The Result: FC Barcelona 2-1 Real Sociedad
RESULT:
FC Barcelona: 2
Real Sociedad: 1
GOALSCORERS:
FC Barcelona: Tello (9′), Messi (72′)
Real Sociedad: Vela (74′)
LINEUPS:
FC Barcelona: Valdés, Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano, Dos Santos, Thiago, Fàbregas, Cuenca, Messi, and Tello
Real Sociedad: Bravo, C. Martínez, M. González, I. Martínez, Cadamuro, Bergara, Aranburu, R. Pardo, X. Prieto, Griezmann, and Ifrán
SUBSTITUTES:
FC Barcelona: Pinto, Piqué, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Sergi Roberto, and Alexis
Real Sociedad: Toño, Demidov, Rosada, Estrada, J. Llorente, Vela, and Agirretxe
SUBSTITUTIONS:
FC Barcelona: Busquets on for Dos Santos (76′), Abidal on for Puyol (76′), Piqué on for Busquets (83′)
Real Sociedad: Vela on for Ifrán (58′), J. Llorente on for R. Pardo (77′), Agirretxe on for X. Prieto (84′)
CAUTIONS:
FC Barcelona: (none)
Real Sociedad: I. Martínez (34′), J. Llorente (88′)
Photo: JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images
Barca's like a melody in my head that I can't keep breathing without them. Tiki-taka-tiki every week, it's like I'm a bit weak, for Barca-a-a. -Iyaz – Replay
True but I am really, really worried about Busquets!
Tellos pace is unfair. He is fast as… I can't even describe it. And what a finish by him too
And it is now visible that Puyol used to be a left winger. His dribbling is superior 
I'm very sad about Busi, hope it's not bad.
Lol, "unfair" – I think you described it perfectly.
I would cry if I found out I had to be a defender on his wing. Even if you know exactly what he is going to do, you cannot stop it. Cuenca vs Tello is an interesting contest, Cuenca is smarter and has better, almost Messi-like close control and dribbling, meanwhile is your typical speedster, who explodes into yards of space with his incredible speed. Both are great to watch though. No offense to either of the following, but why did we spend/waste so much time on the likes of Jeffren and Bojan when these two great wingers were right below them?
they were stopping him pretty effectively for most of the second half
Sorry, it should say "meanwhile TELLO is your typical speedster"
They weren't right below them at the time. Tello and Cuenca have both returned to Barca relatively recently, IIRC.
And Cesc and Messi, well, it seems that they are brothers by heart. When one plays superior, the other one does too. When one plays badly, the other one does too. But they are human. Forgive them. They will prevail.
What the f is going on with these referees?!?! Ok, sorry, I am happy we won and I know that the reason it was so close is due a lot to our fault for not being decisive and for lacking concentration near the end, but COME ON! How many penalty calls did we get denied? How many times did they handle the ball in their own penalty box? There was a clear as day moment when their defender passed the ball on the ground into his own keeper's hands. If Madrid had some of these situations happen to them, definite penalties, right away. FFS! But anyway, congratulations on the victory Barca, it is not easy to play with so many B team players and still pull out a good result against a hard working and gritty side.
where is cuenca ? he didn't make an impact at all in this game. maybe the only thing he's good at is diving.
where is richie the coward ?
here richie coward ! here richie coward ! make sure you change your name before making an insult.
I hate to say this, but all the injuries (except Busy's today) are result of the referees not whistling and allowing nasty tackles against us. I am surprised how Spain which need all Barca players to play in Euro-2012 allows their NT players to be injured. Let Real, who buys all foreign players to carry the NT instead. Rosell should stand up for the team.
Today the black cat …. did it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiaU5lZC60&fe…
Do you think Villa's injury was because of dirty tackle??
He was hold from both sides by defenders in the air and landed badly after this on the feet.
2 centre backs under 6 foot? No holding midfielder? Tello and Cuenca starting? This is no time for f**king about Pep! I don't understand what he's trying to do. We're changing our team too often and it's unsettling our rhythm of play. Just stick to one team! Stop making 5 or 6 changes every second game because this is partly one of the reasons we're behind RM!
On a brighter note some players will be firing to go for Valencia!
Also, any update on Busi's injury? Should have started the match ahead of JdS!
Holy shit I just saw a picture of his leg after the foul, it does not look good guys! Get well soon!
You're asking Pep to stick to one team… pretty hard to do given the huge list of injuries. How would you suggest we change the team less? Do you want the same starting lineup for every single game, because we don't have the first team subs anymore.
