My world of sports...

...can it get worse? ==================================================================================
by PAM


Tennis, football... what on earth is happening?  It feels like the planets have been re-aligning or something.  Yes, of course, I've been paying attention!  I just didn't have enough leisure time to supply the sports ingredient in my blog these days.  But today, I feel I need to make time for it... or the balance in my world would tip to the dangerous 'burnout' end.  I have to say though that all is satisfying in the work front as far as outcomes are concerned... but burnout is slowly creeping in, too... and it's not even one year yet.  I'm feeling the pressure on my body... and it doesn't feel good. 

Therefore, bring on football and tennis!

***
Alright, football first... let's break it down.

First, Sir Alex Ferguson retired, ending his 27-year tenure as Manchester United's big boss... but that happened ages ago already, it seems, at the rate things are going in the football world.  It's just that Foodball Captain chose to write about David Beckham's retirement - only - when the 'shake-up' was happening.  I needed to rely on FC that time just because I was too busy with my 'day job' to write about my sentiments.  Oh, well... what can I say, except you go for what's in front of you... and complain later? :)

Second, Pep Guardiola, my man, finally started his stint with FC Bayern Munich last month... and it felt odd to see the cule legendary coach mentoring the already 

Pep Guardiola (5th from left, 2nd row) is the Bundesliga

Champs' new boss.

(Photo credit:  grabbed from Daily Mail UK.)

'perfect' Bundesliga current champions... okay, not to mention the UEFA Champions League holders, too. Okay, in fact, they are treble winners last season.  So, there, big job to keep that up - perhaps, even for Pep!  Pep was greeted by a jab on the face by Bayern Munich's reserve goal keeper, Tom Starke.

On the other hand, Barça's future seems uncertain, even when they regained the Spanish La Liga Primera crown back to Camp Nou (yaay!)... an achievement that contributed to the shortened stint in Madrid of the, now confirmed, not-so-special-one, Jose Mourinho, who is now back at Chelsea FC's helm.  Yep, when a 'Pep news' comes up, somewhere, somehow, a 'Mou news' pops up, too.  But, who cares?  About the Mourinho out-of-Madrid, gone-to-Chelsea piece of news, I mean.  Well, it matters to Roman Abramovich, obviously... and, perhaps, John Terry, who was assured - not - by Mou of being in the first team.  Alright, here we go... more colorful drama at Stamford Bridge next season!  Bring on the popcorn!   In the meantime, we wait in giddy anticipation of the Bayern Munich-Chelsea match soon... and the Bayern Munich-Barça match even sooner!  Big matches, alright.  Hah, sorry work, you just gotta share time with football now - seriously! :)

Third, so many player movements across teams and Leagues... and even across continents!  Barça's very good home-grown young midfielder, Thiago Alcantara, for instance, is now Pep's new recruit - from Catalunya to Bavaria.  David Villa now plays for Atletico Madrid.  Brazil's current best player, Neymar, is Barça's newest 'boy wonder #2'... Lionel Messi being (and always will be) #1.  How would that figure in Leo's false 9 position in the Barça scheme... we shall see - soon enough.

Fourth, Tito Vilanova's cancer so sadly recurred... and he had to step down as FC Barcelona coach two days ago to resume treatments. :(  Oh, boy... talk about uncertain future!  That piece of news was

Snatched from the touchline by a horrible illness... anims, Tito!

(Photo credit:  Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

the turning point for me.  It made me decide to snatch back some of my personal time from my 'day job' to write something here!  Just when I'm beginning to really, really like Tito's calmness, and his thoughtful and serene-looking face in a handsome stance on the Barca touchline... he leaves!  What's more, it's all because of a life-threatening illness. :(  I feel guilty for not writing about his stint with Barça, which I appreciated and enjoyed, too.  The Barça players lead the football world in wishing Tito the very best... because, as Andres Iniesta points out, in the end, this more about a man's life rather than just football.  Anims, Tito! 

Now, the search is on for the next Barça coach. Who would it be? I hope it'd be Rubi. His ideas seem fresh, and his personality seems right for the Barca philosophy: work hard, observe discipline, be a teamplayer, keep ball possession and bring it to the goal, play well - to win... and play beautifully.  He seems to be passionate enough about leading and leading well a great football team, and he seems to have enough youthful energy to match that passion.  He could be in the same wavelength as most of the key Barça players.  He has Pep's aura... not to say that Barça needs to look for another Pep, because there is only one Pep Guardiola... and he is now in Allianz Arena in Bavaria.  Just look for one who respects the Barca philosophy, and will keep it alive and well.

