Napoli Barcelona - Joan Gamper Trophy

The traditional Joan Gamper pre season trophy is about to start with Barca: Pinto - Montoya Pique Fontas Adriano - Cesc Keita Thiago - KikoFemenia Villa Iniesta. Looks like it's Fabregas' first start with Barca and Montoya's first game with the first team since he underwent shoulder surgery at the end of last season. Good to see Fontas finally getting some game time.
I've actually pre-recorded this game, so apologies for the lack of enthusiasm.
and we have for Napoli: De Sanctis - Campagnaro Cannavaro Britos - Maggio Dzemaili Inler Dossena - Lavezzi Hamsik - Cavani

Ah, finally, here's iniesta with the armband getting the match underway. Good god after 20 minutes the ref finally blows for time on.
2' After two minutes of domination with Barca, Napoli finally get some touches on the ball.
3' Thiago was about to take a shot and the commentator is still talking about Joan Gamper changing his name.
3' Fabregas down in the area and no foul or anything given.
4' I ONLY WISH THE FUCKING COMMENTATOR WOULD STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS FUCKING HISTORY. MOTOYA AND FABREGAS BOTH WENT DOWN AND SOMEONE SET UP PLAY BUT I CAN'T SEE WHO IT IS AND HE WON'T NARRATE WHAT IS GOING ON.
6' Campagnaro fires one into the area but Maggio completely ran out of space.
7' Iniesta is down from falling awkwardly and landed in a crash... he's back up but it looked painful.
8' Montoya gives the ball to cesc fabregas and it's a good shot but De Sanctis comes out for an easy save
9' Goal for Napoli! Oh wait ruled out. Pique is on the ground. It was 1. offside, and 2. as Cavani took the shot Pique was kicked in the face
11' Cavani with a shot on target with a header, Pinto with a save.
12' Villa trying to fire it into the area but it's blocked off by the napoli defense.
13' Iniesta literally running in circles because no one can take the ball off him, so they're all just standing in his way trying to obstruct him.
14' Cesc Fabregas giving the ball to Villa into the area but it's too long and Villa just manages from making it a goal kick by forcing it out of the touch line.
15' a string of shit passes forces the ball all the way back to the barcelona defense. It's good that they're actually having some defensive formation now. With madrid it was just all over the place.
17' Villa with an excellant chance but he's forced to send it away from the area as he is run out of space.
18' aaarrghhh Iniesta, Villa and Fabregas make an excellant run into the area, Fabregas is one on one with the keeper and he's completely off target! what!
20' Iniesta and Thiago put their efforts together to take a shot but it's sent away by the Napoli defense.
20' ball given away in the area again.
21' The flag is up for offside against David Villa. Partially Fabregas' doing with the late pass.
22' Inlter trying his luck from distance but it's nowhere near the goal.
22' Cannavaro looks like he's in a bit of pain as Kiko stepped on him earlier.
25' WOW. Adriano running into the area beating 3 defenders on the way, sends it across goal to an unmarked fabregas, who tips it into the goal. first goal for Fabregas at Barcelona! he's not fixing his chest strap as the camera is still zoomed into him.
27' Fumbling in the Barcelona end and Napoli corner. Britos heads it to the goal but Pinto finds a firm grip on the ball.
28' Lavezzi sprinting down the flank with Fontas on his tail, Pique drifted off to mark others in case he makes a cross, he goes for the shot himself and Pinto is forced to block it out.
30' Iniesta putting it into the area, soaring above everyone in front it goes to straight to Keita with a magnificiant header and it's a goal! the goalkeeper couldn't get to it in time.
31' Napoli now in the counter attack, Fontas clashes with Pinto as they both rush out to clear the ball.
32' A bit of a mess in the defense as Napoli get it near the area and no one is doing anything to clear it. Pinto picks it up before any shots were taken.
33' Pique lauches the ball all the way up the field to Villa who is massively offside.
34' Thiago fouled as he's tripped over but the ref has blown for thiago's handball. it wasn't a handball, we can see it in the replay now. what a stupid decision.
35' Kiko tripped up and Lavezzi kicking the ball away in frustration. He's booked for it.
37' Iniesta with a brillant pass to Adriano, who sends it to David Villa who has an easy chance now, just needs to tap it into the goal. but the keeper slides out and makes the save. shame.
38' oh what, Keita does a little flick with his heel sending it up and towards exactly where Iniesta is standing. impressive skill.
39' Britos is down now.
41' Britos off for treatment, subbed out for aronica.
42' Iniesta trying to clip it over the goal but the keeper dives out for a save.
43' long ass spell of posession only broken by once loose passes once or twice in a couple of minutes, but Barca keeps winning it back.
45' Fabregas pushes the ball forward for David Villa in front of goal, he flicks it towards the goal but it's cleared out just in time by the Napoli defense on the line.

