last game! malaga vs barcelona

last game of la liga this season!
barca using this oppertunity to train some of the young talent from b team.
bojan is captain! it would be funny if we won this, considering we barely have any regular starters to this. i wonder if bojan is going to still be here. i wonder if this is his last la liga game ever...
0' the first play of the game begins with a shot from malaga. well this is going to be a dull game.
1' when you're watching these players trying to get in the grove of la liga you realise how difficult it is to play at the level barca normally does on a weekly basis.
2' another shot coming in from malaga.... pinto saves followed by a shot off the deflection fontas clearing...
6' ah! finally a shot for barca! Thiago taking a pass from fontas who moved from central defense to a play-maker role
7' pinto having to make yet another save...
8' Abidal not managing to find afellay... i just realised that everyone but Bojan has a two number digit squad number on pitch right now.
9' bojan waiting a second to collect himself before a shot, it's a good effort but takes a deflection out for a corner.
10' ohhh so frustating! barca doing well up front, great passing under pressure but the marking is very thorough from malaga and the shot it weak.
12' bartra missing a clearence and adriano having to clear his poor effort up.
13' shot from malaga, not far wide at all! we have to be more careful than that...
15' jeffern finally showing some pace.... but goes down... wins a corner though.
16' corner goes out for a goal kick...
17' afellay with a shot over the bar.... pep...stroking his...... tie.
18' Fontas going down...
19' ah, the ball was travelling well with barca until bojan loses it to jesus gamez. in his defense gamez is really good.
21' jeffern going down yet again. thiago to take the free kick. or not... wow! jeffern fires it on target from distance and the keeper makes a good save.
22' thiago being tripped up and lying on the ground. he gets up when the whitle is blown for a free kick.
24' fontas manages to shake of juanmi who was aaaaalll over him at the corner flag and make a good pass back out.
25' ah, bojan going down outside the box... just being tripped up there. thiago to take the free kick... it goes straight to the wall, and out for a barca corner.
28' sergi roberto goes down after being pulled back from the shoulders... not going for the ball at all. Apono is booked for it. jeffern takes it and it goes wide.
30' goal to malaga! Seba fernandas! oh what a goal! smacked striaght into the top corner. pinto had no chance. but the leaky defense had a lot to do with it. a lot.
32' bartra missing yet another clearence. pinto having to roll over to get the ball, lucky it's just wide.
34' Jeffern's hand ends up somewhere near wellington's face.... but there was a bit of play acting there too.
34' maxwell triped over in the box. it's a very late tackle but it isnt worth a penalty.
35' ahhahahahahahhaa there are two balls on the pitch. right. ref blows it up to stop play and get rid of the spare.
36' adriano looking for thiago but there's too much on it and rolls out for a goal kick.
38' grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. thiago being blocked off in the last second, so sends it to sergi roberto, who puts it over the bar. close though.
39' Maresca goes down from thiago's challenge, no free kick, but jeffern kicks it out to stop play. sportsmanship from barca.
41' bartra losing out to malaga very near to the goal, sending pinto running to make a save.
42' Bojan taken down twice in the area, but there's a penalty! what! there's a bit of a fight. ooooh they're saying things to each other... bojan chasing after Duda, who doesn't turn around until bojan says something... i wonder what he said...
43' Bojan takes it! GOAL! GOALLLLL!!! oh malaga is going to HAAAATE him for this! why there is no replay for the foul i don't know.
44' Gamez being booked. lots of bookings for Malaga today..
45' oh here we go! there's the replay, okay, so there an obstruction, then he gets tripped over. i think it's enough for a foul. hahahah the commentator just said that he was "following the real madrid method, commit the foul, pretend not to have, shout at the player, then go intimidate the players and the referee"

i would say after a dreadful start barca have picked up the game in terms of attack in the last half hour or so, but the defense is still shite and still has lots of holes in it.
why the stadium is playing keisha i will never know.
Francesc Arnau just coming out to salute the fans as it is his last game with malaga even though he's on the bench right now. he's probably going to retire too.

45' Jeffern into the side netting, Welington going for a challenge, ends up on the floor, and jeffern just jumps over him and continues to run.
47' mascherano warming up, as is dos santos...
50' Malaga singing for Arnau to come on...
51' Abidal speeding back into defense to make a good clearence back to Pinto.
52' Bojan choosing to take the sot but puts it wide, instead of passing it out.
54' Duda clipped on the ankle by bartra... he's pratically crying. it was just a knock... i don't understadn what's going on. apparently it was abidal who actually caught him even though it looked liek it was bartra. what?
56' Bojan wriggling away quite well with the malaga defense but his pass doesn't get anywhere.
58' Marseca heads it following a pass from Apono, into the side netting!
59' Dani Alves coming on for Adriano. er. why? why are we risking him?
60' tons of people just went down completely with the ref completely oblivious.
61' Malaga for another shot! Apono's shot deflected off and out for a corner...
61' Pinto out to punch it out but it gets back to Duda, Alves clears and it's antoher corner. taken again, and another coner. this time taken short.
64' Jeffern looking like a muscle injury after a back heel flick for a shot just going wide.
66' Mascherano looking like he's coming on as duda takes a corner.
66' AAAAAAH SHITTTTT damn, so close for afalley for his first la liga goal. grrr, he was one on one with the keeper after breaking through the defense, and by the time it came off Willy's save Welington was already back to take the ball off him.
68' Apono and Duda coming off. Duda looks bitter.
69' the crowd is singing so loud for arnau that i now want to see him on the pitch.
71' WHHHHYYYY WHY IS ABIDAL COMING OFF! i'm so annoyed because i so wanted Bartra gone. whatever, Pedro is on now.
73' Offside against Dani Alves. there hasn't been a lot of offsides today. but then David Villa isn't playing. so no surpise in the decline of the number of those.
73' Alves gets booked for obstruction on Eliseu. just caught him in the face a bit..
75' ohhhhh i just missed it. dammit. okayyyyyyy Afellay! oh! the replay! what a goal! it is absolutely beautiful! he cuts inside the defence and goes for a shot from range, it's high and Willy can't do anything to block it out. the first person he runs to hug is abidal. sweet. 2 - 1.
78' Mascherano with a signature violent challenge but gets away with it.
79' Thiago with an almost goal. in the right place at the right time but not the right finish.
80' Welington goes down taking Bojan with him. they're both okay though.
81' Arnau is warming up! i'm actually getting happy about this. come on!
82' Shot from malaga wide sending pinto rolling outside his goal.
83' what a shot from krkic! willing jumping to make a save. corner.
84' Bartra makes it 3 - 1! oh what a header! Bartra please consider other positions to suit your strengths and weaknesses.
85' YESSS ARNAU IS COMING ONNN!!!!! woo! Willy coming off for him.
87' Camacio getting knocked down in the head... he's up and running now.
88' Bojan leaving the ball which means arnau is there to pick it up and rolling it back out to his defense. the crowd screaming as he does that.
89' Dani Alves having the ball taken off him and getting annoyed.
89' Corner taken by Alves, Roberto taking a shot, Arnau making a save, and another corner. Corner taken again by Alves, goes nowhere, and the final whistle is blown - no injury time at all.

that was a nice game. final game of the season. nice to finish on a win. Afellay finally scoring his first La Liga goal. don't know if it's bojan's last game. youngest captain in la liga this season though. I wonder so many things in the future of barca. just btw i do know i'm behind on games. maybe i'll watch them when i miss football over the summer.

