Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon
1-0 Xavi min.27
2-0 Eto`o Goal
3-0 Jorge Goal
3-1 Maldonado Goal
4-1 Iniesta Goal
5-1 Messi Goal
FC Barcelona have thrashed Sporting Gijon in a master display of good football and good goals. Xavi, Eto’o, Jorge (og), Iniesta and Messi (2) were on the score sheet for Barça.
The first league win came in the third game, but it was an exceptional win which almost touched perfection. The 1-6 result was a clear representation of the difference between the two sides over ninety minutes and the stars of the show were applauded off the pitch.
And the manner of the victory? Well, it came via a style of football championed by Barça and Josep Guardiola and it led to the creation of a mountain of opportunities and some beautiful goals for Xavi, Eto’o, Iniesta and Messi (2), (the other being a Jorge own goal).
High intensity
Pace and intensity were the distinctive characteristics of the first few minutes of the game. Barça pegged Sporting back in their own box but they still tried to hit on the counter attack. However, little by little, the tie began to clearly swing in favour of the azulgranas, with Alves and Iniesta running freely down the wings. And this led to the opening goal: the ball was centered from the left and Xavi arrived late to head home.
Corners with prizes
Barça’s dominance was such that they won eleven corners in the first 32 minutes. And it was the eleventh corner that saw Barça score their second. Puyol glanced the corner goalwards and Eto’o was on the far post and only had to put his head to the ball to score his first of the season. But it won’t be his last.
A goal each
The first corner of the second half saw Barça score their third. This time it was one of Sporting’s centre-halves, Jorge, who knocked a cross into his own net. But this led to a small reaction from Sporting and they pulled a goal back through Maldonado in the 50th minute.
Red for Gerard
Despite the home team’s goal, Barça continued to dominate. They were playing neat triangles with ease in their opponents half but also won the ball back quickly when they lost it. One of these moments put Messi through and he raced in on the last defender. Gerard had no option but to bring the Argentinian down rather than leave him clean through on the keeper. The tackle was rewarded with a deserved red card which left Barça in even more control.
Extra man: 1-3 becomes 1-6
Being a man down, Sporting were forced to retreat even further into their own box. It was only a question of time and Barça’s fourth came via a stroke of genius drawn up by Messi and Iniesta (69 min). A quarter of an hour later it was 1-5. Messi picked up a messy ball in the box and fired home. Not satisfied with their lot, Barça pushed on for more and got a sixth when Messi headed home.
The last few minutes served little more than to give an official debut to Caceres. The Uruguayan came on in the 82nd minute as a substitute for Sergio Busquets and he played very well in the centre of the park.