Half time.
Stats! 71% posession for Barca, 5 shots on target, where Napoli only have 1. only one booking for Napoli so far.
Puyol and Afellay are in the stands. Afellay looking on awkwardly as Puyol signs something for an executive.
Dos Santos for Kiko, Bartra on for Pique, Pedro on for Villa, Cuenca on for Montoya, Sergi Roberto on for Iniesta. many, many changes for Barca. Keita has the armband now.

46' Cuenca fires the ball across goal but it's cleared by Napoli.
47' Fantasic strike from Pedro from outside the box but it's gone for the woodwork.
48' My god. Cuenca strikes from distance hits the woodwork again, Pedro catches the rebound and yet another strike on the posts! Guardiola literally has this face on :O 3 shots and hitting the woodwork 3 times in 2 minutes!
50' Cuenca falling rather slowly after a tackle on him. Played advantage. Messi is warming up.
50' Bartra preventing any danger for Napoli as he clears the ball out.
52' Adriano just not paying attention and letting the ball hit his foot and roll out of play.
53' Pedro flalling about as he's held back by the arm several times.
56' Adriano just handed Maggio in the face. free kick near the area.
56' Fabregas off for lionel messi!
57' Cavani's goal is ruled out for offside. AGAIN. it was very obvious and there were two people offside at the time.
58' Xavi on for Adriano, Donadel and Zuniga on for Napoli.
60' Messi making a break, offloading to Cuenca.
60' Cavani and Messi go down but no foul given on either.
60' Lavezzi this time given the foul against Messi. Free kick for Barca.
61' Messi takes the free kick, fires it toward to goal, it's hit the woodwork again! pedro catches the rebound off the keeper and heads it into the goal!
62' Fontas off for Mascherano, Adriano for Abidal, Keita for Busquets.
63' Pinto is the only one on pitch who started this game now.
64' Messi out runs a batch of defenders, passes to the left and kept in by Abidal.
65' GOAL NUMBER 4! Messi to Xavi to Pedro, crossing back to Messi, smacking the ball into the net again. Goal keeper tried to block Pedro's cross so Messi had no trouble avoiding him.
67' Roberto outmuscled and taken down but no foul is given to Barca.
68' Hamsik is off for Santana.
73' Excellant defending from Xavi, coming back to clear the ball cleanly and very nicely.
74' Barca looking for a way it but it's booted all the way up field again by solid napoli defense.
76' in the past minute alone i reckon Xavi has made 10 completed passes. literally.
76' Lionel Messi makes Goal number 5! Abidal gives him the ball, he makes the run and scores the goal. quick, efficiant goal scoring. excellant.
78' Almost through with another attack but Napoli pull back just in time to defend.
79' Dos Santos giving a free kick away with a foul near barca's corner.
80' a foul and a push on Roberto, a free kick for Barca.
81' Xavi fires the ball up the pitch for Messi but the keeper has come out of the area to head it to safety.
81' Late challenge on Cuenca by Victor Ruiz. the ref has chosen to keep the card in his pocket.
84' Xavi plays it through to Sergi Roberto and De Sanctis has come far out of the area to block a shot from him.
85' through ball form xavi, pedro running into space, had a space of a second to be one on one with the keeper and to score it, but it's far wide.
86' Pedro slips and fails to bring the ball in for a cross.
87' Cuenca down again, free kick given to Barca, Barca on the attack, taken really quickly, but messi is flagged offside.
90' Napoli looks to be taking a defensive approach with about 8 players in defense, a little too late i suppose.

Full time! good game, very relaxed and finally showing signs of what barca was like last year, i think the team's settled down a bit more since the earlier pre season games. some lovely plays out there today, but a little unlucky to have hit the woodwork so many times and so many off target shots that could well have been goals. At the same time it's a bad score for Napoli but i'm sure all the fans of barcelona are grateful that they took part in the joan gamper trophy this year, unlucky that both goals were ruled offside, they really were not as bad as the score seems to show.

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.