Barcelona Osasuna

Ha! Barca against Osasuna. Last time they played each other there was that whole fuss about the bus and the air traffic and the stupid federation taking back their permission to delay the game...
Smart move by Guardiola, starting without Pique, Puyol, Pedro, Messi, Iniesta, Xavi.
Osasuna have 3 player on match ban and 3 more injured.
I'm really glad that Thiago is starting, as well as milito. jeffern on the other hand...

0' Kick off! The crowd chanting Barca! Barca!
1' Corner kick for Barca, Afellay is taking it!
2' David Villa with the ball! It's SO frustrating when he has that moment of hesitation, and misses his chance. he was unmarked!
4' Replay of Nacho handballing…. or possible handballing. meh. not really a penalty anyway.
5' Afellay takes a shot from afar and it's not far at all! it was about….. 28 yards out-ish! just touching over the net…. good shot!
7' Some extreme foul play right under the ref's nose…. jeffern is held by the shirt off a Osasuna player…. nothing given at all. psh... la liga refs…
8' God Pique shown in the stands next to Shakira. Bojan next to Puyol…. did pique ditch Puyol for Shakira!?
9' Tiki taka tiki taka…..
10' Few passes between Afellay and Villa but it ends with a deflection out for a corner….
12' Osasuna taking fucking ages for a throw in…
13' Gaby Milito trying to defend…. ball goes all the way through… it goes out the backline, but only after taking a deflection off busquets.
15' Osasuna take a shot but it's cleared by Victor Valdes. Pep isn't impressed.
16' Jeffern trying to make a run but it's so easily cleared out. god. he's tripping and falling everywhere.
17' David Villa taken down right outside the area. its a free kick. if he takes it, it won't get in… i hope i'm wrong. Actually Dani Alves takes it. just into the wall at waist height. i don't understand why we inisist on letting him take these.
19' Jeffern getting owned again…
19' Osasuna offside… probably wouldn't have done much with that one anyway.
20' there's some obstruction in front of Villa. it isn't given but he's annoyed.
21' Strike from distance. Gaby Milito can't clear it, but it goes straight into Valdes' hands.
23' GOAL! DAVID VILLA! VILLLLLAAAAAAAAAAA FIRST GOAL IN 12 GAMES! FINALLY! oh pep knew that trying to end a goal drought against madrid was probably not a good idea. Jeffern assist, finally putting himself to good use after 23 minutes.
25' Osasuna coach getting a talking to from the ref….
26' Thiago is completely covered in sweat….. it's a osasuna free kick after a foul some 22 yards out. it goes over the wall and over the wall.
27' Victor Valdes throwing a tantrum for a bit… the ball went out and he went to pick it up. linesmen calls it a corner.
28' Free kick for Osasuna for a tug on the shirt by Villa on Nelson.
29' Osasuna trying to cross the ball into the area, but just goes straight to Victor Valdes.
29' Jeffern being outmuscled by Nelson… again.
30' Afellay fouled and a free kick given.
31' i am suddenly really really impressed by Mascherano's speed. he makes a crucial clearence in defense.
32' Jeffern tries to make a cross to Villa but he's a fraction of a second late after tripping over (again) and Villa's shot is blocked.
34' Cejudo is down and he can't get up after a challenge from Maxwell. he's clutching his back. Meanwhile Xavi is in the stands with a poker face on.
36' Villa makes a run but the ball is loose and it's stolen off him.
37' Thiago is setting himself as far back as the defensive line…. not sure why.
38' Keita fouled twice and the ball goes out of play… throw in for Osasuna, no free kick given for either challenge. Iniesta throwing his arms up on the bench.
39' Cejudo going for a shot but it's cleared by Maxwell. Osasuna's corner, they take a shot but Valdes just holds on to the ball easily.
39' We see messi in the stands… in the backrow, like he's hiding or something.
41' commentator needs to stop talking about the copa del rey.
41' Dani Alves with a rough challenge but just laughs when the foul is given against him.
43' Adriano seen in the stands with his injury. He's leaving the stands. why…
44' holy ball shit. the ball struck about a yard away from the goal and valdes just pushes it out for a corner.
45' Three shots from Osasuna in a minute. Victor Valdes saving the first two and the third goes over the bar. come on…. where is our defense…
45' Half time whitle goes…

45' Andres Iniesta is the only change at the break. Jeffren is off. ha.
46' Villa put forward but can't get to the ball.
49' Dani Alves catches Sola in the face and Alves goes into the referee's book, although i might say that he's over-reacting to a brush on the face. Free kick near the corner and Victor Valdes needed to make a save.
50' Afellay goes down. Monreal with a brutal challange on him. Looks like he's been caught in the ankle. It takes him a few moments but he's back on his feet.
53' Ah what a tackle from Milito. Clean, precise, and giving Barca back their posession. finally.
54' Dani Alves going for a shot but it just gets blocked by the wall of defense.
57' Messi is on. David Villa coming off for him. not sure if that's going to be a positive move. We'll see. We'll see.
58' Damia foes to ground between Maxwell and Busquets. Free kick.
59' Thiago puts a bal forward for Afellay to chase. He tries to get it back inside for Messi but it's cut out by the Osasuna defense.
60' Messi puts the ball through for Thiago but he clashes with Cejudo and he's off for treatmeant. Thiago is fine though.
62' Free kick for Osasuna. Not sure why though, it looks like a fair challenge to me by Mascherano.
63' Gaby Milito is down and Macherano is helpng him elevate and flex his like a physio. Xavi is warming up, not Fontas. Milito is getting treatment on the sidelines. gooooooodddddddddd we have no defense.
65' Xavi is on for him! WHAT! WE HAVE NO DEFENSE. looks like Busquets is going to have to drop back into central defense with Mascherano.
67' Ball kept in play by inesta but the linemen says no.
67' Camunas with the ball but the linesman's flag goes up for offside.
69' Monreal clears out with a header and it's a corner for Barca. Xavi takes it, goes to Messi, back to Xavi and he takes a shot, a very wide shot.
70' what the fuck. Iniesta taken to ground at the edge of the box and it's not given! why no free kick! god jesus la liga refs.
72' Victor Valdes with a goal kick that runs striaght into the touchline.
73' Alright. If i ever meet this commentator my fist will probably end up in his face. He won't stop going on about why Barcelona have failed lately.
74' Dani Alves swings one in for Iniesta but his volley goes just above the crossbar.
75' hahahahhaa Nelson goes for a shot 45 yards out.
76' Messi almost goes down, could've asked for a free kick, the ref waves play on, he flicks it towards Afellay and it's deflected for a corner.
77' Sola fouls Dani Alves. Free kick for Barca. looks like Osasuna ready to make some changes in their lineup.
77' Nekounam is booked.
78' Afellay tries for a cross into the 6 yard box but no one is there to recieve it.
79' Necunan goes for a shot but it goes above the bar.
80' Double substitution for Osasuna.
80' Keita booked for a challenge on the Lolo.
80' Shot from Osasuna. Doesn't find the back of the net though.
82' grah, fail pass from iniesta and it just goes out to touch. we need. another. goal.
83' Late Late Late challenge and obstruction on Xavi by Timor. Timor is booked.
85' Afellay's cross cut out for a corner. come on!
86' Xavi going for a cross to Keita but it goes nowhere. graaaaaaaah.
86' Calleja is on for Cejudo.
86' LIONEL. LIONEL MESSI. GOAL. 2 - 0 to BARCA! Dani Alves puts the ball just in front of the Osasuna defense and Messi is there to put it at the back of the net.
88' They're at it again, Dani Alves and Messi making one-twos in the area. This time Osasuna is ready this time though, they're there to cut out an possible third goal.
89' Osasuna with another corner.
89' Jesus Christ. We look at the Shakira and Pique in the stands when Messi scored the goal. She kisses him on the cheek, and then on the lips, and he kisses her back again. and then i roll my eyes.
92' FULL TIME
BARCELONA 2 OSASUNA 0
eh. game kinda sucked. we had no magical touch as we usually do.
looks like maxwell may have picked up an injury. sigh. not another defender….
kind of worried about the madrid match in the champions. we are screwed. Madrid won 6 - 3 against Valencia earlier.

