Barcelona v Liverpool - Review
Wednesday 22 February
"Nou Best Friends"
Barcelona 1 – 2 Liverpool
Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise answered all their critics and silenced tabloid speculation, after each scoring in Liverpool’s epic 1-2 victory over Barcelona. Now what were the odds on that given the weeks antics?! The ironic twist marks the first time an English team has won at the Nou Camp in 31 years.
The Reds, renowned for their European success including that unforgettable final in Istanbul, were once again forced to come from behind. Ronaldinho was allowed too much space and neatly threaded Zambrotta down the left. Deco, unmarked in the box, met the inch perfect cross with a firm head.
As Barcelona turned on their elegant flair, producing a relentless string of crisp, angled passes, Liverpool seemed stuck for ideas and looked destined to fall further behind. Deco denied his second only by Reina’s leg while a Saviola’s shot was dragged wide.
Desperate to get to half time with just a one-goal deficit, Liverpool surprised even the most hopeful of fans by equalising on 43 minutes. An Alonso free kick fell into the feet of Finnan who then perfectly picked out Bellamy, peeling away at the far post.
The Welsh striker produced what appeared to be a comfortable collection for the previously untested ‘keeper. The header though, foiled Valdés as his poor positioning carried the ball inches within the goal line.
The goal gave something for everyone to sing about and transformed Bellamy from front-page thug to back page hero. His light-hearted ‘golf swing’ celebration suggesting all is dandy in the Liverpool camp.
Barcelona reappeared a little jaded after the half time spell, still rueing that squandered lead. And their lacklustre play was nearly their downfall after an absentminded back pass resulted in a Liverpool indirect free kick.
A little nudge from Alonso lined up Gerrard whose low drive was parried by Valdés. Kuyt pounced on the rebound but the header sailed over the crossbar.
Barcelona rediscovered their rhythm and endeavoured to restore their lead midway through the second half. They seemed to make the breakthrough in the 72 minute when Saviola surged into the Liverpool box. But a resilient Reina thwarted his stab and January signing Alvaro Arbeloa proved his worth by clearing Messi’s follow up.
The home side were then instantly made to regret such an opportunity when ‘nou best friends’ Bellamy and Riise combined to fire home Liverpool’s winner.
Kuyt, box bound again, saw another attempt blocked by a robust Valdés. The ricochet was weakly cleared though and fell kindly for Bellamy. Quickly swarmed by three defenders, Bellamy eyed Riise approaching. An unselfish squared pass across the face of goal exposed the Barcelona defence and allowed the Norwegian to unleash a close range rocket with his albeit less favoured right foot to stun the Nou Camp stadium.
The Liverpool celebrations were marred slightly after Mohamed Sissoko suffered yet another injury. Having only just returned from a dislocated shoulder, Sissoko’s once again found himself stretched off after a nasty knock on his right ankle.
Fans although anxious about his fitness for next weekend’s clash with Manchester United had more pressing things to sweat over as a Deco free kick smashed on to the far post.
A swirling ball left an uneasy Reina stranded. But the Spaniard could breathe a sigh of relief as the ball failed to sneak within the posts and with it, the red quarter erupted after another monumental Champions League result.
Barcelona
Valdes, Belletti, Rafael Marquez, Puyol, Zambrotta, Xavi (Giuly 65), Motta (Iniesta 54), Deco, Messi, Saviola (Gudjohnsen 82), Ronaldinho
Liverpool
Reina, Arbeloa, Agger, Carragher, Riise, Finnan, Sissoko (Zenden 84), Alonso, Gerrard, Bellamy (Pennant 80), Kuyt (Crouch 89)
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