Derby - Espanyol Barcelona

We're playing pretty normally today, in terms of line-ups. Just with Fontas on the left back replacing our many injured normal left backs.
moment of silence for seve ballesteros, we all know he was a great barca fan.

0' Kick off!
0' Jesus, there goes a free kick for Espanyol already. I don't think... there was any contact. There was a delay for the whistle too. Callejon is taking it. it's like 20 yards out. It's over the bar.
2' Callejon pushes Dani Alves and he's down clutching his throat. Whiplash hand from Callejon
3' Iniesta knocked off the ball and his feet. Free kick given to Barca.
4' Ball goes forward to Pedro, it's onside but there's too much on it and it's out for a goal kick.
5' Busquets is down. just a push. Free kick again.
5' Messi's first touch on the ball, he runs through 3 defenders, being tripped over by one, stays on his feet, but his pass is weak and he gives it away.
7' Messi nearing the area, to iniesta, to pedro, to alves, cross back in, villa heads it, then it's cleared by the defence.
10' Having posession for about a minute until inesta gives it away. doesn't happen very often.
11' Again, typical with the barca style, tons of posession so far but defense keeps suffocating chances.
11' Messi recieves the pass from pique, he makes the run but it's cleared out for a corner.
11' Xavi taking the corner, Pique almost gets the touch but he's offside.
12' Alves making a run some 50 yards but he's slipped and given it away.
12' Ball comes back to Alves, through to Messi but he can't get the ball to Pedro through the defense.
13' Pique trying to put the ball to Pedro but it's too long.
14' Oh god what a mess. Mascherano taken down by Callejon but Mascherano trips him up from the ground.
15' Messi taken down by Javi Marquez.
17' Espanyol trying to trip Messi up but failing.
17' Villa takes a shot just outside the area but it's weak and a easy save for the keeper.
18' Osvaldo making a run but cut out by Dani Alves
18' Alves taking a shot but it's another easy save for Kameni
19' Pedro cutting through the defense and takes a shot at the goal. It's saved but it wasn't a bad attempt.
20' Villa passing into the area, he can only pass to Pedro because Messi is offside. Pedro's shot is saved again.
20' Iniesta comes into the area, takes a shot and it's yet another save.
21' One Two between Messi and Alves but Amat steals the ball off them.
22' Osvaldo with the ball but stopped by Mascherano.
23' Alves catching a volley to and puts it through for Pedro but it's out for a goalkick.
23' Passes between Callejon and Osvaldo take it through the most of Barca defense, but it's cleared out by Dani Alves.
24' Busquets tripped up and goes down. not sure if it was nessicery.
25' Messi lurking around the area but the ball doesn't get to him through sturdy defense.
26' Pique drilling from goal to half way line. puts through the midfield. Iniesta now with the ball, he's taken down though.
27' Messi takes it all the way through defense but it's put wide... somewhere between a shot and a cross. but no one is there for the tap in.
28' INESTA! GOAL! He takes it into the defense, controls it well, takes the shot to the far corner and it's in the net. Iniesta with his thumb sucking celebration for his daughter. That's... 5 defenders he went through, think it deflected off Amat as well. second goal for Iniesta since his daughter was born.
30' Callejon marked by Fontas tries to make a cross but Pique clears for a corner.
31' Corner taken by Callejon, but Xavi is there to clear it.
31' Espanyol near the area again, cleared by Mascherano for another corner.
32' Callejon and Osvaldo have swapped sides. i do not know why.
33' Oh god i can hear Guardiola shouting. 66% posession for Barca so far.
34' Too much pressure near the goal so Mascherano clears it for a throw in.
35' Camera zooming in as Mascherano passes and trips. awesome timing there...
36' Into the area for Messi, pass to Villa and his shot deflected off the knees of a defender.
36' Iniesta catches the rebound and gets it to Xavi, who pushes it to messi, to Villa again, he's unmarked and he misses. are you serious. he was literally like 2 metres from it.
38' Messi loses control of the ball, chases back after it, gets it back, and gets tripped up by Ivan De Pena.
39' Xavi taking a corner, looking for Pique, but Espanyol take posession, going for a counter attack, Mascherano easily steals the ball off.
40' Xavi with the ball, tripped up by Javi Marquez.
40' Verdu trying to get away with the ball going out of play but it's right under the lineman's nose.
41' Messi down, he's back up again. nothing was given.
42' Messi through the defense, he puts it through in the area for Villa, who dashes out as Kameni makes the save, a fraction quicker and it would've been a goal. Kameni caught Villa's boot in his face. He's down but he's alright.
43' Iniesta fouling, think it was an obstrution.
43' Chica takes a shot but he's offside.
45' Busquets puts it through for Villa, who waits for Messi but it's a fraction too late.
45' Corner for Barca. Taken quickly, Kameni out for a save.
