Liverpool-Barcelona Review

For the second time in just 4 days Liverpool lost a game they dominated, 1 - 0. However this time, the loss had a pleasant happy ending. Unlike on Saturday, this defeat resulted in the scalp of the reigning European Champions and a place in the last 8 of this year’s Champions League.

This game should have been over within the first 30 minutes. By then Liverpool had created all the chances and Barcelona, even though they had a lot of possession, did absolutely nothing with it. The Reds had hit the bar twice, once by Riise the other by Sissoko, from all of 35 yards, Valdes had had to pull off the fantastic double safe and Puyol had cleared off a Riise header off the line. In fact Riise could have had a hat-trick by then.

Barcelona picked up from where they left off at the Nou Camp, looking disjointed and trying to play an unfamiliar line up. Eto’o was back, but was played on the far left and didn’t look a fraction of the player he is. Neither did Ronaldinho again, who was playing through the middle, with Messi wide right. Liverpool also picked up from where they left off in the Nou Camp. In fact, they even picked it up a gear and even though they are through to the last 8 again, Rafa Benítez must be shaking his head at how his team lost this and didn’t win it by at least three clear goals. And that wouldn’t have flattered Liverpool either.

It’s been a bad four days for Rijkaard and Barcelona all round. Ok, they won the game tonight but that will be no consolation whatsoever to the Catalan giants. At the weekend, they played the closest rivals for the Spanish title, Sevilla, away. They were 1 - 0 up. Then Ronaldinho missed a penalty and Barca preceded to lose, not only the game 2 - 1, but with it the No. 1 stop in La Liga to Sevilla. The white hankies will be prepared at the Nou Camp this coming Saturday. And if Barca lose their next game at home, you’ve got to feel that Frank Rijkaard may just be playing out his final weeks at the Nou Camp. The opponents on Saturday, sorry didn’t I mention that? Oh, just Real Madrid. Can you imagine that 7 days. Lose to Sevilla and the top spot, get knocked out of the Champions League as reigning Champions and then lose at home to your fiercest, deadliest rivals. You don’t get too many weeks worse than that if your the Barcelona Manager, and that could be one defeat too many!

Watch the Situations Vacant columns in the Catalonia press.

The Soccer Blogger

P.S. More reviews of some amazing happenings in the second leg Champions League games played on Tuesday night coming shortly.

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Many thanks
Rik