Monday, September 20, 2010

Sporting

Photobucket

Barcelona went to Madrid yesterday and played the Europa League Champs, Atletico Madrid. Barça haven't beaten the team in three years, and Atletico is particularly hot in this year--what with their Europa title and the star performance of their Uruguayan captain Diego Forlan in the world cup this summer.

But though Messi was not hot to win games in the Cup and Forlan was, yesterday it was Messi who played brilliantly and scored while Forlan was shut out. Barça played their slinky attacking game and after Atletico equalized in the 23rd minute, Barça scored again from a great close range shot from Pique to lock the score at 1-2. They kept attacking for the next hour of play and Madrid never really got any momentum. Unfortunately, in the extra time at the game's close, Leo Messi got his foot stomped on by Atletico's Ujfalusi.

He rolled on the ground in pain and covered his face as he was taken off the field in a stretcher. Though the injury is said to not be too grave, it sends shock waves through the club whose system is apparently dependent on him. The immediate diagnosis: a ligament sprain and (at least) two games missed.

Its a tough week in La Liga. The team plays on Wednesday hosting Sporting Gijon, and then they'll play in Bilbao against Atletic Bilbao on Saturday. The Bilbao game last year was pretty tough, and this upcoming one will be a good one to watch.

That's still too far to look ahead to. The team have to perform on Wednesday. Now they have mixed momentum at their handling of At. Madrid, hobbled by the loss of Messi.

For the Sporting Gijon game, the young guys have to come up. Pedro has to connect, and Bojan better get into form already in the season's third week. There is no more Ibra to act like Shaq and hang out and wait for dunks. Boys, set your phasers on whoop-de-whoomp.

Photobucket

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

EMF

Photobucket

I like watching Arsenal play, but why do they have to look like EMF? Right now it's the half of their first champion's league game against Braga from Portugal, and they are whomping em' 3-0. Cesc plays great for the team and it is easy to see why the club didn't want to let him go to Barcelona this summer. He's stands tall with the international outfit of London, but when he plays with his countrymen he seems intimidated. It's probably for the best that the switch didn't come this season.

Barça played yesterday and beat Panathinaikos, the visiting Greek champions. After scoring the opening goal (their only shot), the Greeks had to deal with a Messi answer goal within a minute, followed by two more by the half. The Greeks played like whipped donkeys. In the last moments of extra time, Messi got a great assist to Dani Alves for the fifth point header that closed it. It was a point you don't see everyday and it sealed the game and Barça's introduction to the Champions League season, 5-1.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Hercules!

Photobucket

Today Barça lost to Hercules 0-2.
They are a team that is newly promoted to la liga from the 2nd tier, and they've made their entrance by beating the Blaugrana at the camp nou, against the champion's in their first home game of the season.

The team lacked the finishing spark that the Spainish national side failed to show as well in Argentina a few days ago. Argentina whomped Spain 4-1.

I shaved clean a few days ago. As I looked at the screen and saw Pep on the sidelines, he was also clean shaven. I thought we were playing Hercules..? Did that make us Samson? It's been a tough little stretch of days. They say that everyone has a great struggle.

Photobucket