A sublime strike from Samuel Eto'o was the difference as Barcelona picked up three crucial points on the road...

Real Valladolid 0-1 Barcelona


It wasn't vintage stuff, but Barcelona got the job done as they beat a spirited Real Valladolid team.


Valladolid welcomed Sergio Asenjo back into the side, while Henoik Goitom led the line at the other end.

With the international break taking it's toll on the players' fatigue, Pep Guardiola rung the changes, with Pedro earning his first start up front, as the likes of Lionel Messi and Daniel Alves warmed the bench.

First Half

As expected, Barcelona dominated the early exchanges, without creating any real chances. Valladolid were finding it hard to win the ball, let alone string any passes together. It was Pedro who had the first shot of the match, forcing Asenjo into a fine save from a tight angle on the right.

The home side were doing well to deny Barca too much space in midfield, resulting in a spate of tedious passes amongst the defence. Andres Iniesta was looking the liveliest of the players, and he nearly set Samuel Eto'o up for the opener, only to see Asenjo parry the striker's deft flick towards goal.

As the half wore on, Valladolid grew in confidence, and the Barca defence were forced into last ditch clearances on more than one occasion. The visitors suddenly appeared starved of possession, a rare occurrence for this Barcelona side. They did create a great chance on 34 minutes though, but Xavi could only blast way over the top after Eto'o had done well to pull the ball back across the box.

Just when it looked as though the half would end goalless, Samuel Eto'o, who scored four against the same opposition earlier in the season, scored a sublime opener. Playing a one-two with Xavi, Eto'o was sent clear in the box, before he executed a sublime lob over the helpless Asenjo, to give Barca a crucial lead.

Barca clearly grew in confidence after the goal, and it took a sprawling save from Asenjo to stop Iniesta from scoring seconds later. That proved to be the last action of the half, as the visitors took a slender lead into the break.

Second Half

Valladolid suffered an immediate setback in their bid to pull a goal back, as Jonathan Sesma had to be withdrawn, to be replaced by Escudero. Meanwhile, Iniesta broke free on the left and set Eto'o up, but he could only blast over from inches out, while under pressure from Bea.

Valladolid were forced to push forward and it nearly paid dividends on 54 minutes, when a flowing, one touch move ended in a shot from Aguirre on the edge of the box, but it was a tame end to an exciting sequence. Minutes later, Escudero nearly scored one of the goals of the season, beating about four players while cutting in from the right, but in the end Valdes managed to parry his shot.

Sensing a shift in momentum, Pep Guardiola withdrew Sylvinho and Pedro, bringing on Dani Alves and Lionel Messi in their stead. Valladolid continued to press though, and Goitom was inches away from heading them level, only for Daniel Alves to get ahead of him at the last second and head behind.

With fifteen minutes left, Andres Iniesta suddenly found himself clear, but his touch past the on rushing Asenjo dribbled agonizingly wide of the far post. Minutes later, Dani Alves unleashed a rasping drive that Asenjo did well to save, and the ball nearly rebounded in off an unsuspecting Eto'o.

As the last ten minutes approached, Barca began to show signs of weariness as they appeared content to hang on to their slender lead. Valladolid spent most of the closing stages in Barca's half, but they were lacking the killer instinct to equalize on the scoreboard.

Thus Barcelona racked up yet another win, one that increase the pressure on Real Madrid ahead of their match against Malaga. The gap is now nine points, and they cannot afford any more slip-ups.

Real Valladolid 0-1 Barcelona
Eto'o 39

Real Valladolid: Asenjo - Pedro Lopez, Prieto (Baraja 65), Bea, Marcos - Aguirre (Ogbeche 56), Rubio, Borja, Sesma (Escudero 48) - Canobbio, Goitom

Barcelona: Valdes - Puyol, Marquez, Pique, Sylvinho (Alves 58) - Busquets, Xavi, Keita - Pedro (Messi 58), Iniesta (Gudjohnsen 89), Eto'o

Yellow Cards: Aguirre 19