Thrilling rout (4-1)

Barça proved too strong for Valladolid in a game that was evenly contested until half-time. Eto’o, Iniesta and Bojan (2) were the goal scorers as Barça returned to their best football in the second half.
It was a game of two halves in the Nou Camp this Sunday. In the first half Valladolid put up a good showing and dared to hold their own in the azulgrana coliseum. They were helped on their way with a harsh penalty which allowed them to go off at half-time at 1-1, cancelling out Eto’o’s opener. The second half, however, saw the difference in class the two teams’ league positions testify and Barça put on a show of classy football. Iniesta and Bojan (2) – who played a part in all four goals - assured the home win. And so Rijkaard’s men ended a run of poor results in the best possible way – winning, scoring goals and putting on a show. Barça push forward Barça began the game well. Bojan had two clear chances in the first five minutes and Valladolid were looking weak at the back. After this bright start things began to even out and Valladolid looked to move out from their defensive stance. However, all the chances were Barça’s and, after Iniesta and Touré came close, Eto’o put Barça ahead from six yards in the 23rd minute from Bojan’s inch perfect pass from the left. Penalty and level Strangely, the 1-0 scoreline began to favour Valladolid, who now took control of the ball and the pace of the game. Chances were now coming in Valdés’s area and these eventually led to the visitors equaliser when Thuram was harshly judged to have fouled Llorente – penalty. Sesma scored from the spot (31m). At 1-1 the visitors continued to dominate but there were no more clear chances for either side. Rijkaard’s team would need to improve in the second half. The azulgranas take control And that’s what happened. Not only because of Iniesta’s goal just after the restart – which Bojan flicked on from Touré’s pass – but also because Barça took control of possession and dictated play, as they are used to doing. This possession allowed them to attack Asenjo’s area with regularity and the visiting keeper could do nothing about Barça’s third from Bojan, coming initially from Xavi’s free kick. Chances and more chances With the game all but over, Valladolid were forced to attack and so left holes at the back, leading to chances in both boxes. On the one hand, Valladolid could have reduced the deficit on a couple of occasions when Valdés’s post came to the rescue. On the other hand, Eto’o and Henry came close to adding a fourth, which eventually came fom the boots of Bojan. Eto’o gifted the youngster the goal in payment for his assist in Eto’o’s opener. Pedrito came on for Bojan, who received a standing ovation, and a happy afternoon for all Barça fans came to a close.