Goos result. Started a bit slowly and body language of players were not positive. Good thing Eto'o scored when he did.We needed the goal to lift the team. RM played well in DM position Xavi also played well for me. The team looks good.Tough schedule ahead I hope we can pull through. Next St Mames. Let's go Barca!!!
Excellent game all around. Started off slowly, but we should have been up 1-0 even before the 15 minute mark (don't recall well, but it might have been the first 10 minutes)...Xavi disposessed the Osasuna defence and was running solo towards the keeper, with Eto'o on his right. Right there, the game should have been blown wide open. It's a 2 on 0 occasion, and those, should not, SHOULD NOT be missed. Instead, Xavi decided to go it alone (could have passed to a wide open Eto'o for the empty netter)...and his shot was plain ugly, missed everything. Then, like 5 or 8 minutes later, Xavi again was on the edge of the penalty area, with Eto'o streaking through, waiting for that Golden through ball and the 1-0...instead, Xavi decided to go it alone AGAIN, and missed AGAIN...and those are my only complaints for the game. I was really surprised by Xavi's bad decision making, considering he's one of the smartest and most creative players around, although he had a Xavi-like game for the rest of the match. Eto'o was splendid, man of the match without a doubt...his first goal was a BEAUTY. Breathtaking. You'll see it for your self. Ronaldinho was back to his old best, and in the 2nd half, he reminded everybody why he really is from another planet. The move that Asta described in his play by play was simply awe inspiring. It has to be seen to be beleived. I'm sure you will see it in the recap. That alone earns him a co-man of the match with Eto'o (there's a goal and an assist to go along with it too!!). Giuly worked hard all game, and I'd say the 2nd goal was his making. He made a superb run to just beat the offsides and set up ronnie for the penalty. Iniesta, well, can't say enough about the kid. He's simply mesmerizing. His passing, his runs, his body control...WOW...he had an assist, and a goal saved by the post. Messi, in the 15 minutes that he got, really showed some inspiring potential...He had some excellent runs and could only be stopped by Osasuna fouls...I think he should be given a run every game, just like Iniesta. Overall, very good game, we just have to work a bit on the finishing (heck, we're scoring 3 goals without good finishing!!!) Extras (Courtesy of http://www.ronaldinho10.com ) Ronnie's Sombrero: http://www.shohra.com/members/fawaz2005002/RRRR.rm Goals: http://ciapek.uci.agh.edu.pl/~grzanka/zzz_veb/bar-osa/etogol.avi http://ciapek.uci.agh.edu.pl/~grzanka/zzz_veb/bar-osa/etogol2.avi http://www.ronaldinho10.com/video/barcelone/buts2/osasuna20051.wmv Recap will come later
They said after the match: RONALDINHO - "Things are not going as we expected, and that's why we're so happy" - "I dedicated the goal to my friend Thiago, who has helped me with so much since I arrived in Barcelona" - "I'm feeling as good as last season, the only difference being that I don't score as many goals, but I do supply plenty of assists" - "The team stats are very good, but we haven't won anything yet. We've got to keep our feet on the ground" - "Eto'o scored a great first goal, he was fast, intelligent and full of quality" ETO'O - "Top goalscorer? What really matters is for the team to be in front and to carry on winning" - "I'm pleased with my first goal. We have been working on our shooting all week. The keeper was not expecting that" - "It's too early to talk about being champions. The team should not fall into the trap of going along with what people say, but should maintain its humility" GIULY - "I felt fine, this was a great game for getting back into the match-playing rhythm" - "It was a great result. It's important to win and the team did what it had to do" VAN BRONCKHORST - "In the first half it wasn't easy to impose our style" - "In Eto'o's first goal, Ronaldinho's pass was amazing" MESSI - "I felt comfortable. Playing at the Camp Nou in a team like this is incredible. And to take Ronaldinho's place, well that's something else"