Man, I lied low on my 'football thing' here for a few months, and I came back to a completely new world of football!   Whew!  But, life goes on... the ball rolls on the turf, and the men kick it to keep the beautiful game alive and well.  Therefore, we hope for the best... and we get ready for schedule adjustments to accommodate football in my sked.  I'm excited!  :)

***
Next, tennis...

Yes, yes, and yes, I have been paying attention to tennis, too! 

And yes, I did follow the French Open and the Championships at Wimbledon... alright, I admit, I did an unacceptable in-and-out (of consciousness) in the middle of matches.  I was just too tired to stay awake most days... but, hey, I exerted tremendous effort to stay awake.  That should keep my "licensed" tennis fan status! :)  

I have to admit that I almost fell from my seat when Roger Federer exited Roland Garros in the quarter-finals.  But, I was totally, totally awed by the greatness on clay by Rafael Nadal!  He was sooooo awesome - on clay - the greatest ever, in my book!  I'm so glad he was back to play strong, and regain his seat as one of the Top 4 players in the world.

Ooops, I know, I know, I spoke too soon... because Rafa exited Wimbledon, a few days later - in the (freak of a) first round - against an unseeded player!  Imagine?  A day later... there went the defending Champ, Roger Federer, out of Wimbledon, too - in the second round!  Ow!  Just a year ago, after bowing to Andy Murray in the London Games to claim the silver medal, the King of Grass was back, and made history by claiming his 17th Grand Slam in Wimbledon - the most GS ever by a male tennis player in the Open Era.  This year, he was not good enough to overcome the challenge of another unseeded player, 'causing him to slide down the ranking to #5 - for the first time since 2002!  Ow, ow, ow!  Too bad, there hasn't been enough time for the world to watch the cute antics of his adorable twin girls.  Oh, well....

There's a saving grace though... Juan Martin del Potro is towering tall again on court, giving Novak Djokovic a spirited run for his money in the Wimbledon semis, and the Andy Garcia look-alike, the beautiful Spaniard, David Ferrer, went up to #4 in the ranking, for the first time... and played in the semis in Wimbledon - for the first time, too.  Woot-woot!  And the biggest tennis drama of the year went off from the tough, tough racket of Andy Murray... he claimed his FIRST Wimbledon Cup - the first British man to win in more than 70 years!  Woohoo!  You can just imagine how happy Judy Murray was... immensely happy - maybe, happier than Andy himself! ;)  By the way, that was heartfelt, the woot-woot, I mean... CONGRATULATIONS, Andy!  :)

Alright, I have work to do *sigh* .... ciao!

***

Champions League cardiac duel...

...between Italy's best... and, uhm, Europe's best! Oy!
==========================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo


"Friday (work) madness" is brewing, so let's make this quick! Therefore, let me say, first of all, that the AC Milan vs. FC Barcelona UEFA Champions League fixture in San Siro earlier this morning (Thursday, Manila time) was a monster of a match - in terms of excitement! It got me spewing early morning coffee at many points as a torrent of yellow cards swept the Italian pitch - defining the mood, speed and INTENSITY of the duel between Zlatan Ibrahimovic's current Club and immediate former Club!

Let me say, second of all, that the Barça away kit was, uhm, so
Four from Barça's three generations of superstars
celebrating Xavi's Messi-assisted goal - such an
awesome sight to behold!pretty (hehe... y'know I need to say that, don't ya?)... uhm, even on Sergio Busquets who usually wears the Barça color with very neutral effect even when his ballhandling, er, ballfooting (huh? hehe...) in Barça's midfield can be extra-ordinary, and especially on Lionel Messi who made the minty cotton candy-ish shirt a total "pop hit" in a classic only-for-the-"big-boys" tumultuous affair of footieful brilliance! Aaawww! :) The kit in question also made Cesc Fàbregas worthy of some pause-and-stare in the midst of all that testosteronic intensity despite Cesc's painful (for us, fans) "hair confusion" phase ( I sure wish that it's just a phase). *sigh* :)

