Heroic comeback (2-1)

Jordi Clos

Barça have achieved a hard-fought win against league leaders Valencia with goals from Iniesta and Puyol in a magnificent second half cancelling out Pablo Hernández’s 37th minute opener.

Barça were once again lacking some of their spark following a hectic international week. Valencia was always going to be a tough opponent, and the impeccable new Camp Nou turf was the venue for an intense tactical battle between Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery. Xavi and Villa started in a lively, focussed FCB eleven, but were well matched early on by an efficient Valencia side that edged into the lead thanks to Pablo (min 37). But there was plenty more excitement in store in what proved to be a memorable encounter.

Barça saved the best for the second half, when they enjoyed almost all the chances, with Iniesta and Puyol getting the goals in what proved to be an epic comeback from the defending champions.

Battling for the ball
Both sides clearly wanted to play the possession game, and Valencia showed from early on just how well they can imitate what has come to be considered the Barcelona style. The visitors were well organised, moved their lines forward and created constant pressure. And that is precisely the kind of opponent that Barça find the most uncomfortable to play against.

But Guardiola’s players are made of stern stuff, and they weathered that storm well, meaning that the first half hour or so was something of a deadlock in midfield, with very few clear-cut opportunities for either side.

Alternating possession
The first of those came from a Barça corner in the 19th minute, but Villa really should have done better against his former team. That was the moment the game started coming to life. Barça’s highly mobile forwards began to combine the way we love, although it was Xavi, with a long range effort in the 22nd minute who came the closest to breaking the deadlock. Gradually Barça gained possession for longer and longer periods, and as they did so, they seemed far more settled on the field.

Valencia silence the Camp Nou
But just as things seemed to be sorting themselves out in favour of the Catalans, Valencia struck. It was their first real opportunity of the game, yet Pablo Hernández made no mistake as Valdés was caught out by an unfortunate deflection. Moments later, the FCB stopper was one on one with the same man, Pablo, but this time produced a point-blank save to prevent his side from going two down. Barça responded with two attempts from Messi in the six-yard box that inexplicably failed to find the net. Just as the game was producing the most thrilling football of the night, the half-time whistle blew.

Brilliant Barça
Barça needed to start the second half strongly, and couldn’t have wished for better. Barely a minute had passed before Iniesta beat the offside trap with a sensational one-two with Xavi and his class finish brought the match back all square. Almost as importantly, it also boosted Barcelona’s confidence, and from then on, there was no question which the better side was. Messi was playing with renewed conviction, and if it hadn’t been for a remarkable save from César, Villa would have scored with a close-range header in the 69th minute. But the Valencia keeper was powerless moments later to deal with another header, this time from Puyol, on the end of a Xavi assist, and that finally put Barça in command at 2-1.

Just rewards
The Camp Nou was roaring by now. Messi went another of his trademark slaloming runs, and Villa was brilliantly thwarted by Cesar after breaking through into a one-on-one situation. Xavi was withdrawn as a precautionary measure, and that took some of the bite out of the FCB midfield. With just one goal in it, there was concern that Valencia might just snatch a late equaliser, but they had lost a lot of their composure and found effort after effort frustrated by some sturdy Barça defending. And there was a lot to thank Mascherano for, with several of the Argentinian’s interventions proving providential. The last ten minutes were a tense affair, but there was to be no further scoring, meaning FC Barcelona have a further three points to add to their collection on a wonderful night of footballing action at the Camp Nou.