46' Foul given to Espanyol but the ref has blown for half time.
Interesting half. Missed a shitload of chances. 1 - 0 up, means nothing though, look at last week's game...
lol David Villa running out of the tunnel and accidently hitting the ref .
45' Osvaldo taking Pique on and Pique manages to block his shot by sticking his foot out.
46' Iniesta looking for Messi, gets to Pedro and comes off the keeper for a corner.
47' Corner taken by Xavi, Pique heads it in, and it's a GOAL! Puyol standing up in the stands. He's doing that 22 thing, it better not be Shakira.
49' Busquets commiting a foul and giving a free kick away.
50' Chica's gone down from a challenge off Messi.
51' Osvaldo looking for Luis Garcia, he puts it long and Garcia has to double back. Valdes gets hold of the ball.
52' Iniesta into the area, wanting to take it alone, reluctant to use Villa who's by his side.
52' Iniesta down from Amat's elbow in his face.
53' Osvaldo with a great strike, rotating around to take the shot. Valdes has to stretch to save it.
53' Villa on the counter attack but it's cleared out by the defence for a corner.
54' Corner taken short, Xavi and Messi putting it through to the midfield.
54' ABIDAL IS WARMING UP!
55' Ref blowing up for a handball from Busquets but the replay shows it only touched his chest.
Ref being influenced by Espanyol players.
56' Osvaldo dribbling in to the area, takes another shot at Valdes as Pique slips up. Good save.
58' Alves doing a One two with Pedro, but it's cut off.
58' Callejon is off for A Vasquez.
59' Espanyol trying to push the game up with pressure but Barca are quick to clear it in defense.
59' Giovanni Van Bronkhurst sitting above Puyol in the stands tonight. Giovanni having played for Barca
60' Messi taken down just outside the area by Javi Lopez. Free kick. What is it with this ref and making slow dicisions!
61' Pedro booked for shoving and elbowing. in the wall.
62' Kameni booked for disturbing the Ref.
62' Messi looking nonchalantly at the ball as he waits for the people to stop making a fuss in the wall.
62' He takes the shot and it goes into the wall, coming out for a corner.
63' Corner taken and Pique almost makes another header into the goal but Kameni prevents it from happening again.
65' Xavi trying to get it through to Alves but he's blocked by Luis Garcia.
66' Espanyol on the counter attack and Pedro comes to clear it.
66' Villa on the counter attack and goes for a shot but hits the side netting.
67' Maxwell and Adriano seen in the stands.
68' Luis Garcia on the attack, it's cleared for an Espanyol corner. They don't make much of it.
70' Pique dribbling into the Espanyol half and takes on a few defenders on his own.
70' Abidal is coming on for Fontas! YES! 20 minutes for Abidal's comeback. He and Fontas both given a standing ovation.
72' Pique flipping out because his defence isn't with him.
72' Iniesta with a run to put it to Messi and then to Villa but Villa's pass back is intercepted.
73' Messi puts it through to iniesta, who crosses it across the face of goal to Villa. why! Why! intercepted again! he could've just gone for another goal. sigh.
75' Villa flicks it to Abidal who tries to flick it back but loses control of it.
75' Isais is on for Javi Lopez.
77' We can't see anything but Osvaldo is covering his face after a collison with pique. I think he just accidently whacked him in the nose or something. There was no contact, tackle wise. They're both laughing about it.
78' Pedro running all the way down the pitch but it's out for a goal kick when the clearnece comes off him.
78' what the fuck!? no 7 Christiano Ronaldo has popped up onto the screen. NO reason.
79' messi taken down near the box, nothing given. Afellay seen warming up.
79' Osvaldo trying to chup it in to goal, but it goes wide.
80' Vasquez taking a shot from afar but it's easy for Valdes to get hold of it.
80' Xavi is caught but nothing given.
82' Villa keeps getting denied of his goals. Intercepted after iniesta puts the ball through to him.
82' Afellay is on for Pedro. it looked like Iniesta was out but he's just out for a drink. 7 minutes to go.
84' Villa getting intercepted by Isais but it's a handball and Isais is booked for it. Free kick is taken and Barcelona is forced back to the midfield and eventually defense.
85' Luis Garcia offside... very close call. Actually Osvaldo was.
86' Abidal trying to put it through to Villa or Messi but loses posession.
86' Valdes comes rushing out some 20 yards from goal to boot the ball back up the field.
87' Afellay! running down the wing with crazy pace but he's been run out of space and it's out for a goal kick.
88' Messi puts it through for Afellay who pulls it in for a cross and it's almost an own goal as it's intercepted.
89' Xavi with a standing ovation as Keita comes on for him.
89' High foot from Keita hitting a shoulder while the corner is taken.
90' Pique has the captain's armband..... around the waistband of his shorts?
91' Vasuquez pretty much sits on Busquets in his fall from going for a header.
92' Abidal with the ball through to Messi and the ref blows for full time!

