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!

Champions Leauge First leg - El Clasico 3/4

Barca are: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Puyol, Busquets, Xabi, Keita, Messi, Villa, Pedro.

Real Madrid are: Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo, Lass, Pepe, Xabi Alonso, Di Maria, Ozil and Ronaldo.

PUYOL IS ON.... ohhhh captainnn!!! he and Casillas shake hands.
Tis the ref who made crucial decisions that affected Barca's elimination off the semi final last year.
0' Kick off!
0' 20 seconds in and we've already lost possession twice.
0' Arbeloa is down following a push off Pedro. Foul given.
1' God the bernabau. fired up when cristiano was within 30 yards of the goal. he wasn't even breaking through.
2' Lass is diving off a push from Keita.
3' several header volleys and madrid lose posession. Iniesta goes for a shot from range.
3' Ronaldo gets the ball and it's straight into a shot but Valdes makes a save.
4' Ref is being a shitface. as is Ramos. who dived. free kick given. Puyol flips out.
5' Pedro running like a manic at Casillas who has the ball. jeez.
6' Sergio Ramos down again. Late challenge by Keita. watch out for the yellow...
7' Pedro being a bit too persistant in trying to get the ball of Arbeloa. in all fairness the lineman is completely blind. they were holding on to each other's shirts without even going for the ball in the first place.
9' Not so sure if Puyol getting in the left back position is such a great idea. Being normally at centre back he comes back to the back more often than any other barca left back. Xavi's had to come back a few times to bring it back to the front.
10' oh villa. what a run, running through 3 defenders. it goes just wide. from distance too!
12' Ah, villa trying to go for another one of those runs. gets cut out by arbeloa.
12' Lass with an arm around Xavi's neck. foul given.
13' One two between Xavi and Messi gets it through the defence and Xavi gets it to Pedro who's shot is cut out by Albiol.
14' Villa and Pedro being extra aggressive. even more so than other Clasicos. lets hope they can keep it up.
15' Messi cut out by Pepe and a combination of the rest of the Madrid defense and midfield.
16' Barca doing the usual "taking a chill pill" method. Madrid fans are getting really worked up by this passing around. well. that's how we do it.
18' Xabi Alonso already looking knackered. really?
18' lol cristiano sends the ball back to victor valdes. i think it was meant to be a shot.
18' Pepe diving for a throw in. it is not working ha.
20' Marcelo taking a short corner but it's cut out when he hesitates too much.
22' A quarter of the game gone. minutes and minutes of barca posession. nothing to it though. my limbs are shaking.
23' Marcelo and Villa going for the ball in the air. Marcelo pushes Villa. Free kick.
24' Xavi! saved by iker casillas. oh so close. so so close. first shot on target for the night.
25' Oh Lass, stop diving. it doesn't work all the time. Pique clears it. Madrid throw in.
25' Arbeloa offside for Madrid.
26' Ozil diving. right infront of the ref. so clever..... really....
27' Messi with the ball, gets grabbed by the neck by Ramos right in front of the linesman. NOTHING GIVEN.
28' Dani Alves taken down by Pepe. Pepe chucks the ball in frustration.
29' Xavi takes a shot from about 40 yards out. it goes wide. we'll get there...
31' grrrr messi with a ball to villa who can't control it. grrrr it was actually onside too.
32' hahahaaa Arbeloa trips behind Pedro and Pedro goes between his legs. like he's giving birth backwards. ew.
33' What a mess. everyone with high kicks and Busquets ends up on the floor. Free kick for Barca.
34' ooh dear. Madrid with a free kick and it's headed towards Valdes but he gets a hold on it.
34' Marcelo...diving? GR stop doing replays i want to see the kick. oh it's straight to the wall.
35' Villa tries for a shot but it's completely cut out.
36' Oh di Maria. WHAT A DIVE. it's given though. come on Barca. defend! Cristiano taking it. he's gonna take a shot. Mascherano talking to Alonso. Liverpool :')
37' Straight into the wall but madrid have it again. Barca asking for a card, a bit of a mess here. Pedro goes down and he was no where near the ball... Ramos was the first one to shout at Pique. Pedro looks like he's just run into Arbeloa. Arbeloa is booked. but he isn't on the list of possible suspensions for next week.
41' Marcelo sitting on the ball... his arm touches it but it's behind his body so the linesman can't see. Villa still takes the ball off him. Deflected shot for a corner. Madrid get hold of the ball.
42' Messi and Villa trying to break through the defense again. it's no use.
43' Sergio Ramos being gaster than Messi. what?
44' Dani Alves booked.... for pushing Di Maria. Busquets going to ground for with a dive. Free kick. 20 yards out ish.
45' Cristiano going for a shot. blocked off by Barca's two man wall.
46' Jesus, Ronaldo with a shot, another shot from Ozil who is offside, plus finally a one from Ramos who is way off.
46' Pedro's shot into Iker Casillas' safe hands.