Almeria Barcelona

It's a strange lineup.
We're not even using 4-4-3. I'm not sure what Pep's intentions are.... Thiago is starting! and so is bojan. But lets see how thiago plays with Xavi...
Milito is starting as well... lets see how he does. Valdes is on suspention, so we have pinto, who has recovered from his sprained ankle.

1' Commentator won't shut up. he's talking about other games and other leagues. shut up... trying to watch game... STOP TALKING ABOUT MADRID.
3' we're pushed quite far up the field... but no real chances so far.
5' the ball comes forward but bojan is too slow for it...
7' oh my god he's talking about madrid again!
8' Pinto fucks up a kick and it just goes out the corner.... come on....
9' i'd like messi to score tonight.... purely because cristiano ronaldo had scored against bilbao earlier...
10' messi comes in from the right but is blocked off.... why is he soaking wet?
11' BY THE WAY.... if messi or mascherano pick up a yellow card they will be OUT OF THE CLASICO.
13' Ha, messi goes for a break but "can't wriggle his way through"
13' Pinto fucks up a kick again and gets it out of play.
14' Barcelona has been dominated over by Almeria so far...
15' oh god. bojan gets the ball and runs it into the area... thiago runs into the ball and it goes over the bar!
16' Bojan is penalised for a handball.... and booked. undeserved, it was unintetional. not his fualt.
17' camera is slowly zooming into eric abidal in the stands.... the camera man is a creeper.
18' Crusat is taken down near the area and Mascherano is booked! No! he misses the clasico! no! no! no!
19' the corner comes in for almeria and the shot goes on target but pinto makes a good save!
21' oh my fucking god. Iniesta comes into the area having finally found himself in this game, and gets it to bojan, who passes to messi, back to iniesta, who fails to strike it, gets it back to messi and it goes wide. he was like... 3 yards away from it. it's a corner though.
21' Alves' shot goes over and short....
23' They say Piatti in Almeria is the shortest player in La Liga, and Barcelona is the shortest team in La Liga... have i not emphisised on the shortness of Barca over the last... year?
24' Iniesta looks for Alves in the area with a pass but the keeper gets hold of it...
24' Bojan gets the ball to Messi but he's taken down outside the area. no foul.
25' Bojan goes down and is holding his ankle... referee doesn't stop the play. Iniesta goes for a shot and it's not too far off.
26' Bojan is limping... take him off pep!
27' Pedro, Villa and Afellay are all warming up. Bojan is on the side looking for treatment.
28' Messi makes a run and beats 4 defenders but can't finish it!
28' Bojan is limping back on.... why isn't he being subbed off?
28' He's comming off. he's furious.
29' Messi comes in but gets blocked off. Piatti on the conter attack and Pique gets the ball off him in a very good challenge.
30' Villa is on for Bojan.... he can't continue.... it looks like a twist or sprain.
31' HA HAHAHAHAHHAA. Piatti went to ground after minimal contact with Pique... he's annoyed... PIQUE is annoyed that Piatti went down, and then comes up and teases him.... he's so. so short next to Pique.
32' Messi breaks into the defence and Maxwell comes in to take a shot and it gets deflected back into the area and they both panic for a second before Maxwell takes a shot over the bar.
33' Alves makes a shot but it's wide.
33' Diego Alves saves Messi's close shot...
36' Thiago is taken down by Juanito and the referee won't give a foul.
37' Iniesta tries to set Villa up but he's offside...
40' God. the last minute and a half was like 15 passes in 18 yard box. without losing posession but unable to score, until Xavi's shot goes wide.
42' With an attack from Almeria, Barcelona try to take advantage of them out of defensive posession but lose momentum and Almeria get back quickly.
44' Xavi is taken down... Bernadello is booked for his challenge on Xavi. He'd just run over Xavi's legs when he didn't even have the ball.
44' Messi takes a shot and Diego Alves makes the save. Barcelona want to take the corner but the referee blows the whistle for half time. Pique is flipping the fuck out saying that he should've let them take the corner. Xavi is just talking calmly to him.

Half time and no score.... kinda shit compared to the 8 - 0 away win earlier in the league against Almeria. Then again they did fire the manager after that game. And then barcalona played them in the copa del rey, winning 5 - 0 and 3 - 0 on both legs. that manager also got sacked a week ago.
HA! camera goes onto two people trying to cut either lasangna or cake. can't tell. still looks funny... considering they're in a stadium....
Obviously we're looking to break the defense this half. Lets see how it goes...
47' Almeria on the attack but Juanito strikes it a long way wide.
48' Messi and Xavi have an exchange of passes but Xavi is then taken down, play goes on a Piatti goes for goal and Pinto saves it.
48' It looks like Villa would end is seven game goal drought but the ball hits the inside post and deflects out!
49' Everyone is in the area for the Barcelona corner and but Piatti takes the ball and runs it all the way down in front of the goal! HE PASSES TO CORONA, GABY MILTIO FAILS TO INTERCEPT THE PASS AND ALMERIA. IS. ONE. GOAL. AHEAD.
51' Villa is running along into the area from a pass by Milito and he's taken down by Diego Alves! it's a penalty! commentator complaing that maybe Villa made the most out of it.... shut up..... MESSI TAKES THE PENALTY! GOAL!
53' Milito comes off and Pedro is on!
54' "messi has turned towards the defenders instead of space tonight, as for crusat, he's intended to turn towards the ground" as Crusat goes to ground after pique merely touches him.
55' SHIT. Villa recieves from iniesta and Diego Alves saves and the ball comes on to Pedro who gets it into the side netting. COME ON.
58' Iniesta takes a shot or something. it goes really wide. maybe he was trying to get it to dani alves. it just goes to nowhere.
59' Villa heads the ball from messi in the 6 yard box, striaght into the arms of Diego Alves.
59' "Marcelo wins the free kick and the referee not winning any friends from the Barcelona side"
61' Messi gets basically gang raped by 5 defenders and still gets the ball out to pedro, who takes a shot that goes straight to diego alves.
62' Ortiz takes Dani Alves down very, very late.... he tries to offer a hand to dani alves to help him up but Dani shys away from it.... like a child...
63' Messi taking a corner... Thiago leaps into a header and the ball is in! GOAL! Thiago! Dani Alves is pushing him off.... eh? is he annoyed? or are the joking around.... 2 - 1 !
66' Keita is on for Thiago! ...interesting...
67' Alves tries to find Villa but an Santiago Acasiete intercepts and almost scores an own goal... it was just wide. last time Almeria played barca he actually scored an own goal...
72' just a few over the bar attemps and off target shots from both teams...
73' Pinto taking his time for a goalkick....
74' Iniesta's volly is high and long over the bar.
76' David Villa is booked for taking Marcelo down. Free kick in a dangerous position... it's cleared by Mascherano.
77' I just realised I'd only just heard Dani Alves shout for the first time...
78' Messi into the area but he's trailed by 3 defenders! oooh....... obstruction..... or being held back..... either way it wasn't called a foul.
83' Messi gets fouled and referee says play on. that's just the game in a nutshell by the way...
84' Mascherano! stop arguing with the ref! already with a yellow card now...
87' Hahaaha pep's face when the ball comes towards his face!
87' Alves runs into the ball but it goes wide...
90' Almeria going for a shot and Pique just protecting the ball... Pinto's just hanging back until Pique shouts for him to get it.
91' Keita smacks the ball forward from about 70 yards out, Messi gets on the end of it, Messi, beats the defender, and the keeper! 3 - 1! Leo Messi Goal!
92' The final whistle goes even though there was meant to