we need one point to win the league.
okay. midweek.
i now need to watch this despite having a presentation the next day.

THE FINAL EL CLASICO - SEMI FINAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

awesome. eric abidal is in the squad.
but good thing pep is not pushing him. mascherano at centreback with puyol on the left.
mourinho is off the bench on match ban.... interesting.
0' kick off.
0'marcelo flying over pedro trying to get the header in.
1' marcelo gets it all the way into the area when it isn't cleared properly but busquets has got back in time to do so after a bit of mucking about
2' Busquets is down. cristiano has gone to get the ball after mascherano takes it off madrid and accidently takes a bit of busquet's leg as well. but he's fine.
4' Cristiano puts it through to Higuain but Pique gets there fist.
5' ball comes near the area again but puyol is there to clear it.
5' messi after the ball up front and he can't control it, but runs after to put pressure on casillas.
6' Iniesta down. Lass has put a leg between his legs. he's fine though
6' barca finally making a chance and iniesta goes for a shot but it's really weak
7' Madrid with a shot, cleared again.
8' if you look at xavi with the ball, most of the time he's not particularly fast or defensive, but people seem not to really come in with challenges for him.
9' Pedro goes down with a late challenge from kaka. it's barely a challenge. whatever, he's back up anyway.
10' Pedro putting the ball forwards for a cross but no one is there to take it.
12'ooooh jeez. messi making a run, oh god, taken down but carvalho, he doesn't go for the ball at all, he's booked.
13' Puyol going forward on the wing but taken down. nothing given but the ball goes out of play for a madrid throw in.
14' Xavi taken down. not much of a challenge, just kind of lost his balence under the force.
16' free kick for madrid, 22 yards out. Xabi alonso takes it, straight into the wall. Messi on the counter attack. Taken down by Lass, play on, waves the referee. Di Maria with a ball near the area, cleared by Pique.
17' Xavi Iniesta and Villa take it forward but Iniesta's pass to Villa is long and it gets a bit out of control. Still in posession though.
19' Real Madrid finally stringing a few passes together. Until Higuain is offside.
19' Messi makes a run, tries to cross it back in but there's like 5 people in the area and Carvalho blocks it off.
20' Messi and Pedro trying to get through the defense in the area. The two of them and Dani alves run into each other. Marcelo clears for a corner for Barca.
21' Corner comes in from Xavi and Busquets heads it! Good header, but Casillas is well prepared.
23' Ronaldo making a run, Mascherano and Dani Alves trying to run him down but neither of them can get him. He does run it out of play though, goal kick for Victor Valdes.
24' Messi making yet another break, Lass Calvaho and Kaka all crashing into him and brought him down. Free kick, taken short by Xavi.
27' Messi Taken down again. Carvalho trying to drag him up by the arm. he's looks like he took a knock.
28' Alonso shouting for Mascherano for going down under just a tap on the arm. former reds :)
29' My tv signal is dying.
30' Ronaldo and Kaka into the area. I can't see what's going on. the signal won't stop flashing. this is. fucking. annoying. why is it happening NOW.
31' Messi, Xavi, Villa, Pedro come up front, Messi goes for a shot, Casillas has to lunge to make a save.
32' Pedro putting the cross in for Messi. Alonso comes flying across to make the challenge, Messi avoids him, takes the shot, and it's wide.
33' Messi and Villa at it again! Messi puts it forward for Villa, it's a great strike for Villa but Casillas makes another great save.
34' Messi running up front again! dodging another few defenders through the middle, gives it over to Pedro, who saw his clear way some 25 yards out. He goes for a shot, it goes wide.
36' Shot after shot, it's coming in every minute, but Barca are either putting it wide or Casillas making amazing saves.
38' Alves going down the wing and mmaking a shot that goes wide. Cleared by Madrid for a corner.
38' Madrid on the counter attack but loses out on speed to Barca.
39' Madrid on the break! Cristiano on the counter attack, he's alone, he's unmarked, Di Maria coming up front to him, and Valdes is out to make a save before it gets to him.
40' Messi taken down by Lass kicked between the legs, then caught by Arbeloa's foot on the head.
42' Messi putting it forward to Pedro but it's offside.
42' Whistle blown up for offside agianst Villa with a pass from Messi.
43' Rain starting to come in at the Camp Nou.
43' Carvalho with another challenge on Messi. the ref refrains from another booking to a red. good decision i think.
45' Xabi to Arbeloa, Puyol clears for a Madrid corner. it goes straight to victor valdes.
45' HALF TIME. 0 - 0
desipte not being able to break the deadlock, it's actually been pretty interesting. much better than the first half of the last game.