Can't you see that the players are out of breath? The league is gone, so he's resting some players and i wish he would have done it sooner. Our players are in terrible physical condition…
I agree… they haven't gotten a break in a very long time, We have played in most competitions all the way to the finals and won over the past three years. All the off season (pre-season) travel doesn't help, combined with the fact that our players are almost always called up to play by their National sides… Something had to give sooner than later
The alternative is starting those guys against Valencia or starting tired players against Valencia. If they won't do against Sociedad, they certainly won't do against Valencia, who are much more dangerous and who it's honestly more important for us to beat.
I still believe that we can win the league, but if it's a question of spreading ourselves thin for a league game or spreading ourselves thin for the Copa del Rey, I'd go with the former, because we have a much better chance of winning the Copa.
How can you say we can still win the league? We're struggling in ever game, i have never seen our players so fatiqued and we lost another important player.
Well, we haven't gotten news on Busquets yet – the latest reports via barcastuff are indicating that it may be less serious than it looked and he could even play on Wednesday.
As to how I can say we can still win the league… because it's possible. Likely, maybe not – but possible. Teams can and do make major turnarounds mid-season; look at Levante, Sporting, Espanyol, and Villarreal last season. Enormous difference in performance.
We're the underdogs, certainly, but Madrid's form hasn't been all that impressive either. It wasn't so long ago that Valencia overcame this kind of deficit to win the league. We can do the same. Most of our players will be back soon. There is still hope.
Let's hope you're right and i'm wrong..
Some people here are just beyond help. Why b**ch about the line-up when the only thing that was missing to another manita (or more) was the effectivity in front of goal? That's all. Apart from a few mistakes by Dos Santos (he always seems nervous to me), the team played a very good game. If Messi would have had half a good game the alone could have (or should have) scored 4.
Pep did everything right. Key players will be rested for the Copa game on Wednesday. We HAVE to get to that final!
Just saw the pic of Busis leg. Terrible.
where is the link to busi leg?
At his hip
lol good one
Tello is really good. And I like his assumed personality. He seems quiet and never complains.
ok lets cool it down, whats with cuenca? whats with fabregas? messi is in a need of rest. i cant see him like this. i pray for busquets!
Are you new?
Barça never, NEVER, played a whole season only shining. NO team can do that. There have been many bad or hard fought games over the last years. And most of the usually in the month January and February. The February jinx, remember?
Fatigue and injuries are cutting down our hopes. This is not our season. Tello will be a major crack in the future, Dos Santos is not Barca material. Cesc is in terrible condition. Best wishes to Busquets.
I'm so fu***ng furstrated….
Dos Santos not Barca material? What are you on? He was beastly today!! He missed like one pass. Cesc is settling. This is our season, relax.
Dos Santos is the new Bojan. He is not tough enough.
Bojan's major issue was being promoted too early and lack of confidence, not skill. They've learned from their mistakes with him, and he's doing well at Roma. Hopefully he'll be back to stay in a few years.
bojan is not doin well at rome.. but we'll have him back fo sure.. no way roma is paying 28kk for him. not even a starter anymore,
He missed one pass that cost us a goal… But he was good all game, agreed on this.
The first time Cesc will get close to his best will be next season. Cut him some slack. He's doing okay. He admits himself that he still needs to adapt.
And why do people keep moaning about his lack of pace. That's Fabregas. Everybody knew that he isn't the fastest. And that's something you can't really train. He has other qualities. LOTS of them. But it's not easy to come into a team like this and immediatly click.
Horrible picture of Busy's injury: https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/larg…
#barcastuff
is that his BONE ?
My god, that's a terrible injury!
BTW, there was a black cat running at on the field. Black cats are symbols of bad luck. Not being supertisious, just saying…
But Barca won the game! Guess the cat wasn't enough of a bad omen to stop Barca
But Busquets is badly injured and could be out for months
That doesn't appear to be the case… we'll see how the injury develops, but so far it's sounding like it looked worse than it was.
hey guys..im a madrid fan…but i was bored and watched the barca game today
tello is really great!!! i think he is better than cuenca…
anyways, this cut of busquets knee is horrendous. look if you are prepared: http://pic.twitter.com/Fo3FK9dR
On a lighter note, Tello was brilliant today. He is my motm, because even though Messi got 1 more assist than he did, Tello was just creating chances left and right. Almost every single attack started down the left wing with him. He is just so explosive and fast! He should be a keeper for the first team, especially considering all of our injuries. Thiago is a pure genious, a future Balon D'or contender, all he has to do is work on his consistency and concentration. That outside of the boot chip to Messi near the end was magic. Cesc still needs to prove himself in my eyes to show he deserves the playing time he is getting.
