FCBARCELONA.CAT

10.05.2009 21:01

Win but no play-off place (1-2)

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Barça Atlètic beat Benidorm but it wasn’t enough to make the Second Division A promotion play-offs as Sabadell drew and Sant Andreu won.

Goals by Nolito and Pedro at Foeietes weren’t enough to get Barça Atlètic into the promotion play-offs. A see-saw game against Benidorm (1-2) saw Barça reserves run out winners but fail to finish in the top four spots in the table.

First attempts

Both sides had chances in the first half. Benja fired wide from the edge of the box and Ruano’s header went just over the bar for the home side. Minutes later Pedro was unable to finish off an individual move.

One down

After half an hour Luismi had a good chance to open the scoring, but in the end it was Chupe who got on the score sheet as he stuck home a cross from the right to make it 1-0.

Nolito equalises

Two minutes later Nolito scored with a shot from outside the box just inside the post to pull Barça Atlètic level. Luis Enrique’s men then went onto the attack but stout defending by Benidorm meant the two sides went into the break at 1-1.

Barça dominate

After the restart Barcelona dominated the game and Nolito’s fine effort was saved by the home keeper. A defensive error gave Flavio the chance to put the home side back ahead but Oier was equal to the occasion. Gai’s cross from the left didn’t find any of his teammates and Maric’s free-kick hit the wall.

Pedro puts Barça ahead

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Pedro made it 1-2 after an assist from Maric. The three points meant that Barça Atlètic might be in the play-offs but were dependent on results from Sant Andreu and Sabadell.

Right up until the end Barça looked to increase their lead and Maric saw his drive from the right well saved by the home keeper. Benidorm were also looking to equalise but were unable to find a way through the Barça defence.

Just miss out on the play-offs

Despite the win at Foietes, Luis Enrique’s men had to see what happened in the Sabadell v Alcoià and Sant Andreu v Vila-real games. A goalless draw in the former and a last minute winner to make it 3-2 in the latter kept Barça Atlètic out of the play-offs. In the end they finished fifth, with the top four spots going to Alcoià, Vila-real, Sant Andreu and Sabadell.