back in the camp nou it is pissing down with rain. xabi alonso is stretching on the ground. everyone is drenched.
HAHAHHAHAHA PITCH RUNNER! INTRUDER RIGHT BEFORE THE KICK OFF! oooh he's chased down by the guards. ronaldo is not impressed by that delay.
45' Oh dear, Iniesta is down. Lass has just picked at his ankle...
46' Oh god. Higuain puts the ball into the back of the net! er... its not given. crisitiano tumbled/dived over and Mascherano was caught too. The whistle was blown before it.
48' Ball cleared out for a Barca corner, taken by xavi, cleared by madrid.
50' Ronaldo putting it forward for Higuain, but Puyol out runs him for a clearence.
50' Pique makes an important clearence.
52' Higuain with antoerh shot, blocked by Pique, out for a madrid corner.
53' what is this? iniesta slips it beautifully to messi, who leaves it for pedro, and it is a goal.
54' Adebayor comes on for higuain. why? i thought higuain was doing good.
56' Busquets is down. Adebayor just went in with a leg out at the back of Busquet's legs. not booked, Alonso is annoyed that he went down, he's shouting at iniesta.
57' Busquets down again. Lass is booked. a bit high, but he got the ball. not sure if it was worth a card.
59' Mascherano down. nothing given. good.
59' hahahaa iniesta's shot just went straight into carvalho, who goes down.
60' Ozil is on for Kaka.
60' Ronaldo tripping messi. really? wasn't there a huge debate about how this wasn't ronaldo vs messi?
61' Alonso falling under Messi. Foul given to Madrid.
62' David Villa is down. clutching his leg. caught by Arbeloa. god. this is deja vu. he's shouting at villa again.
63' Goal! Di Maria hits the post! it comes back to him, he makes the pass to Marcelo, and it's a goal! 1 - 1
65' Messi scrambling to a run but can't quite make it... i think he was held back. nothing given though.

66' a bit of franticness now. barca trying to get bakc forward, but madrid are pushing back and coming in with crosses forward.
67' Xavi going down. it's Lass again.
68' Alonso sticks his foot out at Messi, he doesn't go down but ref was right next to him. Alonso is booked.
69' Couple of passes into the area from Madrid, cleared by Mascherano, Arbeloa trying to get off with a foul but the ref knows he's diving.
71' Messi making yet another run but Adebayor comes in with a high kick to clear. Puyol throwing in for Villa, running up but can't get the cross in.
72' Messi trying to head the ball into the goal, twisting his body around to divert it in, but it goes over the bar.
73' Ronaldo gone down without contact off a header... Ref has given nothing. he is angry.
73' David Villa up for Keita.
74' Iniesta brought down by two but nothing is given.
74' Messi taken down at the corner, Marcelo goes for the ball but ends up just taking Messi's legs.
76' Alonso fouling Messi this time. His legs hook into Messi's. he better be careful though, he's already been booked.
77' Messi coming in with a run, can't bring the ball under control, slips and can't get back up. the pitch is absolutely soaking.
78' Messi still dashing after every ball every 30 seconds. the man has too much energy.
79' Ronaldo going down again... can't tell if there is contact. looks like there isn't.
79' Pique's hand/arm is injured. broken arm? no wait, he's back on.
81' Pedro is booked for lunging at Cristiano. Well done Pedro. That or at Lass, and then Cristiano dived.
82' Iniesta making a run but slips and loses the ball.
83' Mascherano caught by Lass. he's making a huge deal out of it but it wasn't really that much.
84' Carvalho fouls Messi with a push on the head in an arial challenge.
84' Adebayor is booked for pushing Messi, who lost his balence on the ball.
86' Lots of passes, then Xavi taken down by Alonso, late challenge with the back heel.
87' Carvalho on the ground with a push on the back for Dani Alves.
88' Messi takes the shot from about 28 yards out from a free kick. On target but Casillas is there again for yet another save.
89' Puyol comes off! standing ovation, our capatin walking off the pitch, and the same amount of respect for the man coming on for him. it's eric abidal. abosolutely pure respect for those two.
91' bit of a mess at the back. Pedro is down, having had Marcelo fall on him. the ball's been left for a bit and valdes has to come rushing out for it.
92' Pedro has had to come off for Afellay, who is literally on for 10 seconds.
because it is full time. WEMBLEY.
the team hoists abidal up! okay. this is amazing.
AH SO EXCITED FOR THE FINAL!