The 4-3-3 just makes me soooooooo happy to see. We play soooo much better with it. The defense is waaaay more secure, the midfield, contrary to what you would think, is actually far more fluid and natural even with one less midfielder, and the attack is far more dangerous and fast paced. And everyone knows what they are doing – no confusion or people getting caught out of position. Please stick with the 433 pep. Today, specifically, it seemed to be an interesting variation, where instead of having wide forwards that cut inside with our fullbacks overlapping, we had wingers that STAYED wide, and the two attacking fullbacks instead moved forward and to the inside, almost like two extra midfielders. I think that worked well.
As for Messi, I still wonder when he is going to get some rest. He played a lot better today, but you can tell his brilliant touch is just a tad less sharp than usual, I cannot understand how on earth he would not be tired considering how he has pretty much played nonstop for 3 straight years. Idk when he can get some rest though, with our difficult schedule.
hey i'm a madrid fan…so i'm obviously not a big fan of busquets….
but why the f would you want that to happen to someone
that's just so cruel
Hey hihihihi, you sound like a nice and descent guy, so why are you a Madrid fan? You should be a barca fan! Just kidding man, good luck to you (but not your team hahaha). Nice Madrid fan are always welcome here.
Just saw Busquets knee, it's so fuc***g devastating….
Hope he gets well soon..
please news about Busi's leg as soon as you get it… that was horrible..the picture of his knee is just so damn horrible,..
Busquets will be fine we've got the best doctors available, but i don't think he will be back sooner that 15 months…
THat is just a deep scratch, there is no bone demage. As the doctors said he could eventualy be ready even for Valencia. How does anybody saw it even during the reaction of the Bussi?! He did not toss and turn for his leg, it was just a deep cut of his skin!!! And thats all!!! How can you be such silly ?!
Did you see the photo? I didn't want this to be a serious injury and i'm glad it's not , doctor sapiens.
glory man utd??? in the europa league??? humiliating loss to basel??? englands best???
does anyone know how long the injury would be around (i'm not an expert on this stuff)….i just feel so bad for busquets
If it involves the bone, you're talking a few months similar to Villa who required surgery.
The bone was not injured in any way, it was just a deep cut, so hopefully he will be back soon. Doctors are even saying he could be okay to play on Wednesday against Valencia.
First Half
Tello is playing really well so far, lots of great runs and passes. And a perfect early goal. Gets lots of balls to, much of the game goes over his side.
Dos Santos replacing Busquets perfectly so far. Nearly all passes arrive and he reads the game well too. Seems like he's been playing with the team for ages.
Cuenca with a lot of great effort and assisted a great chance for Thiago early on. Hung a bit in the air a lot of time though, might need more time to work better together with Alves. Not many passes go to him though.
Messi missed some great chances with a little bad luck but assisted the Tello goal with a picture perfect pass. Slowed down quite a bit half way through the half and didn't show too much of his class. Still looks quite tired.
Cesc is running well and passing well, looks a lot better again today. Big improvement than the last games.
Macherano and Puyol seems to play perfectly together as center backs. They have quite the same way of hard but fair tackles too.
Thiago playing as fantastic as always in the midfield, he's definitely our future.
Everyone else very solid game with great passes, great defencive work and good overview.
Only slight negative point so far is the many lost balls, especially Alves looked quite off early on, but then became his usual self.
Second Half
Started with few insecurities early on, but also some great chances.
Tello had it a lot harder in the second half of course, since Sociedad always sent two or more players to stop him, yet he still made great runs and passes. Nearly had a second goal, bad luck with Alves standing on the line.
Dos Santos less noticeable than in the first, but kept playing a fantastic game with nearly no mistakes.
Messi with a lot of bad luck again, but still made great runs, dribbles and passes. Finally made his goal in typical Messi style.
Cuenca with a lot more balls this half, but didn't do the most with him, but always tried. Had bad luck once hitting the crossbar.
Cesc showed less in the second half than in the first, did more midfield work than attacking.
Alves assisted the Messi goal and seconds later caused the Sociedad goal with a very awful pass.
Busquets calmed the defence a lot when he was taken in, sadly injured after just 7 Minutes. Hopefully it's nothing serious and he's back very soon.
Thiago very solid in the second half and some great passes to the strikers.
