Setback in Zaragoza (1-0)
Setback in Zaragoza (1-0)
Playing with the same 3-4-3 format that produced such good results at the same venue in the Cup, Barça went for an attacking approach in tonight’s game at La Romareda. But it wasn’t to be, and Zaragoza claimed all three points.
Unlike in the Cup, Barça were not obliged to go out and score early, and played a far more conservative, waiting game than they had done on their last trip to the Aragonese capital. Midfielders Márquez, Xavi, Deco and Iniesta seemed to be in comfortable control of the ball in the middle of the park, but that dominance failed to materialise in many clear-cut goalscoring opportunities. And it was the home side that fired the first warning, with D’Alessandro failing to do finish off a terrific move by Sergio García in the second minute. From there on, Barça’s three-man defence, brilliantly marshalled by Thuram, managed to cope with everything Zaragoza threw out them, with the only exception of a penetrating run by Diogo that Víctor Valdés dealt with superbly. Chance for Messi FC Barcelona were playing the ball around confidently, but struggled to find a way through the rock solid home defence. The first major concern for Zaragoza came in the 23rd minute when Messi latched onto the end of a fine team move, leaving his marker Diogo in his wake but only to see his final shot saved by keeper César. Zaragoza preferred to play the ball wide, constantly seeking out D’Alessandro with long balls, but none of this ever looked like troubling the always attentive Valdés. Stalemate Both sides were wearing each other down, and it was difficult to split the two by the time of the half-time break. Moreover, the game failed to find any kind of regular pace, and the constant interruptions appeared to be causing more and more frustration to the Barcelona players. Change of tactics Rijkaard went back to the drawing board and came out with an entirely different game plan in the second half. Zambrotta replaced Márquez and the team reverted to its usual 4-3-3 system. This helped the defence find a little more consistency, and Barça’s first major chance of the half arrived in the 52nd minute with a Giuly effort from the edge of the area. Diego Milito on target Barça were creating considerably more danger than they had in the first 45 minutes, but just as Víctor Fernández was preparing to bolster his midfield by bringing on Movilla, the deadlock was broken in Zaragoza’s favour. In the 56th minute, D’Alessandro crossed from the left to find Diego Milito, who outwitted Puyol and Valdés to slot the ball in the back of the net. Quick reaction Barcelona needed to react quickly, and they did. Deco had an excellent left-footed opportunity, but César intervened well, and then a series of consecutive chances fell to Messi and Gudjohnsen in the six-yard box following a terrific team move, but the ball inexplicably rebounded back off the woodwork. There was just a quarter of an hour left, and Zaragoza were fretting as Barça gained more and more territory down the wings. Fight to the end Barça kept at it until the final whistle. Balls were hurled time after time into the area, looking to find Gudjohnsen but getting no reward. Amazingly, Zaragoza only had one major chance in the entire second half, and that resulted in Diego Milito scoring the only goal of the night. Barça stay top of the league for now, but all that could change on Sunday when Sevilla face Racing Santander at the Sánchez Pizjuán.
Playing with the same 3-4-3 format that produced such good results at the same venue in the Cup, Barça went for an attacking approach in tonight’s game at La Romareda. But it wasn’t to be, and Zaragoza claimed all three points.