The scoreline, AC Milan 2-3 FC Barcelona, doesn't really sum it all up. The three times that Barça took the lead and the two times the San Siro residents equalized, and all the round leather's close encounters with the net in between, were the big dramas that made the duel between the two giants at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza quite unforgettable... and another day of no-sleep for football fans in this side of the world - but very happy, nevertheless, thank you very much! :)

***
It all began with a tackle...

The dogfight on the pitch started with a bold tackle by, ahem,
El Capitan, Puyi, flying
kick con flying curls.who else but Ibra on Barça's captain, Carles Puyol. As Puyi rose from the Italian pitch amidst that mighty roar from the crowd... and under Pep Guardiola's not-so-surprised stare, the Catalan Captain shrugged the Italian dust and signaled the seriousness of the match. Xavi, rising to the challenge, was not content with 'just' playmaking that night. He relentlessly skimmed the peripheries of the midfield, darting past Milanese defenders in unstoppable determination in front via a Messi-created space - on a hunt for a goal. With Thiago Alcántara behind, beside, and around him, more than ably covering the voids he leaves in the midfield as he penetrated the Milanese defense, Spain's most current "century man" flirted with fire, taunting the mighty Milanese defenders every so often as he tried to slot the ball in the Milan goal. And then, at a moment of sheer daring and
Ibra... on the loose, footloose
dangerous.brilliance, the Maestro caught a Messi long-distance volley via a Seydou Keita cross in front of the goal and pressured Mark van Bommel to slot an own goal, putting Barça in front - where they belong! Woohoo!

While Keita tried to put a fence around Ibra all night, the "Tower of Terror" got away from Javier Mascherano at one striking glory point as the Swede chased a Seedorf cross that Puyi failed to intercept, beating Victor Valdes somehow with a fantastic kick-on-the-run that found its way in Valdes's net - an equalizer for Milan! The economy-ravaged, post-Berlusconi Italian crowd roared! Game on!

***
Killer kicks, blinding speed, some misses... and yellow cards!

Now that both teams expressed their singular intention of winning the UEFA Champions League Group H top spot via a 1-1 scoreline, they stared one another in the eye coldly in a nerve-wracking intensity, matching each other's kick with a kick, speed por speed... and yellow card por yellow card! But, hey, there wasn't any temper-losing incident from both sides, just a great display of tactical duel - which was an awesome way to play the beautiful game!
Kevin-Prince Boateng, he who
left Victor Valdes breathless.There were heartbreaking misses, such as that Fàbregas uh-oh moment - a waste of Thiago-created brilliant chance - and that Robinho say-what???! wasted chance at the very mouth of the Barça goal, which he sent over the net when he could have just tapped it in nicely in a clinical finish! Oh, well....

Ah, and then there was that Messi "spot blink" (hehe...) that fetched him a yellow card from the amused referee, Wolfgang Stark. :) But, of course, La Pulga completed the opportunity via a Xavi-was-brought-down-on-the-pitch confusing situation with a goal on his second try, putting the Catalans in front once again. And then that awesomeness of an equalizing goal by Kevin-Prince Boateng that left Eric Abidal, Boateng's marksman on Barça's danger zone, speechless... and Victor Valdes shaking his head in disbelief! It left me astounded, too, with a whispered, but full of conviction and sincerity, "dang, awesome"! =)

Just when I was about to declare Boateng's goal as the best in the
Ah, Barça... just oh-awesome!match, Lionel Messi, in his phenomenal brilliance, navigated a crowded Milan danger zone, slipping the ball through with incredible dribbling and speed through the narrow thoroughfare, and found the discretely positioned looking-for-a-kill-like-a-panther Xavi in front of Christian Abbiatti, who rejected a number of Catalan attempts with touches of brilliance of his own. In a split second of breathtaking football - Barça style - Messi laser-pointed the ball to Xavi, and the Maestro slotted the ball with zero hesitation and 100% awesomeness! Dang, too fantastic! Milan didn't have an answer to that, and so the BEST OF EUROPE took the top spot in Group H. Woohoo!

