Barça stays at the top of the League
Saviola and Gudjohnsen manage to fill
the gap left by Eto'o
This Saturday, Ronaldinho completed one hundred league games with Barça
in Sab Mames, the same stadium where he played his first game. Smilling
and dressed in a basketball strip, the Brazilian posed before a cake
made by an important in honour of the player's anniversary.
After the celebrations came a difficult game. Athletic took control
of the field and scored a goal hardly ten minutes after the start. Barça
reacted and began to pressurise and eight minutes later in a disputed
move, the referee sent off Casas. Although Rijkaard's men took over
the game, the goal wasn't there, and it was Puyol who, almost at half
time, picked up a ball fumbled by the Athletic defence to score Barcelona's
first goal.
In the second half, Barça came on more sure of themselves, generated
more chances and it was Gudjohnsen who took over the right and with
a pass from Xavi scored the goal to put them on top of the game. With
his job done, the Icelander took a deserving rest.Rijkaard decided to
change him to give Saviola another chance, and it was precisely the
Argentinean who scored the third goal in a team move of those that leaves
a good taste of football.
Despite a lack of depth and few ideas on the field, Barça take home
three decisive points that keep them at the top. Ronaldinho, the spokesman
for his team, best summed up the game when at the end he said, 'although
we have faults, we have got other things and this gives us the balance,
we have won three points'.
