Massive step towards title (2-3)

by Roger Bogunyà

Barca took a massive step to taking the league title with a 2-3 win over Seville in the Sanchez Pijuan tonight. With Madrid also winning their game, it will all come down to next week’s final games when Barca host Valladolid.

First half goals from Messi and Bojan set up the result and when Pedro made it three on the hour, the job seemed to have been done, especially since Seville were down to 10 men after Konko was sent off for the hosts on 56 minutes. But then Seville, who’d been completely outplayed until then hit back with two quick goals from Kanoute and Fabiano and the game, and the title race, was back on again.

There were a few jitters as the game entered into the last 20 minutes, but both Pedro and Bojan could have sealed the game before the ref finally blew up and the players celebrated what could be a vital three points.

Messi opens the scoring

Barca made a spectacular start to the game and with Xavi pulling all the strings the team whizzed the ball around the Sanchez Pijuan and seemed to mesmerize Seville. The hosts found themselves one down after just five minutes when Messi was put through by Maxwell for yet another goal that should guarantee the Golden Boot and the Spanish Leading Goalscorer Award.

Dazzling display

Alves, Xavi and Messi were dazzling the home team and the 600 Barca fans on the ground were lapping it up as Bojan and Pedro joined in to give an exhibition of brilliant football that had Seville – lying fourth in the league before tonight’s game – reduced to running after shadows. When Xavi invented one of his trademark passes, Bojan was on hand to fire home and make it 0-2 at the break.

Pedro makes it 0-3

After Messi had missed a good chance to make it three, Bojan forced Konko into a foul that earned him his second yellow and Seville were down to 10 men and two minutes later, Pedro did make it three lashing in a shot from the edge of the box. The chances just kept coming and Bojan missed a sitter after Messi had crossed from the right. Surely, those misses wouldn’t matter?

Seville hit back

Then almost immediately after Bojan’s miss, Kanoute slipped past Puyol to peg one back and two minutes later, Luis Fabiano grabbed a second. Barca held firm though and although the fourth goal didn’t come, they kept making chances and the only negative note was Xavi’s yellow, which means he’ll miss next week’s game against Valladolid. Nothing could dampen the joy of the players at the end of the game though as they celebrated three more points on the road to the title.