right before they cut to commercials there was a bit of fighting. someone grabbed pinto by the neck. LOL Pinto got red carded! well it would be less of a LOL moment if Valdes can't play next week and we have no keeper. but it is LOL because he is not even on.
Adebayor is on. bollocks. oh wait. for ozil. alright.

45' Messi goes for a shot but it gets blocked by Madrid's wall of defense. Barca get on the end of it but it goes nowhere.
47' Xabi alonso going for one of his ridiculous shots from his own half. no xabi. that was liverpool. ahhh good times. :')
59' what the fuck. ronadlo getting 3 shots being blocked 3 times by Puyol who can't clear it. come on!
51' god pepe. pushing on dani alves in a late challenge. and tehn gets annoyed and kicks the ball away.
52' Keita is down. messi takes the free kick. messi is taken down by sergio ramos. ramos gets booked! oh he's missing the return.
53' Puyol doing a classic screaming at his teammates. Cristiano turns around to look at him like he's surprised or something.
54' Dani Alves ruled offside. I personally did not see it. what? oh, it's a free kick for a foul.... not offside.
56' Oh dear. Mascherano accidently trips pepe over. he's booked too. careful.... free kick not far away.
57' Victor Valdes lunges out to get the ball. Trips over Busquets. fail. but still has the ball!
57' Mascherano unable to clear Adebayor and Valdes has to kick it out. Madrid get a throw in but make nothing of it.
58' Villa running too fast for his own good, has to track back for the pass.
59' Pedro accused of diving and it's a free kick for Madrid. He wasn't diving, but it wasn't a foul either.
60' Ronaldo who IS diving gets ignored by the ref.
60' Dani Alves is down! OH JESUS. PEPE IS RED CARDED. oh my god. oh my god. Mourinho talking to Puyol. Alves brings his foot up and Pepe comes in with his studs striaght at alves' legs. Mourinho's face when he putss the card out. Dani Alves being carried off in a stretcher. This referee. is so strange.
63' Mourinho taking away from the sidelines! holy shit! he's put in the stands with a frence in!
Looks like Marca are gonna be ALL over this tomorrow.
63' Ronaldo diving! again! free kick given. Mourinho writing notes faster and angrier than before. Alves is on again.
65' Free kick finally taken by Xabi alonso but Ronaldo's header is a bit weak.
66' Dani Alves offside. Mourinho writing notes and giving it to his runner to give to the coaching team for Madrid.
67' Shit! Villa going for a shot, deflects off Casillas, Pedro tries to twist around for a header in but it looks like he's twisted his knee in doing so. Replay shows Marcelo stepped on him. my bad.
70' Tiki Taka in and near the area, but no one going for it.
70' Afellay! on for Pedro. Lets see what he can do tonight.
71' Cross comes in too long for Messi and Casillas hold on to it.
71' Handball by Busquets.
72' Villa taken down.
72' The ref's blown up against Barca. did not see what for.
72' Throw in for Madrid when it was really barca's.
73' God. Cristiano! keep on your feet! in all fairness there was contact with Pique.
74' 33m out. Cristiano takes it and it was really wide and really really high.
75' Adebayor's hand in Puyol's face.... just the throw in given.
75' HOLY FUCKBALLS. LIONEL MESSI! LIONEL MESSI GOAL! AFELLAY COMES IN WITH A GREAT CROSS IN AND MESSI JUST LEAPS INTO IT! OH WOW. WITH 15 MINUTES TO GO! MADRID WITH 10 MEN! MOURINHO IN THE STANDS! WOW.
77' Madrid on the attack. Keita down.... Xabi down but gets back up.... what a messi. Cleared by Pique.
79' Puyol chasing to clear Di Maria's ball and runs into the corner. In his attempts to balance himself he's pulled out the corner flag!
80' Messi pushing Arbeloa in an arial challenge! he's smart and doesn't argue, just nods, and gives the ref a thumbs up to let him know that he knows he's cautioned. no card :)
81' A mess at the area. Messi goes down with a challenge from Lass, and tries to get on his feet but handballs, and then Sergio Ramos' arse ends up on his back.
82' Adebayor booked for a challenge on Sergio Busquets.
83' 71% posession for barca with over 400 passes.
84' Mascherano trying to get the ball up field but instead smacks the ball into Xabi Alonso, who goes down, but striaght back up again. He almost never makes a fuss.
86' LIONEL MESSI OHHHHHH! GOAL! 2 - 0! always runs to Milito first. Solo run for Messi, through 5 defenders, sweeps the ball into the corner of the net before going down. wow.
88' Messi taken down by xabi and gets a free kick. iker is angryyyyy.
89' David Villa for Sergi Roberto! with 1 minute of normal time left pep is looking for more defense rather than attack. comes on, makes a clearence. nice.
91' 3 minutes of added time.
92' Messi goes for another but is cut off by Xabi.
FULL TIME
2 - 0 away win! NICEEEE
thank you barca. you have given us hope again.
mourinho doesn't stay to shake hands with pep. obviously.
so Pepe and Ramos out for the next tie.
alright. Calvaho is back though.
apparently Xabi went to "speak" to the ref after the game, and almost got red carded. LOL.

