Barca crash BATE on the road

"LandepNews"

Barca crash BATE on the road

Defending champions FC Barcelona destroyed BATE Borisov 5-0 last night at the Dynamo stadium where Leo Messi finished the game with a double in the second game of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The Argentine had a solid contribution in Volodko’s early own goal, while Pedro and David Villa also left with a goal, each. BATE had a courageous start as Simic headed Baga’s corner just over the bar in what could have been a shocking beginning for the European champions. Barcelona broke back in the fifth minute through Pedro whose finish was cleared by the BATE defense.

Thiago then opted for a range shot to which keeper Gutor was equal enough to hold it. The Catalans won the first corner in the eighth minute but Thiago failed to connect Xabi’s cross. Pep Guardiola’s side were putting more pressure as the game progressed so Simic cleared Xabi’s second cross at the death. David Villa got his first big chance in the 15^th minute but the striker was unable to convert it home.

The 20^th minute brought the first goal for the visiting side. Voldoko deflected a cross into the own goal under pressure of Messi who expected the ball inside the box. Just a couple of minutes later, Pedro doubled the lead following yet another trade mark action from Barca the finish of which saw the winger beat the keeper with a perfect header between three marks including Gutor.

Villa neared his first one in the 25^th minute when the forward tried his luck with a shot form the edge of the box which the keeper saved with some effort. BATE mocked a big chance in the 33^rd minute through Voldoko whose finish was blocked by a vigilant Puyol who managed to keep the sheet clean for his side. Messi was also looking for his first one and the Argentine was very close to putting his name on the scorer book in the 37^th minute.

The Argentine controlled the ball outside the box and then tried his luck with a chip over the keeper which reached the roof of the net to his own dismay. With seven minutes left in the first half Messi did get his first one following a perfect cross from Pedro who fed the striker inside the box from where the Argentine headed it home.

Messi mocked a golden chance in the 41^st minute. Villa beat his marks to feed his team mate inside the box from where the Argentine missed the target. He then found the target but could not beat the keeper, too. The half time went 3-0 with as the first part included no surprises.

The same Messi failed to score his 39^th goal in the competition, the finish being blocked by the Belarusian defense. Gutor then denied Pedro’s dangerous shot as Barca were chasing for more. The 56^th minute brought the Spaniards a fourth one through Messi who beat the keeper with a lovely shot from inside the box.

Gutor made a great save in the 59^th minute when Messi fed Abidal in good position only to be denied by the busy keeper. BATE made their first change after one hour as coach Viktor Goncharenko introduced Skavysh for Kezman. Guardiola also answered with a couple of substitutions, replacing Xavi and Abidal with Cesc Fabregas and Adriano respectively.

Newly introduced Skavysh got his first chance two minutes after being introduced. The striker failed to contact a great cross from the left in what could have been a sparkle moment for the hosts. Rudik replaced Aleksyan for BATE in the 64^th minute but the Belarusians would still be kept busy in their own half.

Villa missed another great chance in the 66^th minute after Messi picked him inside the box. Maxwell was also sent in for Pedro two minutes later, though things were already clear for Barca who had earned 77 percent of possession in the fist hour. Puyol got his own chance in the 70^th minute following a perfect cross from Adriano which the veteran failed to reach.

Dani Alvez was the first visitor to concede a yellow card as the Brazilian was caution by the referee for a handball in the 75^th minute. Simic was also shown one three minutes later for a foul on Messi. Goncharenko made the last change in the 80^th minute, introducing Kurlovic for Bressan. David Villa closed the game with a fifth one scored in the last minute.

The striker was perfectly fed inside the box to beat Gutor very easily with a shot through his legs. Despite the win, Barca are second in the group H where AC Milan lead with four points. BATE Borisov are third with one point, the same as bottom Viktoria Plzen who were beaten 2-0 by the Rossoneri last night on San Siro.

Said a delighted coach Guardiola at the end of the clash: “The truth is that they defended really deeply, and I didn’t expect that. Sometimes if you don’t score early on it makes you lose a little patience. But we were able to cope really well, and this gave us the time and space to develop our game… It was very important to control the midfield players.”

FC Barcelona will next host Viktoria Plzen, while AC Milan welcome BATE Borisov on San Siro on October 19.

BATE Borisov – Gutor; Bordachev, Simic, Filipenko, Volodko; Rudik, Olekhnovich; Baga, Renan, Kontsevoi; Kezman. Reserves: V. Kurlovic, M. Gordeychuk, A. Radkov, M. Skavysh, D. Likhtarovitch, P. Chesnovsky, K. Aleksiyan.

FC Barcelona – Victor Valdez; Dani Alves, Puyol, Abidal, Xabi, Mascherano, Thiago, Keita; David Villa, Pedro; Messi. Reserves: A. Fontas, Maxwell, S. Busquets, J. Pinto, C. Fabregas, A. Correia, G. Pique.

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