FCBARCELONA.CAT

19.11.2008 23:09

Spain triumphant, France and Uruguay draw

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Xavi Hernández and Carles Puyol helped Spain to victory over Chile on Wednesday evening while Thierry Henry and Martín Cáceres were on opposite sides as France and Uruguay drew a blank in Paris and Aliaksandr Hleb tasted defeat against Cyprus.

One victory, one draw and a loss was the tally from the three games involving Barça players early on Wednesday. Spain continued their good run of form as they recorded another win against the Chileans in el Madrigal.

Winning run

Puyol and Xavi started the game, but the Blaugrana captain was replaced by Carlos Marchena at half-time and the Catalan club’s vice-captain was substituted by Fernando Llorente with 20 minutes remaining. Both players looked confident and impressed during their time on the pitch as Spain went on to win the game 3-0 thanks to goals from David Villa, Fernando Torres and Santi Cazorla gave them victory in front of 19,000 spectators.

Xavi sets up Torres

Villa had put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the first half after Albert Riera had gone over in the area and Torres then netted a second to put the outcome beyond doubt with a glorious effort as he turned in the area and swept the ball past Real Sociedad’s Claudio Bravo in the Chile goal after being picked out by Xavi. The third goal arrived soon after when Cazorla’s effort ricocheted off Carmona’s foot and beat the keeper.

Goalless in Paris (0-0)

Henry and Cáceres met up in Paris as France took on Uruguay in the Stade de France, but the game was not a classic. The home side were whistled at the end for their performance in a game that saw the Barça defender play the full 90 minutes and the forward depart with 18 minutes remaining.

Henry and Cáceres

In the first half, the French dominated possession and created all the chances in front of goal as Henry, playing out o the left, combined well with Nicolas Anelka. One of the most intense duels of the game saw Cáceres mark Franck Ribéry so tightly that he earned himself a yellow card five minutes before the break.

Hleb loses in Cyprus

Bielorrusia were defeated in Cyprus in a game that saw Hleb play. Demetris Christophi and Avraam both scored to put the hosts in command in Nicosia before Leonid Kovel reduced the arrears.