While Massimilliano Allegri and his men competed absolutely
El Maestro, the Man of the Match.fantastic, the well-deserved win went to those who are some notches more brilliant... who ran and attacked relentlessly on the pitch - Barça! :) But all clubs expect that when they find themselves on the same pitch as the Catalans... Europe's best run a lot, they take ball possession to heart in an attacking football strategy that is heavily anchored on tiki-taka, they link up on the pitch like a single body that packs tremendous cohesive force (although lately, they're exhibiting some failure in that division via a Guardiola endless combination "experiments" this season. Ah, but what do you do when you have so much talent in your stable, so much options in front of you? You'd experiment, too, wouldn't you? Dang, I would!). AC Milan went into the match with the right game plan, the right attitude, and the right execution with incredible football artistry, too. But in a duel of absolute brilliance, played in good spirits and sportsmanship, the better team emerges victorious! Visca, El Barça! :)

***
Photo credits: All photos were grabbed from the Zimbio website - thanks.
Video credit: Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

***

Back to ballgame romance now...

...just because it's so worth it! :)
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo


UEFA Champions League
Viktoria Plzeň vs. FC Barcelona as it happens


It's been a while since the last time I went to bed at 9:00 PM (Manila time) while my whole household was still having a great time at videoke, and got up at 2:00 AM (Manila time) to watch a football match - live! :) And, oh, boy, does it feel great! :)

Who's playing? Well, since I made a great effort to watch the match live, you could probably tell, it's the fantastic men from Barcelona. :) FC Barcelona traveled to Prague for the second leg of their tie with Viktoria Plzen at the UEFA Champions League.

***

Alright, here we go... fans are in an excited frenzy at the Eden Stadium.

And the men walk to the pitch now....

Hmmm... No Xavi Hernandez and no Andrés Iniesta in the first 11. A confident-looking Thiago Alacantara and an almost ugly-looking Cesc Fàbregras (seriously, Cesc, what's with the hair?) are starting instead. No David Villa either, but the fierce-looking "kiddo", Isaac Cuenca, is starting instead. Gerard Piqué is on the pitch (uhm-hmm, nice!)... and he isn't smiling his fab smile. I wonder why....

Formalities... and it's game on!

Ah, VP started an early attack and Barça are still trying to get their game together and gel to a cohesive force - doesn't look easy for now. Hmmm... Gerard P. is looking like he needs time to get
Yeah, some things are worth being sleepless for.accustomed to defending the Barça goal there after a long injury-induced absence.

OK, looking like he wants to set the pace of the game there, Lionel Messi unleashing a kicker... just to remind Barça what they came to Prague for. Alright, that seems to work. Barça, taking the cue from Messi, are starting to "volt-in" to pack fire power. Alright, here we go....

Uh-oh, ugly defending from Piqué et al. there... but the ever-reliable Victor Valdes did great, sealing the gaps. Teamwork, that's what Barça are about, and Valdes is a great teamworker. So, things are fine for Barça.

Thiago unleashed something "almost beautiful" to the VP goal... but he couldn't control the pace of the ball, went over the net. But that's a threat alright, and he's doing a fine job keeping things under control in the midfield.

Piqué on the move... aggressive, too, but kinda clumsy dribbling the ball there - by his Barça's #3 superb defending standard, that is. Hmmm... looks like we need to wait a little bit before he gets back into the swing of things.

First yellow card - to VP. They are playing a bit too aggressive, methinks. But then, it's the only way to play Europe's Best!

Big, big threat to Barça there... brilliant save from Victor Valdes as usual. Dang, the Barca defense is getting slashed open... another threat - unlucky miscalculation from VP against a shaky Barça defense. It's Barça's lucky night, I think. But then, lucky are those who are brilliant and give their best, too, isn't it? So, yeah, it's going to be another "lucky night" for Barça! :)

Lionel Messi recognized the big threats... knew he had to reply to keep Barça on top of things. Nice hook-up with Adriano there, but the VP defense is superb, too, Barça's efforts didn't come to fruition. Patience.

Messi brought down by a reckless tackle in the area.... More scrambling for the ball. And.... Red card??? For VP's Marian Cisovsky... whoa, not sure about that, I need to see it
Hmmm... a boy no more? Oy!again. This will send Barça haters ballistic again. :)

It's the 24th minute... Messi, with his new boots - in flashy colors - takes to the spot, and takes the shot... GOAL! It's his 200th goal for Barça - AWESOME!! I am so glad that I stayed awake and saw that historic goal! Woohoo!! Uhm, but I'm still kinda shocked over that red card though, too early into the game. Uhm, but I gotta say, Messi is looking a lot sexier than usual - a hint of facial hair and all... what is it about him today? Yeah, I know, I know, out of topic! But, hey, what's a woman supposed to do when a beautiful man like Messi makes history like that, huh? Ugh, it's too hard to stay all-business when Messi does his stuff, ya know! :)

Lots of "falling bodies" - in black shirts, mostly. Fàbregas down, but him down is getting old at this point - to be honest! It's happened to him a number of times now since the starting whistle, I think. C'mon now, Cesc... so, you're not a racist, that's good. But will ya please please stop being a wimp!. *sigh*

Alright, another nice try from the fantastic "kiddo" on the pitch, Cuenca. Always keeping the ball in play, always hustling - nice attitude.

