http://www.panionios.gr/ FCB's next opponent in the Uefa cup. nice colors Looks liek they have had a similar start to the Greek league. 1 win 4 ties 1 loss They beat a Danish team to make it to this round.
A descent team in Greece and a cradle for some of the best players ever to play in Greece too! They have great Accademies! However, I cannot see Panionios becoming a serious threat against Barca! Unless Barca are in a total suicide mode as they use to in the last 3 - 4 years! I think Barcelona will give Panionios a good cash injection thanks to the big venue for them and a terrible night in the pitch! But I hope for the best!
News reports for Thursday's clash Players focussed on UEFA Cup clash http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/noticias/n03110406.shtml Barça lose Gerard to knee strain http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UEFACup/news/Kind=1/newsId=123155.html Iniesta es la única baja en la convocatoria contra el Panionios http://www.sport.es/Barsa/article.asp?id=76672
If Laporta and co. want to sell Rustu, he has to get some matches in to prove he's still in form for transfer possibilities, as well as his National team spot for Turkey, FR is costing Barca money by having him on the roster..not playing him and also not making him an attractive transfer opportunity...maybe he'll be Loaned ASAP
Kluivert primed for Panionios http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UEFACup/news/Kind=8192/newsId=123532.html
Holy Crap, Kluivert Scored as soon as he got in the game!?!?! He came on for Saviola after half-time.
FT 3-0 FORCA BARCA Once again Barca gave a good, solid display in beating Panionios in Athens 3-0 tonight, with goals from Luis Garcia, Kluivert and Xavi. Luis García, Quaresma and yet again Ronaldinho were Barca's sharpest performers, and Rijkaard gave a start to both keeper Rustu and Marquez as a defensive midfielder alongside Xavi. The fans were pushing the home side forward, but Panionios played a pretty conservative game, giving Barca, who improved as the game went on, time and space to play their game. In fact, the Greeks only had 2 shots on target in the first half and one less in the second. Luis Garcia looked incisive throughout, grabbing the first goal with quite some help from the keeper, whilst Kluivert, who came on at half time for Saviola, got the second and Xavi finished the game off in injury time. All in all it was one of Barca's most solid performances, with the team looking comfortable together, creating plenty of goal scoring opportunities and not allowing their opponents the sniff of a chance. Domination from the start Although it was the Greeks who got the first shot in, from Kontis on 9 minutes, Barca dominated possession and with Quaresma shining both in attack and defence, the team soon began to open up spaces for the Portuguese winger and the mobile Luis García and Saviola. On 18 minutes, a great combination between Ronaldinho and Van Bronkhorst set up Luis García, whose close range shot went just wide. Three minutes later a long range Marquez effort nearly caught the local keeper out and then on 24, Ronaldinho was brought down in a dangerous position, but was unable to convert the free kick. Luis García gets first Barca goal Panionios had their second chance on 26 minutes, when Giuliano shot high from the edge of the box. It was Barca who went ahead though, when Luis Garcia broke his duck in a Barca shirt on 42 minutes Change up front At half time, Frank Rijkaard brought Kluivert on for Saviola and the Dutchman paid dividends almost immediately, getting onto the end of a move by Marquez and Luis Garcia to fire home. On 52, Ronaldinho swerved past his marker and sent in a sizzling shot that the keeper did well to stop and 3 minutes later, Klimeck's header, straight at Rustu, proved to be the Greek's only chance of the half. Relaxed final minutes With the result looking safe, Rijkaard took the opportunity to make changes, swapping Ronaldinho for Luis Enrique on 62 minutes and Overmars for Quaresma 10 minutes later. As the game wound down, Drobny made good saves, first stopping a Xavi shot from the edge of the box, then a Luis Enrique effort after a good one two with Kluivert, before denying Luis Garcia his second on 79 minutes. Finally Xavi put the game to bed with an injury time free kick that should ensure Barca go through after the return tie later this month.
Forza Barca, again 3 goals (4 matches - 12 goals!!!) Isnt Marquez a defender, why did he played as miedfilder?! I cant understand why FR plays Marquez as a miedfielder and Cocu as a defender. It seems that he use 4 defenders in defensive moves and three defenders and three miedfielders and attacking moves? Finally Rustu played. As a read in text he didnt have much work to do, but anyway how did he played??? Great we are in 3rd round in UEFA CUP.
Marquez has played midfield/pivot before for the Mexican Nat'l. team. He's very offensive minded while retaining quality marking skill(s). 1 assist and 1 near-chip in. Nice to see him playing, and aggressively forward, mind you. D@mn that FR! BTW, Anyone play the new FIFA 2004 game? Barca, Man U. and Madrid are awesome on it.
Personally I don't think Marquez is big enough to battle the larger strikers in the back four in Europe, but I'm glad to see him doing well in the midfield.
I also like that he used all his SUbs so that Gaucho's legs wont be dead for the SUnday match against Los Beticos
Finally..he's learning, I just wish he'd sub Puyol once in a while. Jeez..its 3-0 let Quaresma stay out there...push Marquez in the back put in Xavi come on! We need Puyol just as much as we need Ronnie.
I take offence to that. Marquez is my boy. Which larger strikers are we talking about here? In the WC, He handled Vieri and Pipo well. Same with the Croatians. In the past, He's been one of the better defenders when Monaco was in the Uefa cup. Marquez also played outstanding in the Brazil/Rest of World match where he shut down Ronaldo. But yeah, I don't think anyone can mark that Czech Jan Koeller or whatever.
I like Marquez in either defense or midfield and I'd like to give him a try as Guardiola used to play!
good point DFR. If Puyol gets hurt on a lazy tackle or something in the dying minutes of that game, it would be ridiculous. And given our luck with injuries the last couple years, thats EXACTLY the way it would happen.
Im glad for Garcia, he deserved a shot since the VERY begining, I said I was satisfied when Barça re-signed him and now it pays off!