WOOO EL CLASICO NEXT WEEKEND! LOTS OF CLASICOS COMING UP!
actually.... the champions league ones aren't certain, obviously.
but still!
AH! update! BOJAN IS PROBABLY OUT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON!
it really hasn't been his season this year :(
Anyway, good thing Messi didn't pick up a card....

Barcelona Villarreal

Oh dear, oh dear, we have so many injuries.
Messi, Pedro, Puyol, Xavi, Maxwell, Abidal
So Afellay and Thiago are starting.
I think we've also opted for a different formation.
MADRID LOST TO GIJON. it's irrelavant, but just saying.

i think if we were to lose anything before going to madrid, it would be this one.
But it is good! I love both their styles of play, it's going to be one hell of a match.
2' Afellay's cross hits the Villarreall defence.
3' Villarreal take control of the ball and go through the barca defence but are ultimately taken down by Keita, it looks like a rough challenge but pla goes on.
5' Villarreal's Rossi takes the ball all the way through our defence and Valdes blocks him out. too close!
6' Dani Alves plays it long for iniesta but we keep posession. Then Thiago coming in once again with a good run but Villarreal manage to clear it out of danger.
8' Free kick is given as Afellay is taken down.
8' David Villa offside. No point in getting angry about this. every single game.
11' ROSSI COMES IN FOR A VERY CLOSE SHOT. victor valdes stops it well and Villarreal unable to get their second shot on target.
13' Valdes has the armband tonight. Interesting.
13' Villa is offside again. SO CLOSE.
14' Mascherano writhing in pain on the floor. Bruno is booked. it would NOT be good for another injury! Looks like a gash on his leg by the studs of Bruno's boots. He's gone off the sidelines for treatment.
17' Mascherano back on. Villarreal have been dominating for 2 minutes ish.
18' Keita is taken down.
20' Afellay's cross for Villa is blocked by the keeper. I wonder if Afellay's goal for the Netherlands in the Euros influenced Pep's decision in putting him on.
21' Villarreal appealing for a handball off Busquets but none given.
23' Iniesta's ball looking for Alves but ends up with the keeper. COME ON..... 23 minutes and can't break the deadlock.
25' Mascherano comes in with a late challenge. no booking though.
26' Alves collides with the Villarreal's keeper and he's on the ground clutching his knee.
29' Villarreal coming in from a dangerous position and Mascherano clears it out for a corner.
29' Corner is taken short and Villarreal get it to Rossi, whose shot goes over and wide.
30' craaaaaaaaaap the ball goes across the face of the goal and iniesta doesn't lunge for a goal. maybe it was for the best. no idea.
32' Afellay in pain. not sure why but his expression says it.
34' Barca have a corner but make nothing of it. how come we never take it short? surely we're better on the ground than in the air.
35' Pique once again denying his fouling. it's a funny mixture between cheekiness and anger.
38' Adriano goes for a long shot after a long run of posession but it's into the keeper's hands.
39' Pique is booked, even though he's the one in pain. It was a late challenge though.
40' Pique striking the ball forwards from far back. Not sure why, it wasnt to anyone. Perhaps going for a Xabi Alonso signature goal. it just goes to the keeper though.
41' David Villa in space but Catala blocks him out.
45' Whistle goes for the first half. the reason why there's nothing there in the last 4 minutes is because it's basically just both teams failing to get any shots in despite being in space.

MESSI IS WARMING UPPPPPP. my life is complete? hahaha Thiago is speaking to Afellay, HE SPEAKS ENGLISH! YES. i've also managed to blog the entire first half without swearing. congradulate me...

46' we're just constantly being outmuscled by villarreal.
47' Iniesta's shot is on target, having been set up by afellay, but the keeper just tips it over.
48' Afellay trying to unpick some of the defence but finally taken after 3 defenders.
48' Villa shoots! but it's wide. sigh.
49' Alves is down. Marchena is booked. why is alves clutching his arm.... need a replay on this. he's been stepped on the arm. right. that. is. foul.
51' Alves' shot is over and wide. it was from far. so it's forgivable.
52' MESSI IS ON FOR..... they say afellay, he starts walking off but they call him back! it's Keita that's coming off. that was weird...
54' Alves is booked for pushing in a challange.
55' Afellay makes a beast of a run with extreme speed but no one is there to catch his pass other than the keeper.
56' shit Nilmar is coming on. ooooooooooh. interesting.
57' Victor Valdes.... some 32 feet away from the goal comes out and.... heads the ball out of danger. so un-goalkeeper-like of him.
60' the last three minutes was some lose attacks without any real danger.... and me realise how incredibly short our team is. we look so tiny. and villarreal look massive in yellow.
61' aahrhghgiugaueuaef messi makes the run, pique was almost in to take the shot but he was offside and didn't bother going for it, would've been amazing though, pique so far up front.
just wanted to highlight the fact that gerard pique, the centre back, was offside.
64' Thiago was onside, but it was just, JUST an inch wide from the goal. come ooooooooonnnnnnnnnn!!!
65' Afellay takes a shot but the keeper manages to block it. it was good though.
65' sigh... messi's beard is so non-existence and non ginger
66' PIQUUUUEEEE PPPIIIIQQQUUUEEEEEEEE OMGGG!!! finally! broken the deadlock!!! Corner taken by Alves, Busquets heads it, pique controls with his chest and strikes it in! waka waka! he's in disbelief i think. amazing. crowd chanting "gerard, pique, pique, pique"
69' Villa is off for Bojan! i hope he does well.... it would be nice to get another. god they're both so short.
73' We've been holding posession for a bit now. Funny thing is, the minute Bojan sees a defender in front he flips out. granted he gets the ball but he was waving his arms all over the place.
75' the commentator needs to stop fucking talking. he's saying that pique's chest control might be a handball. firstly, the ref didn't call it, so shut the fuck up. he's just stirring shit up. and secondly, his job is to commentate the game, not what would happen if it was a handball and what the press would do with it.
78' Villarreal get a free kick for late challenge. it's outside the 18 yard box. so like 23 yards away. shot swerves away from the wall but goes wide.
79' Victor Valdes defending like a centre back and chesting the ball away.
81' oooh a free kick for messi, taken down just outside 18 yards. messi takes a shot and it's blocked out but the keeper.
82' looks like jonathan dos santos will come on.
83' Bojan going for a cross but pique and messi are both offside.
83' Dos Santos is on for Afellay.
84' Rossi comes in the corner and karate kicks the ball outto a goal kick.
85' Santi Cazorla less than 6 yards away strikes it out and valdes manages to save it! and once again when the ball comes in from a corner, when things just got messy right in front of the goal. Valdes catches it, and everyone is shaking his hand, Dani Alves even gives him a huge. that was an amazing moment.
87' Messi comes in with space but is blocked by gonzalo..... barca regain posession.
88' Villarreal suddenly coming in with lots of energy! All the barca players are on the ground trying for tackles!
88' Alves gets the ball on the right of the goal but loses control and gives it away. Villarreal on the counter attack!
88' It's a huge mess in front of the goal! Busquets is taken down and a free kick is given for barca!
89' 3 minutes added time!
90' Villarreal desperately trying to go for a goal!
91' Santi Cazorla goes for goal but it's high and wide and they finally breaks up the play. Someone's been booked.... or something. it's a bit of a mess. Busquets is booked. He's missing the Almeria game! not el clasico! deliberate time wasting. Looks like Valdes was booked earlier was time wasting as well, but he was saying he needed someone to kick the ball, since he's injured, and wasn't wasting time deliberately.