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.

Barcelona Malaga

EDIT: Shit, i didn't realise Messi was sick during the night. it might've affected his performance and I feel like I've insulted his play way too much in this post. So just... yeah... Either that or he was so angry that he didn't do well and got a fever from that.

this is the life.
am sitting on the sofa just about to start my pre-recorded barcelona game, knowing that we win and real madrid had drawn earlier. am also eating a ham and cheese sandwich and just got back from an hour and a half of a rather relaxed football training. today was a good day.

0' kick off!
1' after a few attacking threats from barca a free kick is given to malaga as iniesta commits a handball.
3' already I am feeling a bit annoyed at the defensive style that malaga are playing. but of couse to play barca it's probably the only way to go.
3' Abidal takes a shot and it goes wide! it hits the side netting. It's good he's got the confidence to come up the field and take a few shots since he'd recently scored the goal that put barca through the quater final of the Copa del rey.
7' INIESTA GOAL! beautiful. powerful shot from outside the box, dani alves with a simple touch of an assist. just brillant.
8' Malaga threatening to score.the cross goes off to no one.

Messi in his new adizero f50s that he released earlier this week, bright orange. i like them.

10' david villa take a cross from xavi but goes down. probably his own fault. no foul.
11' busquets is down. basically got hit in the face and the malaga guy falls on him.
12' Villa passes to Abidal who makes the run for a cross. It's blocked off by the malaga defence.
13' Messi passes to iniesta to try for a goal but he's run out of space and it's a goal kick. shaame.

camp nou firing up with the chants. loving the spirit.

16' Xavi's shot hits the crossbar! from outside the box and it clashes with the frame of the goal. SO CLOSE.
17' DAVID VILLA GOAL! brillant timing with collective effort from busquets recoving the ball, xavi to pass, messi to run through the defense, and villa to finish.
since when did sergio busquets have a beard...
19' Ball from Messi is offside from Dani Alves.
20' Pedro is offside... here we go again.
23' Dani Alves is down. He walks off the pitch, being unable to continue. Adriano is warming up on the sidelines.
26' Busquets commits a foul. there was NO attempt to get the ball. he just pushes him down. Free kick goes nowhere.
26' Adriano comes on for Dani Alves.
27' David Villa is down, kicked in the ankle. Demichelis is carded. Villa looks like he's in severe pain.
28' Pep is seen talking to Puyol who has gone to the sidelines.
30' Malaga goes for a run but is offside.
31' Messi fail. I seldom say this but it was a fail. In a one-two with iniesta he runs out of space and is unable to score. I would like to point out it's a bit of iniesta's fualt considering he put the pass too long.
31' Messi is taken down by the back of Duda's heel. nothing is given.
33' David Villa is offside. this... this is really his first time.
34' Messi is taken down again. He says nothing but Puyol appeals for a card. nothing is given. What i like about messi is that he doesn't make a fuss.
35' PEDRO GOAL! Iniesta makes a mess of Messi's perfect pass through to him but Pedro scores it.
36' Apono looses his temper with Puyol. He pushes him a bit but Puyol tells him to calm down and he does.
37' Messi makes a mess of a chance. He was literally inches away from finishing it. I am so annoyed. He's still 4 goals behind Ronaldo for the Pichichi.
41' >:( ANGRY FACE. Messi misses a shot again! He takes a shot but it's blocked off by the keeper. He could really have finished it properly. I don't think i've ever seen him this unfocused.
41' Busquets diving in the box as the corner is taken.
44' Messi takes a relatively shit shot and it's blocked by the keeper again. He literally jumps onto the barrier of the pitch. In anger or frustration... or just had too much momentum. am not sure.

