FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.03.2009 14:16

Win presses case for promotion (0-2)

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Two goals from Goran Maric, together with a solid all-round team performance gave Barca Atletic and important win away to league leaders Alcoia today.

Luis Enrique’s lads pressed their case for promotion with a good win on a difficult ground. This was the team’s second away win on the trot and was a fair reward for a focussed and disciplined performance.

Early control

Barça Atlètic started well and after 15 minutes Goran Maric headed wide with Benja just failing to get on the end of a chance a few minutes later. Alcoia showed why they are top soon after though, when Pelusa came close. Barca came back and were unfortunate to have a goal disallowed before Linares twice came close for the home side forcing Mino into a good save. There was still time in the first half for Benja and Marc to test the home keeper before Linares dealt his team’s hopes a blow, receiving a red card for protesting to the referee as the teams trouped off for the break.

Maric brace

With one man down, the home team withdrew into their shell in the second half, but Maric broke the deadlock early on, driving past Maestro from the left of the box. Alcoia came back hard after the goal, but the Barca defence and keeper Miño stood firm and were rewarded on 69 minutes when Maric again struck, this time with an extraordinarily hit free kick to bring his tally to 190 for the season. Alcoia didn’t let their heads drop, but in the end they had nothing more and Barca withstood the leader’s pressure. They could in fact have gone further ahead had the ref not disallowed a Nolito goal. The only sour noter for Luis Enrique was the yellow card that Maric picked up which will mean he will miss next week’s game against Ibiza-.