VP on the run now... Piqué foiling their run - he's getting into the defending task there now - nice!

Adriano, running with the ball... very graceful and decisive - beautiful to watch. Nice pass to Messi... four VP shirts on alert, a header from the VP defense, and the Barça effort got foiled. Dang! Alright, patience.

OK, here we go, nice touches from Cuenca and Messi... and a great save from the VP goalie. No dice there for Barça... You just gotta give it to these VP men - fighting to their last kick.

Fàbregas is looking lost, I think! What's the matter with him? He can't get the midfield organized there. And when the Barça midfield is messy like that, nothing going for them. Aaargh, Cesc, dude, for the love of everything round that's leather, I really think you should slow down on tweeting and mind your football more!

Oh, oh, oh, great moment unfolding right here!!! Messi running, lots of defenders in the
Messi and Adriano, celebrating a superb goal.
(Photo: Filip Singer/EPA)way, detoured the ball to Adriano as he zooms to penetrate the defense without the ball. Adriano keeping the ball in play, waited for Messi to position, and returns the ball to Messi with a beautifully decesive pass, perfect timing, too! And Messi scores (45" +2")!!! AWESOME GOAL! :) Ahh, and dang, does he look sexy with that serious face! Did he lose the boyish "uncertain-in-glory, just-having-fun-here look" about him and gained a "I'm-owning-up-to-this-greatness look" now? Alright, sorry... once again, what's a woman supposed to do??? It's too hard not to react silly! Whew! :)

Half-time now.

Alright, here we go... in the news: AC Milan drew their match against BATE Borisov. Nice. That gives Barça the chance to book a spot in the Round of 16 - tonight. It's 0-2, and VP are down to 10 men, so that should be doable.

Hmm... nice play being set-up by Messi for Fàbregas... but Fàbregas hesitated in front of the goalie and sent the ball wide. Aargh... that should've been a clinical finish, Cesc! I don't know why I'm yelling at you... it's probably your freakin' hair! Cut it, dammit!

Ah, Dani Alves with a late contact there - yellow card! Tsk! But he's amused... and now free kick for VP. But no consolation for the hosts.

OK, here we go... Thiago to Fàbregas, Fàbregas to Messi - all on a fast run... A VP defender running just a bit ahead of Messi, and ruined the Barça fun. Oh, well, but fantastic play just the same.

Another foul on Messi... free kick over a tall wall... and, whoa, fantastic save!

OK, while Barça is winning, apart from the Messi goal #2, some beautiful moves from Adriano, and Cuenca's do-or-die attitude on the pitch, so far nothing spectacular going. I think it's because of the lack of creativity and adventure in the midfield there. Ah, Cesc, are you really on the pitch today, dude?

Aw, Messi is even taking some defending duties there. The defense and the midfield are all over the place right now. Surprisingly though, there doesn't seem to be anything that VP can do to pose the tiniest of threat. Oh, well... I guess we Barça fans have become so spoiled... anything less than "smashingly brilliant" is a "messy game" for us. :)

A-ha, a superb pass from Cuenca, finding Fàbregas! Barça's #4 headed the nice pass to completion (72nd minute) - GOAL!! And he saved himself from a messy run with a goal - the 3rd for Barça tonight, and nothing from VP - thanks to that awesome Cuenca assist. It's Cesc's first goal for Barça in the Champions League, too. Well done, I must say... and that goes to Cuenca, too.

Ah, there's a vintage Piqué defensive play right there against two VP players at the corner... and he kept the ball. Nice one, Geri! :) Please get back to your fabulous shape soon. We're missing the impeccable defensive moves that you do for Barça on your in-shape days.

Speaking of impeccable defense... there's another Piqué hard-won ball there, which he keeps and puts in play - nice! :) So, when Cesc makes a goal, Gerri is compelled to defend well? You guys, are insane - in the cutest way! Uhm, except Cesc's hair tonight.

