Author Topic: Barcelona Are Champions! (Read 378 times)

Woozie · « **on:** May 15, 2005, 04:31:32 AM »

Barcelona are the new champions of the Spanish league as they scooped their 17th title after drawing at Levante while Real Madrid were held at Sevilla.
Samuel Eto'o was the hero of Barcelona as he scored the vital goal in Barcelona's tense 1-1 at Levante as the Catalans secured the league title for the first time in six years after Real Madrid were held 2-2 by Sevilla.

The Blaugrana knew that with only two matches remaining they had to maintain their six-point lead to ensure, mathematically, that Vanderlei Luxemburgo's side could not catch, as they were ahead on the head-to-head rule employed in the Spanish league.

After a nervy start to the encounter in the Ciudad Valencia stadium, Barça were shocked when Alberto Rivera fired Las Granotas into the lead in the 34th minute when he ran onto Edwin Congo's knockdown before steering the ball past the stationary Víctor Valdés and into the far corner of the net.

Frank Rijkaard's side were stifled in their attacking options after the Dutchman was forced to rearrange his side as Juliano Belletti missed the clash through suspension.

Oleguer was employed at right-back, with Rafa Márquez moving into the centre of defence, while Xavi went back to defensive midfield and Andrés Iniesta joined Deco in the centre.

Until the introduction of Thiago Motta after the break, Barça missed Xavi's creative flair in attack, but the introduction of the Brazilian allowed the playmaker to resume his normal role and it was not long before the equaliser came.

But the home side almost caused a shock when Valdés' weak clearance fell to the feet of former Barcelona forward Jofre and he fired a superb shot goalwards, only to see it rebound off the post and away.

The vital point was soon secured by the visitors though when Xavi swung in a corner which Márquez flicked to the far post for Eto'o to nod home from six yards out in the 62nd minute.

The celebrations could begin as both sides then appeared to be content to play possession football for the remainder of the game, which they did effectively.

It was all made possible for the Catalans to only require a draw from the match after Julio Baptista popped up in the 89th minute to score a dramatic equaliser for Sevilla in their 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in Rámon Sánchez Pizjuán.

Sergio Ramos had belied his 19 years to fire the home side into the lead after 20 minutes when he struck a superb free-kick from 25 yards that flew past Iker Casillas and into the bottom corner of the net.

But Javi Navarro then put through his own goal when he stooped to prevent a cross reaching Michael Owen, only to divert it past Antonio Notario a minute before the break.

Madrid then switched their attacking options around with the introduction of Luis Figo and Guti, but it was Zinedine Zidane that earned the plaudits as he scored a stunning goal in minute 74.

The Frenchman strode forward before unleashing a vicious drive that crashed against the underside of the bar and beyond the helpless dive of the Sevilla keeper.

But the home side are not in third place without reason and they lifted their game in the final ten minutes and netted a deserved equaliser after a scintilating move that ended with young Jesús Navas sending a curling cross with the outside of the boot onto the head Baptista and the giant Brazilian made no mistake from eight yards.