Unlike in the Cup, Barça were not obliged to go out and score early, and played a far more conservative, waiting game than they had done on their last trip to the Aragonese capital. Midfielders Márquez, Xavi, Deco and Iniesta seemed to be in comfortable control of the ball in the middle of the park, but that dominance failed to materialise in many clear-cut goalscoring opportunities. And it was the home side that fired the first warning, with D’Alessandro failing to do finish off a terrific move by Sergio García in the second minute. From there on, Barça’s three-man defence, brilliantly marshalled by Thuram, managed to cope with everything Zaragoza threw out them, with the only exception of a penetrating run by Diogo that Víctor Valdés dealt with superbly. Chance for Messi FC Barcelona were playing the ball around confidently, but struggled to find a way through the rock solid home defence. The first major concern for Zaragoza came in the 23rd minute when Messi latched onto the end of a fine team move, leaving his marker Diogo in his wake but only to see his final shot saved by keeper César. Zaragoza preferred to play the ball wide, constantly seeking out D’Alessandro with long balls, but none of this ever looked like troubling the always attentive Valdés. Stalemate Both sides were wearing each other down, and it was difficult to split the two by the time of the half-time break. Moreover, the game failed to find any kind of regular pace, and the constant interruptions appeared to be causing more and more frustration to the Barcelona players. Change of tactics Rijkaard went back to the drawing board and came out with an entirely different game plan in the second half. Zambrotta replaced Márquez and the team reverted to its usual 4-3-3 system. This helped the defence find a little more consistency, and Barça’s first major chance of the half arrived in the 52nd minute with a Giuly effort from the edge of the area. Diego Milito on target Barça were creating considerably more danger than they had in the first 45 minutes, but just as Víctor Fernández was preparing to bolster his midfield by bringing on Movilla, the deadlock was broken in Zaragoza’s favour. In the 56th minute, D’Alessandro crossed from the left to find Diego Milito, who outwitted Puyol and Valdés to slot the ball in the back of the net. Quick reaction Barcelona needed to react quickly, and they did. Deco had an excellent left-footed opportunity, but César intervened well, and then a series of consecutive chances fell to Messi and Gudjohnsen in the six-yard box following a terrific team move, but the ball inexplicably rebounded back off the woodwork. There was just a quarter of an hour left, and Zaragoza were fretting as Barça gained more and more territory down the wings. Fight to the end Barça kept at it until the final whistle. Balls were hurled time after time into the area, looking to find Gudjohnsen but getting no reward. Amazingly, Zaragoza only had one major chance in the entire second half, and that resulted in Diego Milito scoring the only goal of the night. Barça stay top of the league for now, but all that could change on Sunday when Sevilla face Racing Santander at the Sánchez Pizjuán.
"It was not our night"
Frank Rijkaard was philosophical after watching his FC Barcelona side lose 1-0 against Real Zaragoza in La Romareda and conceded that the home side deserved their victory.The Dutch coach stated "it was not our night" and that the result "was justified", before reflecting that Víctor Fernández's outfit "played more aggressively than us and they have shown that they were more focussed on winning the game". As for Barça, Rjkaard said that "my players continued battling, but did not always play at the level we wanted. We were just not able to it." Wake-up call Diego Milito's winning goal in the second half came as a wake-up call for the visitors. "That did us a lot of harm," Rijkaard continued. "But we tried to find an equaliser, but could not. I do not think it was a question of mentality because the team worked hard." Playing 3-4-3 Unlike the game between the two sides on the same ground last month in the Copa del Rey, the 3-4-3 system did not bear fruit. "During the first half we did not play well with the 3-4-3," the Blaugrana trainer explained. "When we changed to 4-3-3 after the break we did not have the capacity to change things once they had taken the lead. La Romareda is always a difficult place for us. Throughout the secnd half we tried everything." Finally, Rijkaard was asked whether he was prepared to accept the blame or whether he felt the players should shoulder the responsibility, he said: "It is easier to say that the coach is to blame as he is a single person."
Frank Rijkaard was philosophical after watching his FC Barcelona side lose 1-0 against Real Zaragoza in La Romareda and conceded that the home side deserved their victory.The Dutch coach stated "it was not our night" and that the result "was justified", before reflecting that Víctor Fernández's outfit "played more aggressively than us and they have shown that they were more focussed on winning the game". As for Barça, Rjkaard said that "my players continued battling, but did not always play at the level we wanted. We were just not able to it." Wake-up call Diego Milito's winning goal in the second half came as a wake-up call for the visitors. "That did us a lot of harm," Rijkaard continued. "But we tried to find an equaliser, but could not. I do not think it was a question of mentality because the team worked hard." Playing 3-4-3 Unlike the game between the two sides on the same ground last month in the Copa del Rey, the 3-4-3 system did not bear fruit. "During the first half we did not play well with the 3-4-3," the Blaugrana trainer explained. "When we changed to 4-3-3 after the break we did not have the capacity to change things once they had taken the lead. La Romareda is always a difficult place for us. Throughout the secnd half we tried everything." Finally, Rijkaard was asked whether he was prepared to accept the blame or whether he felt the players should shoulder the responsibility, he said: "It is easier to say that the coach is to blame as he is a single person."
posted by PBL at
11:15 a. m.
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