Maginot Line (0-0)

Much like Inter did, Sevilla formed an almost unbreakable Maginaud Line with 100% effective defenders. And the many balls that the defenders coludn't kick away were saved by "the octopus", Javi Varas, most probably the man of the match today. Conclusion? An adamantium bunker.

Both teams had chances, although Sevilla was the first one to endanger, as seemingly Marcelino García had found a way to "override" the 3-4-3, hence Sevilla's most dangerous opportunity: a poisoned thread shot by Jesús Navas, answered with a world-class dive by Valdés. As Guardiola put on the field the B scheme (4-3-3), things apparently normalized: Sevilla was still trying, but Barça was beginning to endanger Javi Varas's goal.

So Marcelino said "no more. I'm happy with a draw" and ordered his players to form an unbreakable catenaccio. Along the second half, many chances fell, but all, ALL of them collided with Javi Varas. Really, Sevilla's goalkeeper won't forget this match. The biggest chance came in what was almost the last chance of the game: Iniesta manages to sneak in, only to receive a penalty (Finally!! A penalty whistled for Barça!!) by Federico Fazio. As logical, Sevilla players tried to lose as much time as they could, but really, Kanouté went too far away. First by annoying Messi when he was about to kick the maximum penalty, to which he received a yellow card. Immediately after being booked, he toyed around with destiny by kicking the ball away; luckily, the referee was writing his name on the bookings notebook, so he didn't see him, and then, the Malian made one last gamble by seemingly starting a reasonless, meaningless brawl with Cesc, to which he (Kanouté, of course) was directly sent off.

All that lost time (about three minutes) affected Messi's keen accuracy sense, so when he kicked the penalty, Javi Varas already knew where he had to dive, he did, and he blocked it. There was one last chance, a foul near, very near the area by Fernando Navarro (a few steps nearer and it's another penalty) that supposed Navarro's sending off via double yellow card. Messi made the last gamble by trying to direct it straight into the goal, but AGAIN, it collided with the defense and with Javi Varas (yes, again. It can really be said that is thanks to Javi Varas that Sevilla managed to rip a point from the Camp Nou)

Not always you can win, it's true, but losing this way, with the opponent never daring to make at least a decent attack... it simply and really pisses you off.

Well next opponent is recently promoted Granada CF, Tuesday, at 20:00, PPV (we really have to watch out this time, as we play in the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium, where Granada proves that, whenever they want, they can stand face-to-face with the biggest and best of this league)

Well, that's all for now, folks, see ya after the Granada-Barça!!