This match was a meet between the champions of Europe and the champions of Africa - only the champions of Europe weren't really playing, their younger understudies from the B-team were. And the kids still managed to give the Egyptian kings a royal thrashing.Blaugrana pride, what can we say.
The match opened up with Montoya, Muniesa, Henrique, and Abidal forming the backline ahead of keeper Jorquera; Sanchez and Rueda were in midfield along with Keita; while Rochina, Bojan and Gai brought up the front.
Things kicked off with Barca in attack, and our first goal came soon: Rochina stole the ball in midfield and dribbled his way to the box, where Bojan was waiting to take the pass and send the ball zooming into the net, a rocket of goal, in the sixteenth minute. The number sixteen here reminding us of a time about two years ago, when a sixteen year old Bojan made his debut for Barca against this very same team, and scored his first ever goal for the senior side.
Bo didn't get to celebrate his goal since he tripped while taking the shot, and had to limp off the pitch for the medics to see to him, but he soon rejoined the game.
The opposition made a comeback after that goal, attacking at Jorquera's net time after time, but the keeper was surprisingly alert today and made save after save. However, he was caught off guard and out of position at the thirty-minute mark, conceding a goal that equalized the score for the Egyptians.
Barca went ahead again though, five minutes before the half, with Rueda's incredible shot from twenty-five yards out soaring far and high then home past the keeper.
Pep changed the whole lineup at halftime, putting Victor Valdes on as keeper for the first time this preseason, behind a defense line of Dalmau, Caceres, Fontas, and Espasandin; Yaya, Guddy, and Jonathan Dos Santos formed the midfield while Leo Messi came on, also for the first time since preseason kicked off, to complete the attack alongside Pedro and Jeffren.
Goals seemed to be combined with injuries for this match - not only did Bojan's opener force him off for a few minutes, but when Barca's third goal came soon after the half, the Egyptian keeper had to pay. Messi tapped the ball to Pedro who shot it into the area, where Gudjhonsen dashed forward to try and claim it, but ended up crashing into the keeper instead. The ball flew past them both and was met by Jeffren, who nudged it into the goal while the keeper took his fall.
After a five or six minute delay said keeper was taken off on a stretcher and his replacement came on, and a mere ten minutes followed before Barca hit the back of the net yet again. Gudjohnsen seemed to take control over his own feet for a minute out of the whole time he played, and set up Pedro to score Barca's fourth and final goal.
A few more chances followed after that, including a particularly great one that Dalmau failed to finish, but the game ended with the score at 4-1 to Barca. An incredible result for Barca's B-teamers, who once again made us all proud, playing against top professionals with all the grace and pace of our senior squad.
Btw: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was at the match. He's that impressed with our youngsters, he just had to come and see them again, hours before his own team was to meet up with Celtic. And my, did he get to witness a great show from them!
And speaking of managers, can we stop for a minute at Pep? There was clearly something up with him today. As the match kicked off he was sitting there with arms crossed and a scowl on his face (but looking incredibly hot nonetheless, nobody and rock jeans and a sweater like he can) and he kinda stayed that way all game long. He didn't even get up once to wave his arms around and yell at the players - something he's been known to do for an entire match if needed - didn't really react to the goals, or anything. We know he's as proud of the boys as any of us, but really, what can it be that's got him so glum?
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