Tello for sure MotM with his goal, near second goal and constant dangerous runs against the Sociedad defence.
And even if he doesn't have hos best games, Messi keeps deciding them anyway, today with one assist and one goal!
But why oh why do they keep doing only long and high corners ever since the 2-1 win in Madrid?
barcastuff barcastuff
First medical report: Busquets has a lacerated contused wound #fcblive
I do not want to see any more "animas" from our player, please less injuries!
Busquets would only need stitches #fcblive [btv]
So that's means it doesn't have to be a long term injury?
It doesn't appear to be long term at this point, no.
Busquets' injury is a deep cut. No injury to the bone.
Busquets could be able to play on Wednesday #fcblive
note: info via barcelona's press department
#barcastuff
Glad to hear it's not a long lasting injury.
Hope the wound heals quickly.
thank you truly relieved me,,, from the look of Cesc and the pictures spread it seemed more horrible.. thank God..
If Messi is tired than he should tell Pep that he needs a rest..simple as that.
He still scored one and assisted the other.
messi won't tell pep cause he's ambitious and wants to play every second in every game. so if messi really is tired, pep should tell him that he has to rest for one match because he's the coach and he also has more experience as a player so he knows best. then again i really think messi needs some rest. he still plays very awesome for a normal player but based on what messi normally does one can see he's tired.
I apologise guys, Im a northern idiot whose still bitter about Man Utd losing to Barca. Still havent gotten over your dominance.
that's still no excuse to be happy when a player gets a horrendous injury
I agree, but I don't think that santu was saying he was happy about Busquets, I think he was just congratulating Barca.
Tello and messi need to work on plays because tello always beats his defender and centers to mid but no one is there
Mascherano at his best..surely MOTM! Tello was good too but 2nd half he’s quiet.
Busques is fine as per the latest news. He might even play Wednesday.
Source: Cadena SER
Visca Barca!
lionel messi still the best
he will get a goal aginst valencia youll see
meanwhile ronaldo gets 9 penltys
Tello was great, well done to Pep for playing him.
I'm so happy Pep did not play Xavi at all. Back to back matches without given a single minute, I think that's definitely not because he's tired but some sort of punishment for him and let him to have all the time on the bench to reflect on what wrong he has done( he's not passing to Messi particularly those final passes ). Pep is basically asking him to think whether he still wants to play for the TEAM or for the BALLON D'OR. Have you all seen those two beautiful passes Thiago made for Messi? We DON'T see that from Xavi anymore!
hahah not that really.. Is just that barca is not in their top form. Lack of Iniesta sorry
Glad Busqests OK.
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=es&ie=UTF8&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=es&tl=en&u=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/busquets-vaya-susto-1387981&usg=ALkJrhioUDEujar9IhjN_bkYMWs2kZJlSw
I am f***ing sick and tired of these cowardly referees throwing games to Madrid. They have again been gifted two points for a no call on pepe the animal's hand ball in the box. Ray Charles could have seen it, but not that garbage of a referee. What will it take for other teams to take points from those cheats???
It's just sickening!!!!
Not surprising , this happens almost every week
i think we need to get over the refereeing issue.granted it is freaking frustrating, but refereeing mistakes have been as much a part of footballing history as football itself.let's accept refs make mistakes and move on.i mean our goalkeeper should have been sent off in the valencia match,does that mean the ref "gave" us the match?absolutely not.he goofed up
it's also worth noting that when we watch a game on tv we have an almost bird's eye view of most of the action.refs are at ground level,running,breathing heavily,heart pounding,watching 22 guys and they only get to see plays one time,in real time and from one angle.they don't have the benefit of multiple camera angles,super slow motion,etc
let's stop taking it so personally
Damn, that cut on Busi's leg was deep and nasty ! Hope he just needs stitches and he gets well soon
We should consider ourselves very fortunate if that's the case.
I was instantly reminded of the horrible injury to Aaron Ramsey's leg against Stoke and from Cesc's reaction it seemed like he probably was too ,,,,,
yeah from cesc's reaction i thought that was bone sticking out of busi's leg.really what a relief it is not as bad as it could have been
Absolutely. That's the last thing we need.
Was that a cat or Marcello ?
busi is fine , what a relief.. he even could play Valencia s game
props to victor valdes. once again he was crucial to bagging the 3 points but he doesn't get all the credit he deserves.he has become ferocious in 1v1 situations.
That would be so nice if he could appear on wednesday's game!
Hey, 'Mike in Africa', can you get some one to remove this Voodoo off Barca, bro?