All-Star Barcelona Fail To Fire

Racing Santander 0-0 Barcelona

A dogged performance from Racing Santander kept an all-star Barcelona front line out for 90 minutes at the Sardinero. Even as the home side went down to ten men, the blaugrana couldn't find a way through, and thus start the season two points off the pace...


Barcelona started the match with Henry on the bench, last season's tridente lining up once more. While Messi started on the right and Ronaldinho on the left, the two were to switch flanks after thirty minutes to help Barcelona break down resilient defending.

Indeed, Racing, for a club that lost the likes of Scaloni and Zigic over the summer, were not looking too bad, Oscar Serrano testing Valdes within minutes of kickoff.

But Barca knew that, with the eyes of the world on them, they needed to press forward. Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Messi all tried their luck, but each time were met by a wall of green and white.

And it was Racing, comfortable at the back, who were more emboldened to go forward. Munitis heading well over just before the half hour mark. The little ex-Madrid forward was left unmarked, but couldn't make it count.

But the Sardinero side maintained its containing game, racking up a couple more shots on target as the half drew to a close.

Barcelona almost clinched a lead, though, Xavi's opportunistic chip foxing Tono between the posts, only for Luis Fernandez to clear off the line. There was no way through for Los Culers, and it was 0-0 going into the interval.

The blaugrana came out swinging after half time, Rijkaard losing patience with the home side and ordering an attack. Messi duly obliged, teeing up Iniesta with a surging cross, but the Spanish midfielder blasted over.

New Racing coach Marcelino knew what was happening, though, and imbued his team with the need to counterattack. 18 year old Bolado, enjoying a dream debut, came off for new arrival Ebi Smolarek as Racing looked to grab a goal.

But for the most part, they sat back, and Rijkaard needed to break them down somehow. So on came Thierry Henry for his Liga debut, Messi jogging off after a difficult, much-marked game.

And as one came in, one came out: and it was another debutant in Smolarek. Just minutes after coming on for his Liga debut, the Polish forward went in studs-up on Abidal, and was shown a straight red card.

Barca still struggled to break down the Santander barricades, though, as Deco came on for Yaya Toure. Indeed, it was Racing that tried a bit of the long-ball game as they sought to shock the visitors, employing the offside trap at the other end.

Oscar Serrano came off for Christian as Racing coach Marcelino showed his intent to protect the draw, the midfielder being replaced by a left-back, and the greens sat in.

Barca briefly adopted a sense of urgency, the roving Oleguer blasting a shot way off target after the tireless Xavi's effort was deflected clear, but the best chance was still to come.

Thierry Henry came close to giving Barca the victory with five minutes to go, charging forward into the box, only to watch in anguish as his shot clipped the far post.

The game began to wear down, though, and it was of little surprise to most observers as it ended 0-0.

For all Ronaldinho's and Xavi's inventiveness, Barcelona lacked that cutting edge, and must learn to deal more adequately with sides that sit in.

Racing, for their part, are amongst the relegation favourites, but were at times more than a match for Barcelona here. It may not always be pretty football in cantabria, but it works. Coach Marcelino, who worked wonders on a shoestring budget at Recreativo last year, may just surprise us all once more.

Racing Santander: Tono; Pinillos, Oriol, Garay, Luis Fernandez (Ayoze 46); Jorge Lopez, Colsa, Duscher, Oscar Serrano (Christian 75); Munitis, Bolado (Smolarek 55)
Goals: x
Yellow Cards: Luis Fernandez 13
Red Cards: Smolarek 63

FC Barcelona: Valdes; Zambrotta (Marquez 78), Thuram, Oleguer, Abidal; Xavi, Toure (Deco 69), Iniesta; Messi (Henry 61), Eto'o, Ronaldino
Goals: x
Yellow Cards: x