Messi Magic Sees Barcelona Sink Sevilla

[Mabudi]

Hi all.

FC Barcelona 2 - 1 Sevilla

Lionel Messi scored twice to hand FC Barcelona a convincing victory against Sevilla and prove that they are not the disunited team that certain sections of the Spanish media would have everyone believe.


Despite the absence of Ronaldinho with an injury, the Blaugrana were at their attacking best as pushed forward throughout and were eventually rewarded for their endeavours.

Sevilla looked likely to be more dangerous going forward in the early stages but, given the power of their opponents, were forced to sit back for long periods and protect Andrés Palop's goal.

Frédéric Kanouté did score his fourth goal of the season in injury time, but it proved to be too little too late from Juande Ramos' side.

Frank Rijkaard opted to play it safe with his starting line-up and fielded Andrés Iniesta in place of Ronaldinho, rather than plunge either Giovani Dos Santos or Bojan Krkic into the fray.

The move paid off as Iniesta looked threatening down the left, but against the wall of pink shirts it was difficult for any of Barça's forwards to shine.

Henry saw a shot deflect wide of the post early on before Messi skipped in from the right soon after to drive a low shot wide of the Sevilla goal.

Ramos' side did not appear afraid to probe their oponnents by moving forward when they had won possession, but Barça were able to prove that they are no soft touches at the back either.

As well as dropping back to defend in numbers, Sevilla flooded the midfield to try and break up the home team's rhythm leaving Kanouté on his up front to hold up the ball and cause problems.

The first moment of real danger came when Renato headed just wide of Valdés' goal, while at the other end it was Touré Yaya who forced Palop into his opening save of the evening with a rasping drive that the keeper pushed away.

Shortly before the break Deco tried his luck from outside of the box, but his curling effort flew wide of the far post and away.

In the 57th minute the crowd were their feet as Henry was picked out in the area only for the Frenchman to graze the ball wide of the far post, shortly before Rafa Márquez went close when connecting with a corner that clipped the outside of the post.

Henry then had the crowd holding their heads after breaking clear of the defence and then watching as his low drive had some the power taken out it as it hit Palop and then travelled on before bouncing back off the foot of the right-hand post.

It was a let off, but Sevilla's concentration did not last as Henry sent a powerful pass through the centre of Sevilla's defence and Messi beat the offside trap before flicking the ball up and then hammering it into the bottom corner of the net with his left foot from 12 yards out to give Barça the lead with 17 minutes remaining.

Six minutes later and the game was over as a contest as Barça were awarded a penalty after Poulsen grappled Dos Santos over in the area and Messi stroked in his and the home team's second goal of the evening from the spot.

The Argentinian could have had a hat-trick before being substituted as he broke into the area and squeezed a powerful at goal, but Palop was equal to this effort and pushed it away.

In injury time Barça did slip up at the back as Kanouté pulled a goal back for Sevilla after holding off Oleguer and flicking the ball over the approaching Valdés and then running forward to prod home from close range.

Kind Regards

[Mabudi]

Hi all.

Great match.
!!!BRAVO MESSI!!!
!!!BRAVO BARÇA!!!

Kind Regards