93' FULL TIME! WOAH! what a game! Valdes is ecstatic, having captained and done so well today.
WE'RE 8 POINTS AHEAD OF MADRID!!!!!
yes, i know i've missed out a few matches. They're on my DVR, i will catch up when i can.

Mallorca vs Barcelona

Today all Puyol, Xavi, Valdes and Dani Alves are all out of the game, with the first 3 on injury and Dani Alves on suspension.
Iniesta is therefore captain. Nadal and David Bisbal are in the stands!
Grah, Keita is filling in for Xavi. I was hoping Pep would let thiago start.
1' Mallorca take a shot and pinto makes an easy save!
3' Barcelona finally holding on to some posession.
3' Maxwell just giving the ball away and failing to get the ball to villa. Keita does well to recover poesession.
5' Mallorca forward Nsue makes a break and gets away with it! oh dear this is like the game against Gijon all over again
6' Maxwell and Nsue battling for the ball but Maxwell is fouled.
7' Someone gets a finger in the eye from Keita from an arial challenge.
8' oh dear. Messi making a break but just loses the ball
9' Cringe. the commentator just called Pique the official boyfriend of Shakira.
11' Up front Pedro blocks off Mallorca defence but the ball goes out of the backline. Quiet game from Villa and Pedro so far...
13' Messi makes a break but can't get through the defense, so he sends it back and keita takes a shot from distance. It's an easy save for their keeper.
14' DAVID VILLA OFFSIDE. i must say he's been getting better though.
14' Pedro is covering his back in pain.... better not be serious.
15' Pique recieves the ball behind the goal line and it's a corner! i swear if they score.... OH THE BALL IS OVER THE CROSSBAR.
17' Commentator: once again there's a fou- er a challange.
18' Mallorca take another corner and Pinto just tips it out but they're still in posession. okay they're not anymore. it goes out for a goal kick.
19' VILLA IS OFFSIDE AGAIN.
22' Villa gets hold of the ball and passes it to messi but the ball gets cleared for a corner.
24' what... why is david villa in defence. get back in front!
25' Messi's run out of space and the referee initially calls a goal kick but decides later on that it's a corner.
27' remember what happend last time? Mallorca came to the Nou Camp and drew with Barca. If it happens again in a dull match i would be annoyed because im so tired.
28' Mallorca with a shot from distance but pinto saves it. one of these chances will go through though...
29' Ruben commits a challange on Messi and their keeper just picks up the ball.
30' One two between iniesta and messi but messi can't finish it! it goes over the bar!
32' not quite sure why pique is seriously taking his time with the free kick. It was almost like Xabi Alonso's yellow card in the champions league with timewasting, other than the fact that Real Madrid were winning then and it was deliberate.
32' GERARD PIQUE THE CENTRAL DEFENDER IS OFFSIDE.
36' oof Adriano's cross/shot skims across the face of the goal.
37' GOALLLLLLLLLLL! MESSI! i'll be honest it, i missed seeing it. just waiting for the replay. NICE. he heads it once to himself, and once into the goal! i reckon people have to stop taking into account that he's 5'7 and never under estimate him in the air.
40' oh dear, we've just tried to score twice in a minute and failed drastically. Villa hesitated and barca lost momentum and it got cleared, and then messi failed to bring it under control.
42' Pedro gets hooked on the leg but the referee is obviously blind, as with all refs. he's pretty beat up this game.
45' villa stopped by the wall of defense and the whistle is blown for half time.

kick off - having my dinner = typing less.

45' the commentator just called pique mr shakira. oh im annoyed now.
48' bojan warming up.... and afellay!
49' mallorca's free kick up front is picked up by pinto. the little two man wall with villa and messi in front is so cute.
51' Villa fail. he's trying to pass it through but mallorca gets right on it
54' Maxwell gives the ball away but abidal recovers posession at the back. Abidal is really doing brilliantly this game.
56' GOAL! i missed it again. went on tumblr and got distracted. come on replay. david villa! he makes a break when none of the mallorca defense is back. one on one with the keeper and david villa wins. it's 2 - 0.
62' Villa's got hit in the face. he didn't have the ball. why isn't the other guy booked. yeah in the last 6 minutes nothing has happend except for a mallorca substitution.
63' castro makes a shot but pinto saves it off.
64' late challenge on adriano! WHY ISN'T THE GUY BOOKED. IT WAS HIGH AS WELL.
65' OH MY GOD. PEDRO! PEDRO GOAL! IT WAS! WOW. outside the 18 yard box, at an angle, fires it to the far top corner of the goal. he's beaten ibrahimovic's goal total for last season... hmmm....
68' oooof iniesta just short of control there, which is rare but the ball leaks through to the keeper.
69' another substitution for mallorca, and barcelona as well. villa and pedro off, afellay and bojan comming on. COME ON BOJAN. GET A GOAL.
72' NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO INIESTA! the goal was open and he pulls it just wide! nooooooo! it would've been beautiful!
74' busquets is down. i saw someone go down and i knew it was busquets. because no other barca player would've been down from that.
77' pinto just shouting at his players there. they've given away two corners in a row.
80' bojan down. just got pushed there.... uhm....
83' bojan goes down but did put up a bit of strength before so. im somewhat impressed.
he's getting in a bit of a row now, i think he's said something really rude and almost got slapped but he stopped it.
85' montoya is on for adriano. er, i've never even seen him in my life before. i need to learn more about the B team.
90' full time.
eh. it was okay. the second half was really good. the first half was a bit eh until messi scored.
i do consider it a huge win though, because so many people are out and we've managed to come a way with such a good win.

