03.02.2008 21:05
Not even the rain can stop them (2-0)
Jaume Monés
Neither the downpour, nor the opposition, not the injuries. Barça B are still finding the magic formula in the Miniestadi to head towards promotion. And Guardiola’s side are getting better and better stats on the field, with 12 wins from 13 games.
Deserved win for Barça B in what may not have been as brilliant a performance as some past
encounters but showed the kind of maturity that could be important in the not too distant future.
Great defensive display and a waiting game played to perfection in an awkward game to control.
Pressure from opposition
Mataró coach Jaume Creixell wanted to break the game down early through pressure and fouls,
leading to a sloppy first half, despite the home side’s dominance. But Mataró did get a
couple of chances. In the 3rd minute, a Javi cross was headed by Marc Esteban and Oier had to tip
the ball over the crossbar. On six minutes the visitors came close with a long range effort from
Navarro that was stopped well by Oier.
Intensity and anticipation
The game soon switched into Barça’s favour. Playing an excellent
waiting game Pep Guardiola’s side won balls in midfield and slowly started troubling
goalkeeper Imanol Castilla, a former Barça youth player. Víctor Sánchez had a go on 10 minutes, and
on the quarter hour a Guerra goal was questionably disallowed. Barça had more to offer, with a
Víctor Sánchez shot from outside the area on 19 minutes, and another from Pedrito on the half hour
both saved by Imanol.
Vertical goal
The Maresme based side needed breaking down, and the goal eventually came from a Mataró
corner of all things. Oier collected the ball and passed upfield to Guerra, who broke free of his
marker to find Jeffren in space to beat Imanol in the one on one and make it 1-0. It was a goal
built out of just three passes, and which had totally bypassed the resistance that until now had
proved so effective from Mataró.
Superiority in second half
Barça kept up their rhythm after the break. Mataró did all they could, but nothing seemed to
look like coming close to troubling Oier. A torrential downpour at half time had left the pitch in
a dreadful condition, but that was not going to stop Barcelona’s dominance. Just after the
break Xavi Torres had a shot from the edge of the area, while Víctor Sánchez had a go shortly
after. Víctor Vázquez was brought on as a sub and added to the attacking dynamic with a couple of
shots of his own, both saved.
Guerra finishes it off
Like a fortnight ago against Manresa, Barça’s top scorer Guerra
was the man who provided relief for the Miniestadi crowd. The game was 36 minutes old when Barça
finally established a two-goal cushion following an accurate cross from the left by Espasandín that
was converted by a Guerra diving header to make it 2-0. But Guerra injured his back as he fell and
was stretchered off. With the three changes already made, Barça were going have to tackle the last
ten minutes of the game with a man less on the field, although Mataró never threatened to come back
into the match.
Chico debut
One of the main attractions was the chance to see the club’s new signing in action,
José Manuel Flores, better known as Chico. The defender from Cadiz has come from Second Division B
outfit Racing Portuense and played the whole match at centre back alongside Marc Valiente, posting
an excellent debut display in the Barça colours.
MATCH STATS
Barça B, 2
Mataró, 0
Barça B: Oier, Córcoles, Chico, Marc Valiente, Espasandín, Xavi Torres, Pedrito
(Víctor Vázquez, 53'), Víctor Sánchez (Sergio Busquets, 74'), Guerra, Abraham (Dimas, 64') and
Jeffren.
Mataró: Imanol, Sauras, Víctor Duran, Javi, Quique, Altuna, Ramon (Callicó, 55'),
Navarro, Landi (Uri, 88'), Marc Esteban (Carrión, 53') and Mourad.
Referee: Francesc Galán Baró. Yellow cards for Barça’s Víctor Sánchez and
Abraham, and Mataró’s Sauras, Landi and Marc Esteban.
Goals: 1-0 Jeffren (40'); 2-0 Guerra (81').