Barcelona vs Sporting Lisbon - Match Review

September 22, 2008

A persistent-looking Barcelona team earned a 3-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the first Champions League group game. Goals came from Marquez, Eto’o, Xavi and Tonel for Sporting and the win means Barca shoot to the top of group C at this early stage of the competition.

Deserved goal

From kickoff, Barca looked sharp on the attack and Sporting were finding it difficult to keep out the chances early on. The two Spanish midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta looked dangerous from the start as they had additional space in the middle because of Messi and Henry playing in wide positions. With all the possession and attack, a goal for the home side looked imminent. Before the deadlock was broken, Messi had a strike on goal in the 17th minute that skimmed just wide of the post. Three minutes after Messi’s effort and Rafa Marquez put the Blaugrana ahead from a set piece. The ball was swung in from the corner by Xavi and the Mexican defender was unmarked in acres of space to head the ball into the back of the net. There wasn’t a lot happening around Barca’s goal end in the first half and the home team were in cruise control going into half time.

Comfortable three points

Still no real threat from the Portuguese side at the beginning of the second half except from one effort by the former Barca man Fabio Rochemback that Victor Valdes had to be aware of. Barcelona continued to look the stronger of the two teams and it was in the 60th minute when Samuel Eto’o made it 2-0. The Cameroonian striker was pushed inside the area and the referee gave a penalty to Barca. Eto’o made no mistake in converting the spot kick and putting his team in a good position but was then replaced by fellow African Yaya Toure. The game looked as good as won but Sporting showed resistance and pulled a goal back with an acrobatic finish from Tonel inside the six yard box. Though there was only one goal in it at the point, Barca weren’t in panicking stations and searched for the goal that would surely put the game to bed. And with three minutes of regular time remaining, they got their reward. It was Xavi who ended things in the Nou Camp scoring from just six metres out. The Catalans sealed their first Champions League win of the season and go top of Group C.

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