Racing Santander Barcelona

This morning I woke up with a negative air and a horrible feeling that Barcelona lost. I'd had this on my DVR and for once didn't ruin the game for myself :)
A few days ago Barcelona lost to Betis in the Copa Del Rey second leg, but not that it matters, as we won the first leg by 5 - 0, 3 - 1 isn't going to do anything in the long run.
However Dani Alves did pick up an injury, so Adriano is playing at right back today. And Pique is given a rest, with Abidal playing in centre back for him.
Minute of silence before the game. not to be disrespectful, but is it me or has this been happening almost every week now?
I just died inside because my TV lost signal for a second. but it came back on so life is okay.
This is the beginning of the second half of the season, Barcelona won the away match earlier this year by 1 - 0.

1' Corner to Barcelona off a run from Lionel messi.
1' GOAL! Pedro! i know, what the fuck!? Well, it was kind of Messi's goal, but Pedro just made sure it went in, tipping it on the goal line.
4' there was just a ball that i was 100% sure it was out, but it might just be my eyes.
6' David Villa being stupid and challenges a Santander defender when he could've gotten a corner. Santader gets a free kick.
7' Shit stop diving Santander! can't believe the ref fell for that...
8' Eric Abidal with an excellant clearence in front of the goal.
9' Pedro tries to cross to Messi but
9' Alright here we go again. Barca players being too selfless. Villa should've scored himself, instead his cross is wide to Iniesta.
10' Leo Messi's goal is flagged offside! i can't complain too much, it was really quite obvious.
11' ha! Pedro is outmuscled, he just bounces off the defender who's just standing in front of him.
12' Messi surrouded by 4, 5 defenders in front of the goal. Mate he looks like he's being gang raped.
15' Victor Valdes with a great save!
16' Pedro is offside! wow he's taking on David Villa's usual role now...
19' Adriano with a failed strike...
20' Busquets is down... well, he looks like he's holding an area that was untouched by the defence... i'll just leave it at that.
21' David Villa making a run! oh dear Henrique challage... it's out for a corner.
21' Commmentator just said "Carlos" Puyol. (there was someone down there but I thought that mistake was more important)
23' David Villa almost heel flicking back to himself for a goal. Ah, so close. Would've been incredible...
26' David Villa fails to control the ball properly and it's cleared for a corner.
27' Two failed shots! Messi can't score it, and nor can Puyol! AH! They were both about half a meter from the goal...
28' In the frenzy it seems the Racing Santander keeper is injured. He's okay for the moment.
30' Adriano close to a goal! it's saved after being one on one with the keeper. Pedro is fouled on the sidelines. He's in a lot of pain. First aid spray and he's back on his feet.
31' Messi wasting the free kick and unable to score from it.
32' David Villa with a crazy piece of footwork, but he's taken down in the box... PENALTY!
32' Lionel Messi takes it. I think to silence the stupid "he can't do penalties" since the Betis game. He scores it! He lifts up his shirt and the undershirt says "Happy Birthday Mom" awwww...
36' Corner! David Villa with a repeat of having the ball cleared out.
36' Busquets heads it to the goal but it's saved...
37' Santander shot goes wide. It's offside anyway. Actually, now looking at the playback it isn't clear if it was offside or not...
39' Late challange on Xavi. It's a free kick. Messi takes it. It's a shot. Curling into the goal. Saved. He's biting the shirt again. As with all missed goals from Messi.
43' David Villa's shot is wide. A pass from Eric Abidal sent him running down the pitch. sha,e.
44' Victor Valdes save! it's out for a corner though. Nah they make a bit of a mess of it.
45 + 1' WHAT!? alright that was really good attempt from Santander. Where is our defence.

Half Time!

YES! looks like pique is comming off! *dance* there was just camera footage of him basically chugging down half a bottle of powerade. that... was caveman like of him. He's on for Puyol.
45' Santader close to a shot but it's wide. COME ON BARCA DEFENCE.
47' Messi plays it to Iniesta, who is offside. haven't really seen much of iniesta this game...
48' Adrian from Racing with a shot over to crossbar. I hate how there's an Adrian and an Adriano on pitch.
50' Maxwell's offside... it's Villa's fualt. actually it was barely offside.
51' Adriano's shot/cross is wide. I say that because it was so bad that i didn't know if it was a cross or a shot.
53' What's going on here.... Ball comming into the 18 yard box and Messi's just standing in an offside position. Doesn't matter... the ball is picked up by the keeper.
55' INIESTA GOAL! Ball from Pedro to Iniesta and it was deflected off a defender but still found its way into the goal. Scoresheet says Iniesta, I say own goal. Probably less embarassing for Santander though.
57' Keita is warming up. I reckon his game time is affected by how much Guardiola likes him as a person, rather than him as a player.
59' The Gerard Pique moment... being impatient and kicking it out of touch.
62' Maxwell wobbles over to try get a ball ahead of him. It skipps pass him and he looks like an idiot.
63' Iniesta with a rediculous foul. He just tugs on the guys arm for about 10 seconds.
63' Jeffren is seen in the stands under a blanket. haha. it looks like my blanket.
64' Maxwell comes in with a cross but it's wide.
65' Iniesta is surrounded by 3 defender and comes away with the ball. that's insane control there.
65' Villa flicks the ball on for Messi but there's just too much on it and Tono pick it up.
67' Apparently Racing Santader has only scored 15 goals all season. Lionel Messi himself has scored more than their entire team.
68' Xavi off for Keita. He gets a standing ovation. I admire Keita's patience...
68' Bojan is warming up.
69' Rosenberg from Santander is down and Barca asking if he wants them to kick the ball out of play for him. This is why I love Barca. They're not all just about winning.
74' Substitution for Santander. Rosenburg is off. He looks like he's about to cry.
75' Both Afellay and Bojan are warming up now.
77' DAMN IT! Messi's shot is saved after a MEGA JEDI run. AHH frustration.
79' Bojan is needing help putting on his shoes. oh come on he's not THAT young. I think Afellay is staying on the bench. Why get him to warm up then?
81' Pedro is off for Bojan! he has 9 minutes to impress.
83' Again Bojan overestimating himself. trying to wriggle free and left the ball with the defence.
85' Bojan wins a corner for the team when his shot is deflected.
88' Iniesta's shot is saved again! Messi's pass to him was supurb, twisting around yet know exatly where Iniesta was.
90+2' FULL TIME! WIN!

So basically it was a good weekend because all the teams i support won by 3 - 0
there's Barca, Liverpool and Arsenal :D
And yes this means that this game mirrored the one in the first half of the season. Hopefully we'll be doing as well as we did for the last few months with that pace we can actually win the league.
There's a cup game in the midweek fixture, not sure if i'll be following that one against Almeria.

Deportivo Barcelona

Delayed match, i couldn't get up, apparently I had shut off my alarm in my sleep.
SO now im watching my recording on my DVR. and i realised after that i hadn't actually selected my recording, and that THE TV WAS BROADCASTING THE REPLAY AT THE SAME TIME. EXACTLY. so that was freaky.

1. kick off! awesome, adriano is starting. he hasn't really had that much match time, especially in the league. he's mostly been playing in the copa del rey, as well as some of the champions league.

2. i am disliking how bald guardiola is. enjoyed the buzzcut...