El Clasico (1/4)

OH MY GOD. EL CLASICO! the first of the four in 18 days and our captain puyol is back!
Ew the bernabau is so quiet and just.... snobbish. what's with this weird atomosophere.
PUYOL IS STARTING. i can't believe he is. it's been too long omg!
0' KICK OFF OMGGGG.
0' 13 seconds in and benzema fouls busquets. free kick for barca...
1' no! madrid is in posession...
2' Pepe is down! Busquets fouled him.... why is Pepe in midfield...
2' Pepe fouls Xavi. this is just ridiculous.
3' Ha! the ball rolls out and Marcelo and Messi were running after, Marcelo takes the linesmen down.
4' Cristiano is running fown the side and he has space! Adriano clears it out...
4' Busquets! yet another ball out onto the sidelines... this is the second one in 4 minutes.
5' Xabi is annoyed that no kick was given for Alves' challenge on him... did look like he dived a bit though. Im not lying, i do actually like him as a player... still think of him as a liverpool player rather than madrid.
7' Foul given for a challege on Pepe by Xavi. Actually he didn't touch him, Xavi is teasing the ref. Typical Xavi :D
8' Adriano booked! for a block on khedira..... maybe a free kick, not worth a booking. i'm kind of annoyed already.
9' Ronaldo takes it, it's about 25 yards out! He's going for goal! Valdes holds it safely in his hands! oh that was close.... looked like his tan was coming loose there in the close up, and for the record, he IS orange.
10' Xavi clips it over all the Madrid defense for Dani Alves but he's offside...
11' Hard to tell who's going better at the moment.... God the lighting in the stadium is so weird. It makes everything look.... illuminated.
11' Ronaldo makes a run but his ex-teammate Pique just clears it easily
12' Adriano rolling on the ground in exaggeration of a late challenge by Sami Khadira.
13' Ronaldo almost puts it through the Barca defence but Puyol is the one to clear it! :')
13' Marcelo being fouled by Messi. He is actually just tapped on the back by his hand and Marcelo is sent flying towards the ground..... theatrics....
15' Iniesta puts it over the top for Pedro but it's over and it's a goal kick for Casillas.
16' the tiki taka at it's best.. 126 completed passes by barcelona and 20 passes by madrid. 126, 16 minutes in!
18' Iniesta's ball comes in over to Leo Messi! He gets through the defense and he's one on one with Casillas! Casillas makes the save as expected as Messi tries to clip it over him. Ah, good try though
19' Pedro flicks it through to Iniesta but he can't control it and Casillas has it again.
20' Di Maria with the ball, here's Puyol on him, Puyol clears it! did he just... the commentator..... HIS NAME IS CARLES, NOT CARLOS.
21' Di Maria takes the corner and after Xabi wins the header Bezema takes a shot and Valdes can't hold on to it and it's another corner.
22' This time pique makes a clearence and it's the third corner in 2 minutes. Ronaldo goes for the header and it's over the bar.
23' Pique takes Ronaldo down! Some shit is cooking up..... my tv signal is weak. Ronaldo isn't fouled from the replay. Iniesta is taken down.
25' Pepe handballs and a foul is given against him. Good thing too, pepe was near...
25' Casillas takes Villa down in the box, Villa is furious! he's shouting at the ref! Pique is too! Pique is booked! Replay says Casillas didn't touch the ball! It SHOULD'VE been a penalty!!!! i swear to god if we're down by one goal at the end of this....
26' Iniesta fouled from all directions....
28' I really wish the commentator would stop calling him "carlos" puyol.
28' Pique clears the ball and it's a corner! Di Maria takes it... he gets the ball back and he goes for a shot... it's over the bar.
30' Marcelo handballs, Messi asks for a yellow card, he gets what he wants, Marcelo's reactions are actually commical.
32' Okay, what the fuck. Madrid with lots of posession. Barca have tried to get the ball back but it keeps getting back to Madrid. and then the commentator calls Xavi Pique. and Messi comes back to defend, and then he calls Barcelona the red and purple shirts. PURPLE. PURPLE and red shirts. BARCELONA THE BLAUGRANAS.
34' Cristiano with a shot but it hits Pique and Vales catches the rebound off him.
36' Puyol takes Marcelo down who's taking a shot.... just outside the box. Both Puyol and Valdes are smiling because the ref was right there and nothing was given.
38' God Busquets actually keeps on his feet.... oh wait no he's down now. and he didn't have to. typical.
39' Villa tries a long shot but Casillas gets on the end of it. As expected.
40' Messi is on the ground holding his face..... what was going on here. Iniesta helps him out. Xabi Alonso catches him in the face with a leg or something.
42' Macelo looks like he's in pain... we'll see if he makes it to the second half.
43' Messi's shot is good but Casillas makes the save! What a shot! he's trailled by 3 defenders! and what a save as well!
44' Khedira wins a corner.... come on! oh wow, what just happend.... Dani Alves is down..Ramos got the header, Cristiano heads it and Valdes oh makes a save!
45' Barca with a counter attack, oh! messi is with the ball, gets it to Villa, Villa slows down as everyone gets back in defense for Madrid. shit. it goes way wide.

