The Spanish Primera Division or La Liga wrapped up its weekend of matches on Sunday, October 25, 2009 with FC Barcelona v Real Zaragoza. Was FC Barcelona able to keep their lead at the top of the league table or was Zaragoza able to get an upset? Here’s a recap and video highlights of the match.
FC Barcelona Real Zaragoza 6-1 – Video Highlights
1st Half
FC Barcelona dominated possession early and started to create chances right away. The Zaragoza defending was decent through the first 10 minutes as it remained scoreless.
The Barca attack slowly started to break down the Zaragoza defense and a goal seemed imminent around the 15 minute mark. Zaragoza had just about everyone back defending with a 4-5-1 formation that kept the match close through 20 minutes. They had almost no possession in Barca’s and their best chances were usually from free kicks.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Barcelona would find the opening goal midway through the first half. A corner kick was sent short to Lionel Messi who dribbled into the box and sent a cross that was headed by Keita past the goalkeeper. It came in the 25th minute and gave Barca the 1-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
A few minutes later, Zlatan Ibrahimovic would make it 2-0 on a powerful free kick. It was from about 25 or so yards out and off the goalkeeper’s hands into the back of the net. It was struck very well from Ibra but should have been saved by the keeper.
The match was all but over as Keita scored his second in the 42nd minute and Zaragoza seemed uanble to threaten the Barcelona defense.
The first half ended at 3-0 for Barcelona.
2nd Half
The only question that remained in the second half was how much Barcelona would win by. Zaragoza failed to hold possession for any sustained attack. Lionel Messi almos scored in the 54th minute as he got past the defense but his chip shot was saved.
Ibrahimovic would score his second of the night in the 56th minute as Keita would send a cross towards goal. Ibrahimovic volleyed the cross past the goalkeeper as Barcelona led 4-0. It was the a case of Barcelona showing their pure class and quality that Zaragoza couldn’t match.
Barcelona were never under any pressure or real danger of losing the match. The rest of the second half was almost a scrimmage for the club as they continued to show great passing and would get many more chances.
Zaragoza was able to get one goal back in the 78th minute but it a comeback was never a real possibility. Messi scored just a few minutes later to extend Barcelona’s lead back for 4 and make it 5-1.
Could Barcelona make it 6 or 7 with 10 minutes left? The answer was yes as Keita scored on another header in the 86th minute to get his hat trick on the night. The Zaragoza defense never seemed able to contain the Barca attack. The match would end at a 6-1 win for Barcelona as they remain top of the La Liga table.
| SCORING SUMMARY | |
| Barcelona | Real Zaragoza |
| Seydou Keita (24) | Jorge López (78) |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic (29) | |
| Seydou Keita (41) | |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic (56) | |
| Lionel Messi (80) | |
| Seydou Keita (86) | |
| MATCH STATS | ||
| Barcelona | Real Zaragoza | |
| Shots (on Goal) | 17(13) | 7(5) |
| Fouls | 9 | 14 |
| Corner Kicks | 6 | 1 |
| Offsides | 7 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 79% | 21% |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 4 | 7 |
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