3. the good thing about this game, in fact, the great thing about this game is that barcelona may have to play deportivo in the copa del rey, and it would certainly be good for them to know their opponants from this. but the problem is that it goes both ways, which means deportivo will also know how to destroy barca.

4. xavi is on the bench today after making 550 caps in the bilbao game. as is, to my dismay, bojan and afellay.

5. messi is taking a coner as pedro's shot is good but punched out of danger for deportivo. puyol fails to bring it under control. goal kick.

6. the colour of messi's undershirt is annoying me. and for some reason the red on their kit today looks more purple than ever.

7. messi is making a run for a shot but he's taken down by two of deportivo's defenders. he doesn't even ask for a foul and doesn't complain when none is given. this is why he's such a great player.

8. Adriano with some great passes and skill here... he should get more match time. Obviously he's normally losing out to dani alves for that postion. Guardiola has rested a lot of their players because of the mid week fixture.

9. Deportivo handball. free kick from about 25 yards out. fussy referee is making them re-take the kick because it was apparently supposed to be a bit futher wide... messi takes it and pedro fails to control.

10. messi is chased after by 3 deportivo players, he's gotten through but his wrist seems hurt or something. he shakes it off.

11. iniesta's drifted to more of a central role because xavi is on the bench. mascherano and keita try to fill in that role as well.

12. inieta with a run but can't bring it under control. looked impressive though.

13. pedro seems to be a bit less accurate now than he was with his streak in the last few games.

14. Adriano's shot goes way above the bar. perhaps he shouldn't have gone for it at all. the deportivo forward's name is also adriano. it's really confusing.

JUST TO BE ANNOYING I'LL BE TYPING WITH THE TIMECODE IN FRONT NOW, INSTEAD OF A NUMBER LIST.

25' GOAL GOAL DAVID VILLA! GOAL! MESSI ASSIST! VILLA GOAL! great timed assist by leo messi! ahh... that's the stuff. barcelona 1 - 0 deportivo. it's apparently villa's 150th goal in la liga.

27' something up with messi. im not sure. commentator says it's his wrist from earlier, i thought it was his nose. he's been taken down, rolled over, coughs, spits, and coughs again... i'm rather worried now...

30' it seems like keita doesn't even want the ball, he moves away from the direction they're moving it. maybe he's just trying to get out a second option for a team.

32' apparently this is the least messi has scored in 8 months, having not scored in 3 out of 5 in his last la liga games.

33' david fucking villa you frustrate me sometimes. abidal with an amazing run and cross, and then villa takes a shot right at a defender... WHY, messi was free and clear...

34' again, villa misses a shot. again.

35' leo messi is stopped, deportivo player is down, messi is angry and kicks the ball out of the game. player is taken onto the sidelines for medical, play is restarted.

37' SHIT GOAL IS FUCKING OFFSIDE. IT WAS AMAZING. SHIT IT"S NOT EVEN ACTUALLY OFFSIDE FUCKING LA LIGA REFEREES. ABIDAL. what a same. messi with a great assist. abidal was almost so close to getting his second goal for barca EVER, last one being 4 days ago.

40' deportivo take a shot from distance and it is wide...

41' apparently these are the two least aggresive sides in la liga, in terms of least cards. technically it should make a dull match, but it's barca so it's not dull. mostly becuase we play fair and well. HA.

43' damn it... iniesta with a great pass to messi who makes a great run, but there was no goal as the defenders take the ball off him...

44' iniesta is down, the ball smacked him in the face. he looks okay. his face and nose are red though.

45' HALF TIME before the game re-starts the camera comes back to the game, and in the stadium there's just a guy talking into the microphone in a creepy voice... im not sure what's going on here... oh good, he's stopped talking and waving flag comes on. spanish version. david bisbal. good, the game is on again.

46' Villa's taken a shot, which was blocked and he looked a bit knocked on... he's limping a bit.

i hope to god that we get to see some of afellay today. not just 2 seconds of him like we did in the cup game.

49' Leo messi is taken down, he's so annoyed. i am too. he was pulling his shirt for about 5 seconds. what... it's not even legal in rugby. messi takes the shot quick but the ref calls for it to be pulled back and taken again. he does.

50' Villa taking the free kick, no, messi takes it. it's some 27 meters out. HE GOES FOR GOAL! AND IT"S IN! just brillant. amazing. stunning goal.

54' Messi gives the ball away. rare incident.

56' deportivo free kick. it looks like a dangerous spot to take it. it's far far off. good.

59' ...someone is down. it's... david villa. it's his leg. caught on the ankle. pedro is looking smug...

60' Bojan Krkic is warming up. please come on...

61' Adriano's cross is deflected out and we have a corner for barca. messi takes it short and sends it back.

65' david villa is offside. what a shocker. if i had a nickle...

69' David Villa comes off. Bojan is on! where is afellay.... i have a feeling he's being held back becaus he won't be able to communicate with the team..

71' Pedro's run out of space and fails to control it for a cross or shot.

71' Afellay is warming up!

72' Bojan wobbles over and wins a free kick. sometimes i just want to tell him to man up a bit..

apparently messi was bidded for by espanyol, and almost got bought, but then after the gamper trophy he played well and barca decided to keep him for another season in 2005 and the discision did not disappoint.

75' Bojans shot is wide.

i am now desperately trying to silence my friend over skype who is watching this a few minutes ahead and telling me everything that goes on before i get to watch it.

78' attack went wrong. bad accuracy and teamwork from barca, but we win a corner. messi looks like he's feeling uncomfortable. hoping tog od it's not an injury.

79' INIESTA GOAL! WHAT! it was CRAZY! from about 20 yards out, much like the leo messi free kick it just had so much power and accuracy. there was nothing the keeper could do.

80' PEDRO GOAL! (i know right? it was one minute after) messi with INSANE footwork and pedro scores it. wish messi had scored it himself. he's still behind cristano for the pichichi trophy.

81' YES! Afellay is on! for pedro, and iniesta is on for thiago! i like this...
i mean don't get me wrong, i love iniesta but i do enjoy it when Barca B players play up.

83' Deportivo crowd is insane, chanting with great intensity and togetherness as a coner is taken.... i wish i could understand them.

they're showing a clip now of guardiola talking to afellay, i've rewinded to look at it after i realised he was speaking english.

86' Puyol comes in with an important interception but walks away from it with a painful look on his face..

87' Afellay and messi passing around and bojan steps in for a cross to messi who goes for it and it's then saved so merely by the keeper. i am SO annoyed. and so is he. nice to see afellay in action though.

88' Ariano is hurt... not sure why... need to see the replay... i think it was a shoulder that got caught.

90' AHHH Afellay is running after an overshot pass and it's no use.

91' Deportivo player are diving. uncool. Adrian. damn it.

92' FULL TIME! 4 - 0 BARCA! that was good. well. yeah it was good.

by the way, thought it was worth pointing out that messi had a ginger beard throughout this game.

Levante - Barcelona.

Messi is in the stands. oh i am angry now. why was he given special permission to stay on holiday! GAH!
dani alves has shaved his head.
Milito isn't playing even though he is fit.
Bojan is starting for the first time in the league for months.
and this game will be posted in 2 parts because i need to get up early tomorrow and shouldn't be watching his at all.

this first part is live.
5 minutes in: 0 - 0.

