In the second half, Barça took advantage of Zaragoza’s playing with just ten men after Abraham was sent off and finished off the game with a Messi penalty and a fourth from Pedro.
Valdés proves decisive
Zaragoza began the match by pressing Barcelona. On the bench sat the team from Catalonia: Iniesta, Xavi and Bosquets, and for the staging of the ball in midfield, were responsible: Cesc, Keita and Thiago. Lacked precision in their game and Zaragoza managed to create a risk of putting the ball in a long defense of the guests, one of which led to the Valdés growing on Lafite and gives a penalty. He made for it, however, by anticipating the efforts Aranda and in doing so, which may be necessary to save May.
Aranda opener
Zaragoza didn’t let that get to them though and a few minutes later Aranda got lucky when Valdes parried the strikers’ shot back onto his head, leaving him with an easy opportunity which he took with gusto. Unfortunately for the hosts, that goal seemed to spur Barça who now began to look more direct and pacey and within ten minutes they’d turned the score around.
Immediate reaction
Soon after Zaragoza’s opener, Alexis and Cesc had a double chance to equalise, but the attack ended in a corner, from which Puyol scored after a poor clearance from Roberto. Two minutes later a quick counter from a Zaragoza corner saw Messi fire home with a great finish to put Barça ahead. There was still time before the break for more action, as Abraham saw a second yellow after stopping Alexis in his tracks as the Chilean once again looked to break free.
Messi and Pedro finish the game off
Alexis was soon back into the groove in the second half, when Roberto pulled off a fantastic stop to keep him out, but the game was being played at a frantic pace, which Guardiola reacted to by bringing on Busquets for Keita to bring some order to the midfield. Barça now began to take control and both Thiago and Messi had the chance to score the third before Alexis was brought down in the box and Messi fired home from the penalty spot.
Barça didn’t sit back though, and a great move between Messi and Pedro ended with the Spanish winger getting his first goal since the Cup quarter final against Madrid to round offa great performance in which the team showed the character of champions.
Goals: Aranda (30') - Puyol (36'), Messi ( 39', 86'), Pedro (90+2')
Yellow cards: 28' Zuculini F., 35'45' Minero A., 58' Ruben Micael, 83' Lanzaro M., 85' Paredes J. -Valdes 24' , Keita 43', Adriano 58', Fabregas 87', Thiago 90+3'
Zaragoza: Roberto, Alvarez P, Aranda C. (Postiga 66'), Da Silva P, Lafita, Minero, Obradovic (Lanzaro 66'), Paredes, Pinter, Ruben Micael (Carlos J 83') , Zuculini
FCB: Valdes, Mascherano, Alves (Montoya 68'), Puyol, Keita (Bosquets 56'), Fabregas (Xavi 90'), Thiago, Messi, Sanchez, Adriano, Pedro
