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Barca best Plzen but stay second
Iniesta opened the score for the hosts ten minutes into the game, while David Villa brought the second one with ten minutes left in the game. The first chance belonged to Barca who missed the target through Xabi early in the second minute following a lovely build up from Iniesta and Villa. One minute later, Dani Alves mocked a golden opportunity for the same Catalans, his shot going well wide from inside the box.
The tenth minute brought the first goal for the European champions as Iniesta converted it home after a charming action which also involved Messi. Barca edged the second one just one minute when the same Iniesta picked Villa in good position only to finish it over the bar. Pedro got his first chance in the 17th minute but the winger struck the ball just wide from the edge of the box when he should have done much better.
Messi was blocked at the death by Bystron in the 22nd minute while the Argentine was attempting to pick Villa inside the box. The winger then missed a good chance, his shot going just wide from 15 yards or so. The same Messi and Villa developed a one two on the edge of the box, but the finish was denied by a vigilant Cech.
Barca controlled the entire first half, missing plenty of golden chances, especially in the last minutes of the term. Pedro had his shot blocked in the 38th minute, while Messi and Busquets combined for a promising finish three minutes later. Messi closed the first half with a big opportunity, hitting the post from the edge of the box.
The half time thus went 1-0 but Barca were only applying an easy treatment to their visitors. Messi then slalomed between a few defenders but the Ballon d’Or winner could only finish it straight at keeper Cech. Plzen made their first change in the 56th minute as coach Pavel Vrba introduced Duris for Bakos. A controversial situation occurred just one minute later when Petrzela was taken down by Villa. The referee let the game move on to the dismay of the Czechs.
The away side got their biggest chance in the 60th minute when Busquets and keeper Valdez invited each other to take the ball which was very close to reaching free Duris. Fortunately, the Spanish keeper held the ball to calm down the spirits. Limbersky saved the Czechs from a potential second goal in the 66th minute when the left defender denied Messi with a lovely intervention.
Plzen made another change in the 73rd minute, replacing Pilar with Fillo. With ten minutes left in the game, Villa made it 2-0 following a poor clearance from Limbersky.
Iniesta made way for Keita in the 83rd minute, while Vrba introduced Darida for Petrzela. Pedro mocked a last chance in the 86th minute, the winger shooting just wide from the verge of the box. David Villa departed for Cuenca in the 88th minute as Barca were heading towards the victory.
The Catalans won the game with ease despite scoring just twice, but remain second in the group H with seven points, the same as leaders AC Milan who beat BATE 2-0 the same night at the San Siro.
Said coach Pep Guardiola of Iniesta: “You already know that when he’s in good shape he’s unique, he works hard, he scores more goals than you think, and he breaks down defences, which is so important to us. He’s come back really well from his injury. Last year he was vital for us, and now we hope he will be just as important.”
Plzen lie foot of the table with one point in three games. The two sides meet again on November 1 at the Eden stadium in Prague.
FC Barcelona – Valdez; Correia, Abidal, Mascherano, Dani Alves; Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Villa, Messi. Reserves: Maxwell, I. Cuenca, C. Puyol, J. Pinto, S. Keita, A. Fontas, Thiago.
Viktoria Plzen – Cech; Rajtoral, Bystron, Cisovsky, Limbersky; Jiracek, Horvath, Petrzela, Kolar, Pilar; Bakos. Reserves: R. Pavlik, M. Duris, V. Darida, R. Reznik, M. Fillo, F. Sevinsky, P. Trapp.
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