay shows Carvalho studding his countrymen’s tiny balls!!well found.
Valdes of Barca has been the busier of the keepers.
Every Barcelona player but Messi and Zambrotta throw their hands in the air to encourage a yellow card been delivered after each foul by their opponents. Scum.
93’ Drogba GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!…5 goals in 4 games for Drogba…
Terry cushioned header put the big man in, he brought the ball down then slotted it past Valdes with his left foot….2-2..the Chelsea frontman is now the leading scorer in the competition.
94’ CHE SUB Ferreria on for ineffective but tidy Ballack.
FT ..final score 2-2
Dubbed ‘mr diplomacy’ by UEFA recently, Chelsea despot- Maddog Mourinho
Full time report
Chelsea matched the reining European champs on technique, invention and ultimately on goals. And were it not for the fine form of Barca keeper Valdes and questionable refereeing from the Italian official, the London outfit would have left the Nou Camp with all 3 points. Lampard’s claims for a penalty were flimsy but when Makelele was clearly obstructed in the Barca box by super villain Marquez, the calls for a spot kick had considerable validity. The same player, Marquez, should have been sent off during the first half, after jogging 20 yards to lay two hands of retribution onto Drogba’s chest and push him to the ground. However neither the referee or his visually impaired linesman noticed the blatant offence. So the Catalonians can count themselves lucky to have escaped punishment for several misdemeanors which with another set of officials could have seen them concede a penalty and play the majority of the game with 10 men. There does seem to be some truth to the well publicized suggestion that the Nou Camp is one of the hardest places to find fair and competent refereeing.
Apart from Messi-who was Barca’s most dangerous player- and the ultra professional Zambrotta, Rijkaards team were shamefully demanding yellow cards for every challenge, by Chelsea, that was deemed a foul. They also made the most of every opportunity to try con the ref which certainly devalues the proud tradition of the club. The Chelsea players weren’t exempt from this modern day curse of bad sportsmanship, with Drogba countless times a prime culprit of play-acting and Lampard going to ground in the box when it seemed easier to stay on his feet and pop the ball into the net. But the rest of the English side were exemplary in their conduct. Which can’t be said of the Spanish and European champions.
Ballack was the biggest disappointment for Chelsea but playing just off an aggravated Drogba and free roaming Robben isn’t the German’s ideal position. He did waste a glorious chance late on in the match, blasting well over from 15 yards out, but his general link up play was neat and useful. Lampard really came to life after half time and he was the driving force behind his side’s emergence as the major force on the field for the second forty five minutes. His goal was nothing short of world class. Despite Drogba’s persistent whining he showed his worth by scoring a dramatic, but thoroughly deserved equalizer in the 93rd minute.
Chelsea’s performance merited at least a draw and I expect Mourinho will have greeted Rijkaard after the match with a wry smile…
MOM: Lampard– Industrious, talented, decisive. His goal was excellent and his all round work rate and quality showed that he is approaching top form.
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