Half time!
Why oh why video replay.... you make me so angry watching the injustice of football over and over again. I can just imagine if it was a penalty, and Villa scored. Whatever, im trying not to focus on it. If we keep dwelling on the what ifs, then what if i supported madrid. HAHA. i can't even imagine.

45' Second half! im toasting something... going to run off to get it soon.
45' we're being dominated.... it's almost as if we're losing. mentality wise....
47' Dani Alves taken down by Di Maria....
47' Shit, Ozil is warming up!
48' Cristiano dived! he dived and there's a free kick at the 18 yard box! FUCKKKKK.
49' He takes the shot and it's just on the post! the angle the shot it from looks like the one they do on Fifa 10...
50' Villa is down. No foul.
51' UN PENAL. ARBIOL IS GIVEN A RED CARD! OMFGGGGG. HE MADE A SHIT FOUL ON VILLA OMG. MESSI IS TAKING IT. IM DYING. COME ON! Messi against Casillas....OMG
GOAL. GOAL. 1 - 0. I think i want to scream. but i won't, everyone is asleep. it's 5.10 am. MESSI. Puyol comes in for a hug, he lifts Messi up. oh. wow. that. If anything. Messi vs Casillas... a meeting of the greatest at this given time. Wow. Wow. Messi finally scores against Mourinho's side. Madrid have 10 men from this point on...
54' Messi pushes it through to Villa and Pepe takes the ball off him. Pepe is now at centre back. Obviously.
55' Keita and Ozil waiting to come on.
56' Puyol is down... he's out for treatment. oh dear. he's still down. the stretcher is here. oh no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no. no.
no.
no.
no. he's carried off.
57' Keita is on for him now.
60' Ball goes forward to david villa but it's too far from him.... Puyol is sitting on the floor instead of the bench to stretch it out. Life is shit for him. At least the football life is.
61' Xavi swings one in from afar and it hits the crossbar. so close.
62' Xavi is fouled and taken down by khedira.
63' Urgh, messi flicks it on for Villa but he tries to get it back with a backheel and Madrid cuts it out.
64' Carvalho comes in for a shot and Pique just dives in to put it out for a clearence.
65' Corner, Di Maria takes it, Pepe tries to go for goal but only gets the side netting.
65' Alonso is coming off for Adebayor... XABI ALONSO IS COMING OFF? Pedro is off for Afellay, hey, it's his first clasico!
67' Gr! Villa is running after the ball and he gets a shot but it's over...
68' Adebayor almost has a chance but it just rolls over to victor valdes.
68' Ball through to Messi but just gets to iker casillas again.
70' not sure what that was. Messi with the ball and pepe just whacks him with his hands on his back. what...
70' Villa! oh god that was weak. just straight to iker... again.... could've been good. but nooo. he has to continue his goal drought apparently.
71' Guardiola shouting so loud that if i understood catalan i would be able to understand what he just said.
72' Ball gets run out by Afellay. Ronaldo just falls striaght onto him.
73' Iniesta is taken down.... he just flips over. interesting. in a bad way.
75' oof. villa fouls khedira... just pushes him out. he needs to chill the fuck out.
76' Arbeloa is booked for a poor challenge.