45+1' HALF TIME.
Lionel Messi needs to focus. and do what he's best at. being amazing. but everything else was outstanding.

45' the commentator just called Messi, Villa and Pedro the "holy trinity"
48' Guardiola shouting frantically in Catalan. What if Ibrahim Afellay was on the pitch? Would he be shouting in english? some players don't understand English.
48' Messi's run is cleared by the Malaga defence. this must be SO frustrating for him.
50' I just wanted to demonstrate how defensively Malaga are playing. They have 9 players in defence. 9! and 7 in the 18 yard box!
50' "Xavi gives the ball away, you only get to say that about five times in the whole season" - I think the commentator for the world cup said pretty much the same thing.
50' Barca win the ball back and Villa fires a shot wide.
53' Haha, Messi is contesting for a header. That never ends well...
54' Pedro is taken down and wins a free kick about 10 yards out and wide, it's cleared for a corner.
55' I hate it when the score sheet pops out at the bottom of the screen and blocks the visual of the game.
56' PIQUE IS DOWN! :'( His ankle is caught but he seems okay and gets up. phew! ...oh dear he's wincing...
61' Adriano tries a cross in for Messi but it's too high for the number 10 to get it (unsurprisingly)
62' Commentator is already assuming that Barca have won this, he just said that the first half of the season ended with 52 points for Barca.
65' Malaga player somewhat diving, as Busquets runs pass him he wriths on the floor. No foul.
66' Batista from Malaga dives. Busquets touches him round the waist and he's down. Puyol complains about the free kick given to Malaga.
67' DUDA (Malaga) SCORES! Free kick from 22 yards out goes straight to the back of Victor Valdes' net. He's furious. 3 -1.
69' Messi tries to make a break by Barca but is disposessed, the fans are complaining even though he's fairly tackled and he himself isn't making a fuss about it. Oh in the replay it shows a bit of shoving, Messi gets pushed a bit in the head.
71' ER. WHAT!? THE COMMENTATOR JUST CALLED VICTOR VALDES "IKER CASILLAS" IDIOT. HE DOESN'T EVEN REALISE IT. WHAT. A. FAIL.
72' Pedro being too selfless and gives the ball away in the box in search of a pass, when he could've finished it himself.
73' DAVID VILLA GOAL No 2! Xavi with an excellent cross. It initially looked like it was offside but the replay shows it's not.
75' Pedro puts a ball through to Messi but he is unable to finish it.
75' OUTRAGE! Malaga player goes down shouting in "pain" when Abidal barely touches him, and the French left back is carded. injustice.
78' Messi and Iniesta attempt to excecute a one-two but is blocked off by welington.
78' Villa is offside again. again.
80' Bojan and Afellay about to come on.
81' Pedro is off for Bojan, and Iniesta recieves yet another standing ovation as he comes off for Afellay.
83' Bojan VERY close to getting a cross in for David Villa but is blocked off.
84' Messi tries to put one through for Bojan but there's a scramble in the area and free kick is given to Malaga.
85' After a pass from Afellay, Bojan tries to wriggle through the defense, mate, you can't do that. You're not Leo Messi.
86' Adriano's shot is wide... it looked a bit ambitions to start with anyway.
87' Busquets is actually taken down and not diving for once. Free kick to Barca.
89' Malaga stop diving! it's getting old!
89' FUCK! BOJAN COMES IN, PASSES TO AFELLAY, WHO CROSSES TO MESSI, WHOSE SHOT IS SAVED. SO MERELY. AND REBOUNDS TO PEDRO. WHO FAILS TO SCORE.
90 +1' Victor Valdes is some 40 yards away from his goal, taking a kick.
90 +2' Leo Messi Fail! After making a Jedi run he fails to get the cross in.
And that's the last play of the match!

Bojan looks completely shattered after playing for 10 minutes. he's 20. uh...

So as a whole it was a good game, but Messi really, really needed to focus a bit more... Honestly this was his chance on catching up to Ronaldo in the Pichichi, and yet he failed to score on about 6 different occasions.
I have now, great respect for Almeria, who drew with Real Madrid, and really pulled their socks up despite loosing 8 - 0 to Barca earlier this season. So right now the scores stand at 52 Barcelona, 48 Real Madrid! YES!
(Left: Messi frustrated by missing yet another goal oppertunity)