Aah, beautiful run from Alexis there who came on just a moment ago... finding Messi, and Messi trying to finish with a header... but the pace of the ball was too much, he couldn't control it. Nice try
Celebrating Messi's 14th hat-trick, and Barça's
entry to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.nevertheless... but I'm sure, that won't silence the "Old Great from Brazil" who turned himself to an insecure "has-been". :) But does Messi care? Uhm, no... and neither do we! :)

Hey, hey, hey, what have we got here? A tough scramble for the ball won by Piqué - nice, nice! He fakes and then backheels the ball to Messi - beautiful! Oh, and Messi took it without missing a beat... He's on a superb run now - we can all imagine what he (and the VP defense) is thinking, I'm sure... and he slots a beautiful one for his 14th hat-trick as Barça pick up their ticket to the Round of 16 - GOAL!!! Woohoo!!!

And so, just like that, they finished their run in Prague with a 0-4 win! Not as brilliant as we're used to - by Barça's sky-high standard - but a superb win nevertheless! And Pep Guardiola wrapped up his 200th match as Barça manager, with his squad picking up their 500th goal under his leadership. Awesome feat, Pep!

Visca El Barça!! Visca La Pulga!! :)

***

Hot moves from Barça...

...and they kept the Joan Gamper Trophy, too.
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo


With no sleep - at all - from the previous night, blame it on 'dedication to work' (yeah, right! ugh!) and killer stomach ache I staggered home on Monday afternoon, checked via BBC World News if the looking-like-he's-stoned strongman Gaddafi had already woken up to reality over there in Libya (hmm, still stubbornly holding on to power), and then I prepared to hit the bed - at 5 pm. I passed out before my back hit the linens! *sigh* I was barely aware of the pounding rain late in the night... and at about 2:00 AM, an image of Lionel Messi shooting a beautiful goal past Iker Casillas, with the on-his-knees Cristiano Ronaldo at his heel - from the Supercopa final - pulled me back to consciousness. Dang, live telecast of the Joan Gamper Trophy final at Camp Nou! Naturally, that hit me like a caffeine punch! And so, morning prayers, and then... game on!

After Cesc Fabregas hit his first "grown-up goal" for FC Barcelona - the first of five by Pep Guardiola's side's rout of Italy's SSC Napoli - to help Barça claim their 35th Joan Gamper Trophy, I got the feeling that it was going to be a fun night - well, early morning here in Manila. And it was! :)

***
Five "smash hits"... and they're up, up, and away!

Barça marched on the pitch with "the other little genius", Andrés Iniesta,
Captain Iniesta, flying high!wearing the captain's arm band. Of course, the "pale assassin" looked every inch "it", too - nice touch there, Pep! :) Cesc was in the first XI, with Manuel Pinto manning the Barça goal, and the brilliant young fellow, Thiago Alcantara, roaming the midfield. While the Barça first XI mainstays from last season - David Villa spearheading the attack crew, Gerard Piqué, leading the defense crew with Adriano sharing the responsibility - were in the first XI, there was no Messi or a Xavi to send the "usual" anxiety to the men from Italy. If the fans had any doubt on Pep Guardiola's Joan Gamper campaign first XI, it wasn't at all obvious. I was excited to see them "dance" on the Camp Nou pitch, "just a friendly" match notwithstanding. And they did, too - dance on the pitch!

The 2:00 AM priceless fun began with a Fabregas goal on the 25th minute. Set up by Iniesta and fed by Adriano (who was playing like a Dani Alves + Javier Mascherano out there) with a solid assist via a graceful cross, Cesc got away from his marker and fired the first goal! Aw, gosh... what can I say, all of us
Cesc Fabregas, making his first goal in Blaugrana
shirt... as a grown-up.know he will be brilliant in whatever shirt he'd choose to wear, right? It's just that he's best suited with a Blaugrana shirt. :) Barça did great doing all they could to get this brilliant culé back in Camp Nou, that's for sure. While I think it was worth the long wait, I will always feel a little bit sad for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, of course, as I'm sure Cesc is, especially after that Gunners loss in the hands of the visiting Liverpool squad at The Emirates Stadium last weekend. Oh, dear... but, I guess... a culé will always be a culé and it's heart will always be restless until it's settled at home: Camp Nou.

