The central fights in the current championship of Spain are even more than necessary. The circle of applicants for the champion title decisively does not want to narrow, and in almost every round some important match happens.
However, the confrontation between “Valencia” and “Barcelona” - this is more than just a game, it is almost “classic”. There are not so many teams in the Spanish championship that Barca is openly afraid of. Ever since the time of Claudio Ranieri, “Valencia” has been extremely successful in playing with “Barcelona”. Hector Cooper accepted the passing banner from the hands of the Italian and strengthened the trend. And Rafael Benitez during it beat the blue-pomegranate well almost as he wanted, moreover, both in the championship of Spain and in the Champions League. “Valencia” - an uncomfortable opponent for “Barca”. This is more than a fact, it really is.
Sunday's match, among other things, was endowed with tremendous tournament significance. In the previous round, the head coach of “bats” Kike Flores decided to save money: he gave the leaders Albelde and Villiers a break in the match against Getafe. Avaricious pays twice: “Valencia” died the death of the brave, and now to maintain champion ambitions, the team needed to beat Barcelona.
And she spent a very unpleasant week - actively sorted out the relationship of Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Raikard. As a result, Cameroonian did not go to Valencia. However, Saviola remained on the bench - Gudjohnsen suddenly became the trump card of Raikard.
The central matches this season are rarely spectacular - all the big teams have problems. “Valencia” can not play in the optimal composition. This time the “mice” did not have the main goalkeeper Canisares. And “Barcelona” every time dope is required to motivate. Both teams are not ready for the destruction of the next opponent, so they are forced to be careful.
Formalities were observed: “Barca” received the ball, and “Valencia” - the possibility of counterattacks. After the first 45 minutes, the teams stayed with their own - the “Valencia” got only one worthy trip. At the beginning of the match, Villa fled to the gates of “Barcelona”, but struck artlessly, and Valdez repulsed a blow to the great joy of his defenders. The very same “Barca” played sluggish and academic. A couple of moments - that's all the wealth accumulated in the first half. The match had neither pace nor energy.
But the second half quickly received the necessary support - in the first serious attack, “Valencia” scored: Villa “rocked” Puyol in the penalty area and with the thinnest pass brought Angulo to an almost empty net.
1-0 - for “Valencia” is a huge handicap. It is noted that the wards of Kike Flores are very fond of the lead and really do not like to lose. You say: a terrible banality, can this be said about everyone? So - but not so. There are teams that can recoup, but “Valencia” does not apply to them. It is worth the "bats" to skip first, as if they were letting out air. But, having an advantage in the balls, “Valencia” only adds. It happened on Sunday.
“Barca” began to unfold, expose the zone, and “Valencia” only this was necessary. Another quick attack, and Silva doubled the advantage of the hosts. And Flores’s team usually don’t give two goals to anyone, not even Barcelona. Moreover, immediately, “Valencia” almost scored a third goal - the defense of “Barca” fell apart into bricks.
On this in the game there was a break - the meat grinder began. After a series of tackles, each of which was worse than the previous one, Itturalde González removed Deco and Albelda. Cards fell, players forgot about football. Actually, it was too late to recall - “Valencia” rightly considered the matter done, while “Barca” simply had no counterarguments. The defense of the hosts tightly closed Ronaldinho, and the blue-garnet team did not have a team game in this match. True, the Brazilian still scored his goal - with a free kick. But this happened already in the 92nd minute, and the guests simply did not have time for more.
So, the troubled time in the championship of Spain continues. No team is able to give a series of even three victories in a row - what can we say about the records of Milan “Inter”? If Barcelona won in Valencia, the situation would be a little simpler. And so - complete obscurity. Anyone can win the championship of Spain this season, at least Madrid “Atletico”. And you can formulate it in another way - there is simply no one to win the championship ...
Kirill DEMENTYEV
VALENCIA - BARCELONA - 2: 1 (0: 0)Goals: 1: 0 - Angulo (52), 2: 0 - David Silva (55), 2: 1 - Ronaldinho (90 + 2).
VALENCIA: Butelle, Miguel, Ayala, Marchena, Moretti, Albelda, Raul Albiol, David Silva (Jorge Lopez, 85), Villa (Joaquin, 71), Morientes (Pallardo, 65), Angulo.
BARCELONA: Valdes, Marquez, Puyol, Edmilson (Julie, 72), Oleger, Xavi, Ronaldinho, Zambrotta, Deco, Iniesta, Gudjohnsen (Messi, 56).
Warnings: Edmilson (21), Zambrotta (35), Marchena (49), Raul Albiol (54), Puyol (64), Butell (65), Valdes (66), Ronaldinho (68).
Deletions: Albelda (62), Deco (62).
18th of Febuary. "Mestalla", 21.00.
Judge: Iturralde Gonzalez.