Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla: Messi Makes His Century
As Barca Breeze To Victory
Despite more heroics from los Rojiblancos' keeper, the Blaugrana came out on top at the Camp Nou with a fine performance...
Barcelona eased to a 4-0 victory at the
The hosts started typically comfortably on the ball and could have taken an early lead when Thierry Henry set up Zlatan Ibrahimovic following a superb ball by Andres Iniesta, but the Swede could only shoot feebly wide from five yards.
Messi had a shout for a penalty in the 10th minute when Lolo appeared to pull him back in the penalty area, but referee Delgado Ferreiro waved away the appeals. Moments later, another excellent ball set Henry through on goal, but Palop raced out of his penalty area and blocked the shot well.
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The home side were dominating proceedings, knocking the ball around with ease on the slick surface, but were being frustrated by a solid Sevilla backline. In the 20th minute, Iniesta went on a mazy run that was almost Messi-esque before teeing up Dani Alves, but the Brazilian could only find the side netting.
Sevilla had barely been able to get out of their own half in the first 30 minutes and could easily have gone behind but Carles Puyol's header landed on top of the net from a Xavi corner. Just after the half hour mark, Messi hit a 20-yard shot that was deflected wide, and this time Puyol's header was blocked by Palop.
With 10 minutes until half time, the veteran keeper pulled off an excellent save from another deflected shot by Messi to tip it over the crossbar. Marc Valiente was struggling to deal with the Argentine's danger and was booked for a foul that would have been more at home on a rugby pitch.
As the rain continued to pour in the
Nonetheless, the visitors were starting to come forward a little more as the half time whistle approached. Some good play by Kone and Jose Carlos set
Los Nervionenses made a double change at the break, with Diego Capel and Aldo Duscher replacing Jose Carlos and Valiente. Rafa Marquez also came on for the hosts after Puyol couldn't shake off an injury.
Kone nearly stunned the
In the 49th minute, the hosts took the lead in fortunate circumstances. Marquez received the ball on the right wing and after Pique had got the slightest touch on the low cross,Julien Escude could only stab the ball into his own net.
It was nearly 2-0 two minutes later. Messi received the ball 35 yards from goal after a superb run by Dani Alves, but after running into the area Palop saved the Argentine's shot with his boot. Shortly after, Ibrahimovic played the ball back to Henry in the penalty area but the Sevilla keeper was able to make yet another save.
Ibrahimovic thought he had scored in the 54th minute, but he was correctly flagged offside after heading in from a matter of feet.
Barcelona were rampant, and the
In the 67th minute there was mayhem in the Sevilla penalty area. Messi was free in the box and brought another save from the outstanding Palop, before the next shot was blocked and Ibrahimovic's shot was cleared off the line. Substitute Pedro then had a chance after Abidal's cut-back found him 10 yards out, but it was straight at Palop.
The Sevilla keeper was finally beaten for a second time with 20 minutes to go. The pass from Xavi was perfect as Marius Stankevicius tried to step up for offside, but Pedro raced clear and chipped over the advancing Palop.
Sevilla looked a beaten side, and were content to sit back and let Barcelona knock the ball around between themselves to the rhythm of the olé's coming from the crowd.
As the game ticked into its final 10 minutes, the fans were growing impatient as they waited for the third goal, which arrived in the 85th minute. Messi picked up the ball from another Dani Alves cross and could barely miss from 10 yards out to score his 100th goal for the club.
The frustrations of los Nervionenses' stopper were plain to see as the hosts continued to caress the ball around the pitch. Kone had a shot blocked in the 90th minute, but the threat from the visitors had been negligable throughout.
The game was wrapped up in the 91st minute when Abidal played Messi through, and the world's best player slid the ball effortlessly past Palop. It was a sublime performance from the Spanish, European and world champions as they brushed the Champions League contenders aside.