1.Bojan's size plays him down a bit as he's pushed around a little bit. For the first few minutes he still hasn't completely gotten control over the ball yet.
2. Villa takes the stranges pass which went about 15 metres up and only 2 metres across.
3. Iniesta takes a short and it is saved by the levante goal keeper.
4. Xavi takes a shot from distance and it is again saved.
5. now I am annoyed because the commentator is listing the absensces of Barcelona and didn't mention Leo Messi. GRAH.
6. Iniesta's cross to Bojan is overshot and is taken by the keeper.
7. David Villa's shot is wide after a great run.
8. Just wanted to point out that Levante's home kit is actually the same colours as the Barca home kit. how annoying. but obviously they're in their away kit at the moment.
9. what a horrible moment. on the counter attack levante forwards are tearing after the ball, but only to be beaten by abidal who passes it to goal keeper Valdes. Valdes passes it back but it was taken by Levante and they almost take a shot. Valdes redeems himself by making a save.
10. Pique, Puyol and Afellay are in the stands. Ibi is looking bored as fuck. I assume that until Afellay learns spanish or catalan he'll be pretty stuck to pique.
11. Commentator says that Lavente is on the tall side. no, Barcelona are on the short side.
12. Barca are asleep and Levante take advantage of the situation and are looking threatening. Abidal does well to clear. Levante are appealing for a penalty. None given. We literally have no central defense today anyway. With Pique on suspension, Puyol injured and Milito still not match fit.
13. Villa's free kick is sent over the crossbar.
14. Pique is on his blackberry in the stands. The commentator is wondering whether he's posting on twitter, saying that he is a pretty regular poster on social networking sites. I am now going to find out.
15. Bojan clashes with two Levante players in a
16. Iniesta is in the sidelines just having a bit of attention from the physios. Dear god i hope he isn't injured.
17. Shit, Bojan misses two chances when Iniesta's ball goes to him, onces when it rebounds off the keeper's save, and one off the defender. They do have a corner though.
18. After a series of fumbles iniesta's goes to ball to bojan and the shot is missed, dropping to Alves, who is literally about a quarter of a foot from the goal and shoots it WIDE. what a waste.
19. shit, everyone is failing. Valdes is forced to make a save because of the slack defense. We're missing the wall in defense that is Carles Puyol.
20. Alves is diving. he isn't even touched.
21. This is incredibly frustrating. at 32 minutes no one has scored.
22. In a replay it shows Bojan was fouled and completely ignored by the referee.
23. Again, missed chances again and again from Bojan and Pedro. In the replay it shows Bojan mouthing something that looked like "I AM SHORT" and looking very, very annoyed. Obviously it was in Catalan and i am a terrible lip reader and even if i wasn't I can't understand catalan.
24. Our attack is simply being completely SLACK. every pass and every cross is just completely off.

5 minutes left in this half.

25. Bojan's shot is deflected off Robuste, captain of Levante tonight, and he seems to have a concussion. He's up and okay now.
26. Why are Barca forcing all these corners? the ONLY tall player to take headers is pique and he's off. What needs to happen now is for Xavi and Mascherano to stop fucking around in the midfield and actually get some balls into the penalty area without Bojan and Villa fucking up.
27. I swear to God the commentator just said "best chance of the game, almost put pique off his penis" Oh, a replay shows he was referring to Pique dropping his peanut and picking it back up to eat it off the floor. nice. nice.
DAVID VILLA IS OFFSIDE.
28. some stuff is going on here. Bojan looks fouled or something. Not sure. Either he's booked for complaining to the ref, or the Levante player is booked for fouling him.

HALF TIME.
Commentator said Barcelona were suffering from a holiday hangover... HA.
Apparently it was Nano who got carded, not Bojan, before the half time.

PEDRO! SCORE! Alves was waiting... and waiting.... and waiting....and threaded the ball through 4 defenders, Pedro obviously thinking on his feet scored it. shit, i forgot i was writing in lists.

29. Thiago is on for Mascherano. cool. hope the Barca B player does well today.
30. Shit, Bojan went down and got kicked in the chest. He seems fine though, no foul given either.
31. Thiago instantly with a shot from distance. It's of course saved by the brilliant keeper Reina from Levante.
32. Pedro got whacked in the gut. Looks painful. Free kick is given. Xavi better not fuck this up. Shot taken and saved.
33. Close save by Victor Valdes. thank god they didn't equalise.
34. PEDRO GOAL! superb. That was from outside the box as well. Dani alves assist. Impressive to the maximum. I must say he's one of the most underated players in La Liga.
35. Levante are a loud side. Their shouts can be picked up beyond the crowd and commentator.
36. Bojan goes down. No foul.
37. AHH BOJAN IS OFF! no goal for krkic... what a shame. Keita is on for him. it was not a good game for Bojan today. Sorry.
38. Thiago with great control and speed there. It's a shame Pedro's shot hits the bar.
39. Milito is warming up! yes! the commentator lied to me, saying he wasn't match fit.
okay. first part out. sign off time 67.47.
first part will be posted first, and then later edited to finish the game off.

EDIT: sorry, i realise that i was meant to get back to this. but either way everyone knows it ended 2 - 1, Levante having scored in the last 5 minutes or so. I would say this victory is a bit of a stretch, too close for comefort, as well as Barca's cup quater final 0 - 0, 1 - 1, just barely pushing through with away goals. not sure what's going on lately...

Ibrahim Afellay. - among other things.

(Left: oh right yeah, they speak english! ...and pique is in new NIKEiD tiempo shoes)


So Ibi is training with the squad.
I think I do like him, but am not sure where his place will be. Hopefully he won't be one of those new signings glued to the bench (Adriano), and adding to the already burdening debt of FC Barcelona, which is now said to be 15M Euros, having reduced from 22M because of the new Qatar Foundation sponsors.

Having said that I think, (and if im wrong then, whoops, egg on my face), ibi will play into the roles of a combination of Andreas Iniesta and Xavi, and permanently benching keita. or not. Guardiola likes Keita, no matter how much he lacks shine when he's compared to Xavi. In that case, Afellay will get a lot less game time, because Iniesta barely needs to be substituted. And that would be a shame because he's such a star back at PSV, being captain and all, and at Barcelona he'll be like Mascherano, who's captain at the Argentina national team, and Sergio Busquets substitute at Barca.

Also intresting was the game between Cataluyna and Honduras. In that game, Bojan Krkic scored two goals and made two assists, and the final score was 4 - 0. which means Bojan contributed to every goal, and that maybe Guardiola should take the hint that he's actually leaving a very talented son of a bitch on the bench every weekend. I understand that Bojan has also just signed a new contract until 2015, hopefully he doesn't spend his youth benched in the shadows of David Villa or Leo Messi.

Speaking of Leo Messi, where is he? apparently Guardiola gave him special permission to stay on holiday until the 1st or 2nd of January. I swear to God if he's getting married and his marriage affects his footballing abilities then I will kill someone. Hopefully he'll be back for the fixture against Levente on January 2nd/3rd, because there is a dispute between the Footballing Federation and the players, who claim that the 2nd of Jan is still a holiday for them.

So we'll see on the 2nd/3rd of Jan how Barcelona will hold up against Levente without Puyol or Messi.