Gudjohnsen Saves Barça In Thriller

FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Betis Barcelona looked to have picked up where they left off three days ago in Gijón when they steamed to a two goal first half lead but Real Betis fought back gallantly to draw level, only for the Catalans to nick the points with a somewhat fortunate winner.A ruthless Barça side tore their visitors apart in the first half, thanks to a Samuel Eto’o brace, but the Catalans failed to maintain that momentum and allowed the Andalucians to rally back through stunning goals from Luciano Monzón and José Mari in the second half. But Eidur Gudjohnsen, who had only been on the pitch for ten minutes, stole the points for Pep Guardiola’s side when he guided in a Dani Alves cross. First Half Betis showed they didn’t come here to defend in numbers like the last team in green and white as they went toe to toe with their hosts in the opening exchanges. But as the Blaugrana began to impose themselves, Los Verdiblancos were eventually pinned back. The first hint of danger for Betis came on seven minutes when Messi skipped past three defenders with the help of Iniesta as a decoy, but the Argentine’s cutback to the centre for Seydou Keita was intercepted by an alert Fernando Vega. Betis’ first glimpse of goal came in the 15th minute when Mark González feigned a cross from a freekick and drilled in a direct left foot shot but Víctor Valdés stood his ground and graciously welcomed the ball into his arms. A minute later, however, Eto’o smashed his side into the lead. Picking up a pass from Messi, the Cameroonian easily side-stepped two defenders infront of him to take the ball into the box, before unleashing a rocket straight into the roof of the net after rattling the underside of the bar. Betis were left chasing shadows after that goal, relying on the charity of Barça’s stray passing to get any touch of the leather. But on 22 minutes, the Catalans doubled their advantage as the same pair combined again to do the damage. Messi breezed past two defenders down the right channel before squaring the ball to the centre and Eto’o easily guided it into the back of the net from two yards out. Emaná should have pulled one back for the Andalucians on 26 minutes. Mark González picked out the Cameroonian, who beat Rafa Márquez into the area but blazed his shot just over the bar as he tried to beat the on-rushing Valdés with power. Dani Alves and Messi then had a chance to get on the scoresheet themselves just before the half hour mark but they couldn’t finish off the stylish build-ups. On 40 minutes, Eto’o played a clever give-and-go with Alves to release the rightback into the box but the Brazilian just overcooked his run as he tried to beat the entire Betis backline and goalkeeper, Casto. The former Sevilla man had the final chance of the half when his long range drive was fumbled by the Betis shot-stopper, who gathered it the on the second asking as Iniesta lunged in for the rebound. Second Half The second period began slowly as Barça took their foot off the gas slightly. Betis, on the other hand, took full advantage of that as they crept into the contest. In the 55th minute, Sergio García angled in a lovely diagonal through ball to José Mari, who checked past Alves but his left foot shot just sailed inches wide at the far post. Two minutes later, Capi tried his luck from distance and Valdés had to be at full stretch to to palm it out. But just before the hour mark, Betis were levelled when newcomer Monzón blasted in a low freekick under the wall, straight into the bottom corner to leave Valdés no chance. Messi almost restored the two goal advantage immediately when he found space to run and shoot but his attempt just outside the box was not only weak but also off-target. Barça would pay heavily for easing off as the verdiblancos stunned the Camp Nou in the 67th minute when they drew levelled. Sergio García rolled another sumptuous through ball to José Mari who waited for Valdés to come off his line before dinking an audacious chip over the stranded goalkeeper. A minute later, a brilliant swerving Xavi freekick forced Casto into an equally stunning save, pushing out the midfielder’s effort one-handed. The young keeper was tested again moments later, this time by Bojan, who ran at the Betis defence before letting fly from 20 yards out. But with ten minutes left on the clock, Eidur Gudjohnsen put Barça back infront with a slice of good fortune. Alves’ cross from the right was met by the Icelandic international, who slid forward with the intention of just keeping it in play but he managed to direct it on target and that caught Casto by surprise as the ball bobbled in off the post. The Blaugrana had a double chance to bury the game late one. First on 85 minutes, Bojan was put through clean on goal by Messi but one on one with Casto, his body movement revealed what he was about to do and the goalie blocked the youngster’s shot with his foot. A minute later, Alves curled in a freekick over the wall, only to see it cannoned back off the upright. The Blaugrana continued to press forward in the closing stages in search of a buffer goal, having learned their lesson, but they held on to claim a 3-2 victory and Guardiola’s men will have to thank their lucky stars tonight as they evaded severe embarrassment. LINE-UPS FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdés – Dani Alves, Cáceres, Márquez, Abidal – Xavi, Toure Yayá (Busquets 70’), Keita (Gudjohnsen 70’) – Messi, Eto’o (Bojan 76’), Iniesta Unused subs: Henry, Piqué, Puyol, Pinto Real Betis (4-2-3-1 ): Casto – Nélson, Arzu, Juanito, Fernando Vega – Aurélio, Capi (Juande 86’) – Sergio García, Emaná (Damía 46’), Mark González (Monzón 40’) – José Mari Unused subs: Rivera, Pavone, Melli, Ricardo FC BARCELONA 3-2 REAL BETIS 1-0: Barcelona (Eto’o 16’) 2-0: Barcelona (Eto’o 22’) 2-1: Real Betis (Monzón 59’) 2-2: Real Betis (José Mari 67’) 3-2: Barcelona (Gudjohnsen 80’)