Barcelona self destruct

Barcelona threw away a two goal advantage at the Camp Nou tonight as they went on to lose 3-2 in the last minute to Real Mallorca, not the best of send offs for Frank Rijkaard.

Match Report

The Barca coach made a few changes to the side that were so well beaten by Real Madrid in mid-week, with Thuram, Edmilson and the ex-Celta Vigo keeper Pinto all starting for Los Cules. The defence would have had a special eye on Mallorca hitman Daniel Guiza who has been linked with a move to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.

There was a strange and hostile atmosphere in the half empty stadium as former hero's Samuel Eto'o and Deco were whistled and booed by the home fans, whilst the coach Frank Rijkaard was applauded every time he stepped out of the dugout. Eto'o and Deco have been accused of picking up yellow cards against Valencia last weekend so that they didn't have to make the trip to Madrid where the players had to applaud their bitter rivals for retaining their league title.

The match started as expected, with Barcelona dominating the possession and chances in the opening half hour with Lionel Messi looking the most likely to break the deadlock.

And it only took 17 minutes for Barca to open the scoring with Messi the architect. The young Argentine dribbled from just inside the Mallorca half, beating 3 men before laying the ball off for 'Titi' Henry to side foot home from just outside the area, beating Miguel Moya at his near post. The Camp nou applauded but certainly didn't erupt as it usually does to celebrate a goal.

Five minutes later though and Thierry Henry was through again. This time it was the unpopular Samuel Eto'o who played the Frenchman in with a delightful through ball, although this time the former Arsenal man put his effort just wide of the far post.

The Islanders offered very little as an attacking force until the last 10 minutes, only really looking to threaten from set plays and balls into the box, Guiza, Webo and Arango the obvious targets. With 5 minutes of the half remaining, Pinto was finally tested from a freekick and a header from the resulting corner. Victor Valdes' understudy was certainly up to the challenge as he made two fine diving saves to keep the score at 1-0 going into the break.

Rijkaard made a change at half time as the ineffectual Deco was replaced by youngster Bojan Krcic. Although it was surely just a tactical change, the Spanish papers will no doubt claim that Deco chose to be replaced due to the booing.

It was a slow start to the second period as both sides just tried to retain possession, but that changed in the 56th minute as Barca struck again to make it 2-0. Thierry Henry was unleashed down the left, his low cross was met by Messi who struck first time and although his effort was blocked by Moya, the Mallorca keeper could only parry the ball towards Eto'o who thumped home to silence the boo boys. They looked home and dry.

Rijkaard decided to rest Messi five minutes later and break on the young Mexican Giovani dos Santos, who was also in for a hostile reception.

Barca made the fatal error in trying to sit back when Mallorca had rarely threatened, it proved to be their undoing in the 67th minute as Borja lashed home a fine drive past Jose Pinto in the Barcelona goal, a goal which clearly rattled the Catalan side.

Rijkaard again opted to make a change as he took off Zambrotta and replaced him with Oleguer to sure up the back four, it didnt work as only three minutes after the first, Mallorca struck again. A poor clearence landed at the feet of Webo, who hammered his volley straight into the ground and over the top of Pinto to equalise, queue the white hankies in the stands. Barcelona had yet again pushed the self destruct button.

For the next 10 minutes it looked as if Real Mallorca were the only side likely to strike again, as they continued to put pressure on the weak Barcelona back line, Guiza coming close with a fine volley. But only moments later and it was the home side on the counter, as Bojan pulled the ball back for Eto'o, the ex-Mallorca man rounded his marker only to pui his effort straight at Moya when it would have been easier to score.

Both sides appeared to be settling for the draw until the fourth minute of injury time, when the away side grabbed an unlikely winner. Again it was a ball into the box that caused problems, as Spain's top scorer Daniel Guiza picked up the ball 10 yards from goal and after some tricky foot work, he put the ball into the far corner.

Whistles sounded around the Camp Nou at the end of the game before a bitterly disappointed Frank Rijkaard went back down the tunnel after seeing his side gift the three points to Mallorca.