Picking up where Cesc left off, Seydou Keita went for help from Captain Iniesta, sending a long pass to the "pale assassin" behind him before speeding towards the goal, through a crack in the Napoli defense. With the most perfect timing possible, he then jumped for a beautiful header to send a well-calculated Iniesta overhead return that completely eluded Napoli's goalkeeper, Morgan De Sanctis.
Seydou Keita, heading a big one home - lovely. Just fantastic! The men went to half-time break with the score at 2-0, for Barça.

In the second-half, several Blaugrana attempts merely collided with the Napoli goal's frame, including two big ones from Pedro Rodríguez... and it sent Guardiola's mouth open in disbelief! While errors mounted, it didn't look like Napoli were about to give Barça a chase... although I'm sure they were trying. Nevertheless, Guardiola loaded the deadly Barça gun with his "big bullets". Lionel Messi came on for Cesc Fabregas - to the loud cheers from fans, appreciation for Cesc, excitement for La Pulga's entry. Later, the "High Priest of Midfield", Xavi, came on for Thiago, and the fans went ecstatic! :)

Messi made his presence felt right away with a curved free-kick shot over a five-man wall that was intercepted by De Sanctis... but not to
Messi & Pedro: deadly bullets, thriller when together.safety. The quick-as-a-bullet Pedro caught the rebound and gave it a powerful header to find the back of the goal, redeeming himself beautifully from his previous uncharacteristic misses, 3-0. That was followed quickly by a beautiful Messi-to-Xavi on-the-run pass through heavy traffic going into the Napoli thoroughfare. Xavi, with his usual "20/20 vision" and precision passing, zeroed in and fired to the speeding Pedro on the left wing. Pedro caught the ball beautifully, ran with it fast and pretty before issuing a delectable cross that Messi brought home to an incredible finish, 4-0! Too awesome! Camp Nou went crazy... and so did I!

Not contented with a 4-0 lead, Barça kept going. The last goal was scored by the Camp Nou's "resident genius", Lionel Messi, in keeping with Barça's relentless overachieving attitude - almost to the "embarrasment" of Club President, Sandro Rosell, in deference to the visitors. :) Messi drove home a nice through-ball from Eric Abidal with his fave left kick on a nimble "mini jump" from the left side of the goal through two defenders - too cute, it was a delight to watch! :)

***
What the (exciting) future holds... at least, from one fan's point of view

Hmmm... looks like Barça is "coming together" now for the season. They were totally "in the zone" out there... unlike in both legs of their Supercopa tie with Real Madrid CF in the previous week where they were merely being their natural brilliant selves, but lacking in their usual fantastic rhythm as an extraordinary team on the pitch. But, apparently, that was enough to beat Los Blancos though, even when the Mourinho men brought
Guardiola's vision: "Something new, something old."
This season's Barça is all about "variety" - in attack.their for-desperate-measure "destroyers" game with them! :) I guess I'm just one "very spoiled" Barça fan who has gotten so used to entertaining football to come with brilliant winning everytime the Blaugranas step on the pitch.

What is exciting about Barça's showing today is that the latest line-up (which includes the all-of-a-sudden looking like "all grown-up" Sergi Roberto and Andreu Fontàs from Barça B!), with their solid talents and the flexibility of most to perform well in various roles, will give Pep Guardiola lots of attacking options - hopefully, better than last season, when Pep struggled to fill in injury-induced gaps in his First XI in crucial matches. But Pep's strength as a coach is his being such a visionary playmaker - a natural gift Barça sharpened during Pep's own time as the squad's playmaker and captain. Pep could "tweak" and take advantage of his men's talents by making traditional positions in conventional formation on the pitch as flexible avenues for his men to be creative - and effective, too. Rather than weakening in the face of injury-induced deprivation of his line-up's stalwarts, that approach gave his team the element of surprise that proved hard enough to figure out for most clubs they faced - yes, including Real Madrid! Now, with that strategy and with more capable men in his stable, he could, yet again, revolutionize football - Barça style. So, yeah, lots of reasons to fix my work sked to tolerate "reasonable busyness" only so there'd be "enough time" to enjoy fave hobby - appreciating Barça football! :)

All the best, Pep! All the best, Barça!

Alright, that's all the fun I could have today. Back to work....

***
Photo credits: Photos were grabbed from the Zimbio website - thanks!