77' Iniesta is stopped for foul. Not sure why.... hey his hair is actually growing. Ronaldo taking the free kick from about 20 yards out. WHY THE FIFA GAME FREE KICK ANGLE. he takes a shot, it goes over the crossbar. :)
Valdes is flipping out. his teammates decided to wuss out and parted the wall.
78' Adebayor is down, Alves is booked..... it's another madrid free kick. Ozil is taking it. it's kind of shit. Ramos can't get to it at all.
79' Final change at the bernabau with adriano coming off for maxwell.
80' BOLLOCKS SHIT. VALDES IS BOOKED! D: MADRID HAS A PENALTY. ALVES WITH A LUNGE AT MARCELO. WHAT THE FUCK. OKAY. COME ON COME ON VALDES. CRISTIANO RONALDO GOAL. IT"S 1 - 1 AT 81 MINUTES.
83' Keita is down... pepe just elbows him in the back. come on barca. hurry up....
83' I am going to think of this as a 6 minute game from now.
84' Messi goes for the ball from Xavi's pass but iker gets there first! okay. i'm freaking out now.
85' what a mess. Messi goes for goal but is taken down just before. ball goes back to iniesta. goes for goal. it goes. wide.
86' stunning chance for villa but iker makes an amazing save. sigh, iker, why must you be so good.
87' Ramos blocks messi off and nothing is given. Messi takes the ball off Ramos and it's a free kick for madrid. messi is furious. i would be too.
89' Adebayor squares it for Khedira and Valdes makes a crucial save for barcelona.
89' Afellay goes for goal and it's just over the bar.
90' four minutes extra time. i think it's unethical for them to show statistics just on messi against ronaldo. it's not a game for just those two. If anything.... it's as valid as showing stats of dani alves... against sergio ramos.
91' Messi smacks the ball into the stands. Pepe tells him to use his head.... a bit of a fuss... Xavi is booked for saying something at the ref.
93' Bollocks. it's the final whistle. what a bollocks game. Pique is pissed off. i don't blame him. So the whole second half was basically everyone getting nowhere with attacks because the goalkeepers of both sides are too good. right.

okay, away draw. not that bad. the worst thing about this game, the WORST BY A MILE, IS PUYOL PICKING UP ANOTHER INJURY. THAT IS. THE WORSE. SHIT. EVER. HIS FIRST GAME IN THREE MONTHS. THE BARCELONA CAPTAIN IS OUT AGAIN. COME ON. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS SHIT!? THIS WAS. SUCH. A. GRR.
AND TO GO DOWN AT 81 MINUTES. WE'RE ONLY 8 POINTS AHEAD. WE NEED THIS.
i'm not going to lie and say i wasn't frustrated by the game or annoyed by the fact that the only goals were penalties. but i'm not going to say it wasn't worth watching either. all in all, it was a pretty shit game. we didn't take the oppertunities that we could have and madrid drew with us with 10 men. whether this affects us in the long run with the league title is something that cannot be told from this point in time so we can leave it. in a way, a draw at the bernabau is not so bad anyway, but seriously, 10 men, and a draw? and don't get me started on the ref.
either way, 3 more to go, we better get through to the champions. just saying.
sigh. i will stop ranting.

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.

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)

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...