FC Barcelona: The run-up to the Clasico and a fan’s feelings

Barcelona met Sevilla in the La Liga fixture over the weekend and Benfica in the UCL fixtures midweek,both tough away fixtures.Here is a post-match analysis of both matches in the run-up to the Clasico.

The Sevilla vs Barcelona fixture would be the highlight of the La Liga. Sevilla deserved to win,undoubtedly so. And Gary Medel’s sending off was the turning point in that crucial game. I will be rational as I am expected to be, and resort to some good old letting-off towards the end.

The atmosphere at the Sanchez Pijzuan was electric to say the least. Sevilla were playing the best football they had yet, and Gary Medel and Ivan Rakitic made sure that the little understanding that Song and Mascherano had towards the defending end,was critically exposed. By the 48^th minute, Sevilla was leading 2-0, to their credit. Trochowski scored the first goal and Negredo netted home the would-be-winner. Medel took advantage of the shambles in defence, and a deflection off Mascherano later, Trochowski had scored their first goal in the 25^th minute. Messi and Fabregas provided continuous threats, but Palop soaked them up well. Meanwhile, the scoresheet read 1-0 at half time. In the 48^th minute, Medel again made sure Barca were punished, as he took up Busquet’s poor pass and passed it along to Negredo,who overrode Song–who was caught unawares–nearly 10 yards before firing a powerful shot that Valdes did little of. Frankly, Song is instrumental in defence, but the Cameroonian just does not have the right mix of technical ability and defensive capability, or rather the understanding needed to play the highline that Barcelona does. He was instrumental in defending set pieces and crucial slide tackles, but could rarely close lanes in tandem with the other defenders.Sevilla were now leading 2-0,and the last time Sevilla had won,Dani Alves had figured on that scoresheet.Sanchez’s cross was cleared on line by Botia, and minutes later, Fabregas scooped a deflected pass into the goal.The scoresheet now read 2-1. Then comes the red card that Gary Medel received for “head-butting” Fabregas. Gary Medel had been instrumental in midfield, Sevilla’s Xavi, and had a steady understanding with Maduro at the back. In a moment of frustration, Medel exchanged words with Cesc and some theatrics later, Medel was sent off. Decision 1. Villa was brought on in the 79^th minute, as desperation reigned supreme on Tito’s face. A minute from time, Fabregas latched onto a pass from the phenomenal Messi and scored the equalizer. Thiago had been brought on, meanwhile. A handball by Thiago which the referee did not see. Decision2. Moments later,Villa had scored the winner in characteristic style.

Fabregas has atleast silenced critics with that scoresheet, many would say.

At the Stadium of Light against Benfica, Barcelona put up an impressive performance for a change, the defensive let-ups notwithstanding. The match was not exactly played in the best of spirits, after Busquets was red-carded and a profusion of yellow cards followed.

Some quick passing down the left flank, and some bad man-marking later, Messi drove in along the right edge of the box and squared a pass to Sanchez who got to it before his marker could and netted the ball home. Messi also set up Fabregas later, for a left-footed shot into the goal after drawing four defenders away. Benfica tested Valdes with clear goal-scoring one-on-one chances the whole game.

Gaitan set Lima for a clear goal,but Valdes saved the defence blushes,as is usual. Gaitan then tried a long-range shot, and Jardel a tame header, both of which were parried away by Valdes. Messi and Sanchez tested Artur, with Sanchez shooting a clear shot over the cross-bars, and Messi heading dangerously into Artur’s hands. Jardel, Matic and Martins from Benfica were booked for repeated fouls and unsporting behavior, after Busquets had been sent off for an elbow in the face of Maxi Pereira. It was a sad day for Barcelona yet again, as Puyol suffered a nasty fall and bent his arms, putting him out of the game for a couple of months, at the least. He appeared to trap his hand below him when he fell, and was in excruciating pain as he was carried away from the field. Iniesta did his bit as well, playing exceptionally well. Personally, that is a solace, considering we have no Puyol, no Pique and that means a defensive disaster surely, unless Song and Mascherano can put in their bits. For the most part, Barcelona dominated possession and game, most comfortably, and Jorge Jesus would have had lots to berate his team about.

Now that the rational part is over,I can express what I truly feel about that Sevilla fixture.

Total disillusion.. and that is what a true Cule would say.

Would a goal without that advantage been that much more beautiful? Intricate passing and a fine finish by Villa,that would have been the highlight of the match.Dear Cesc, just how much does winning matter? Does the end always justify the means? It is normal to lose.That day, all that the club stood for no longer meant anything.All I could see was people trolling us on social networking sites, and why shouldn’t they? We had a Busquets,a Dani Alves and a new diver they said. FABREGAS.

And in doing that, you earned 3 points, but now a whole club is a collection of “divers,cheats and whatnots.” How the referee missed that hand-ball is beyond my comprehension, but dear Thiago Alcantara, I expected you to give away that ball. Maybe that’s expecting too much. Why don’t you understand that winning is not everything?

And what do I have to say, in return to all those RMA fans who hate us even more? Words fail me. I would rather you had lost 2-1 than won 3-2 in such a manner. What you don’t realize is that the aspirations of a people ride upon your shoulders, and a true fan is pained at illiterate people berating the club and calling it names. I ask you this-Can you raise your head high and claim it was a justified victory? What of all the fans who adore you and the team? Have you done them justice?

As I watch the Clasico match of the summer of 1974, I realize you as a team are but a sliver of what those players,that generation was. Spectacular football, but above all, sporting behavior. And that is where you should draw the line—winning versus the right mentality.For a certain Josep Guardiola from Santpedor once said – It is important to win with honor,but even more important is losing with dignity.I would have respected you more had you lost that game.

That day, you let a fan down, truly.