Barcelona had their customary dominance of possession, but simply couldn’t do anything with it. Valladolid took the lead through Rossi in the 16th minute and held firm, stubbornly frustrating their opponents and claiming a priceless home victory, resisting everything the Catalan side could throw at them.
A packed house at the José Zorilla and expectant hoping fans hoping to see an upset, greeted the two sides for Saturday’s first game in La Liga. Real Valladolid didn’t want to disappoint and though Barcelona enjoyed their customary dominance of possession as the game began, the home side were showing plenty of industry and forcing errors from their opponents.
Sergio Busquets lost the ball dangerously in the 5th minute and Guerra was presented with a great chance to give his side an early lead, but clean through on goal, he wasn’t able to sent his shot anywhere but into the hands of a relieved Valdés.
The inaccuracies continued from Barcelona and the home fans roared as Valladolid continued to pose attacking threats. There was also defending to do though and in the 9th minute, Messi struck powerfully when he caught a whiff of goal, but was denied by a good save from Mariño. Valladolid were taking absolutely no risks as Barca continued to push and probe for openings, holding firm and clearing upfield at the first opportunity to make interceptions and challenges.
Attacking threats were still very much there from Valladolid though and in the 16th minute, confusion in the Barca defence after failing to clear one effort on goal, saw Rossi provide the punishment by giving the home side the lead.
Barca had to find a reaction, but they weren’t getting into their stride and Valladolid continued to make the most of their strategy, quickly pressing their opponents, whenever they pushed out of their own half. The intensity of the game began to drop for a spell, but the home side had the game exactly where they wanted it.
By the 28th minute, Barca were still struggling to present any danger as the home side held firm at the back, whilst at the other end, a free-kick presented Valladolid with another good opportunity, only for Rossi to fire off-target. On the half-hour mark and still struggling to get into dangerous positions, Neymar tried his luck from distance, but only succeeded in sending the ball well off-target and into the crowd behind the goal. Moments later though, Barca were presented with an opportunity from a free-kick and though Messi managed to get his effort on-target, it was straight into the hands of Mariño in the Valladolid goal.
Chances started to come thick and fast for Barca and in the 35th minute, first Messi and then Fàbregas had shots on-target, but once more, into the hands of Mariño. The offside flag didn’t help matters the following moment, as Pedro found himself with just the Valladolid keeper to beat, but correctly called offside, as the home defence stepped forward.
Heading towards the interval, still Barca had all the pressure and attacking momentum, but Valladolid had erected an impenetrable wall of defenders behind the ball and there was simply no way through. Adding to the frustrations of the visitors, Valladolid even finished the half on an attacking foot, winning a corner. The home fans, more than impressed with the efforts from their team as the whistle blew. Effective snatch and grab from Valladolid, against impotent dominance of possession from Barcelona.
Barcelona were clearly keen to haul themselves back on level terms, as play commenced for the second half. Adriano quickly came close with their first effort, then in the 47th minute, Messi was denied by another good save from Mariño in the Valladolid goal.
The home side were stubbornly resistant, but Barca still kept pushing, as a dangerous cross almost caused problems for the Valladolid defence, then in the 57th minute, Neymar was there with an opportunity, but over the crossbar with his finish. A forced change for Valladolid coming in the 58th minute, after Valiente couldn’t recover from a heavy knock, with Sastre taking his place on the pitch.
On the hour and still trailing, Tata decided it was time to make motions from the substitutes bench, as Alexis replaced Fàbregas. After a good spell for Valladolid, they too made a change as JIM looked for freshness in his attacking line, with Óscar on for Manucho. Barca were seeming to have trouble staying tight as the home side mounted a few promising, but ultimately fruitless attacks, whilst the Catalan side were still struggling to find any chinks in the armour of the stubborn Valladolid rearguard.
More changes came in a flurry as the game headed into the final twenty minutes. In the 71st minute, Valladolid brought on Rama for Bergdich, whilst Barca sent on Sergi Roberto for an extra man in midfield, at the expense of defender Pique. The final Barca move came in the 73rd minute, with Tello on for Neymar and Tata had dealt his last option from the bench.
Still Valladolid held firm at the back, with plenty of men ahead of Barca, who clearly dominated possession, but impotently so against the wall of players ahead of them. There was no end product for the visitors, as Messi fired straight into the hands of Mariño in the 82nd minute, then in the 83rd, Valladolid sprang their counter swiftly as Rama hit the byline and sent in a deep cross for Óscar, but he couldn’t hit his effort on target, after getting into a glorious position to inflict more damage.
Into the final moments of the game, it was all Barcelona, throwing everything they could into attack, desperately looking for the equaliser. Valladolid had everyone back to guard their goal and ultimately, they managed to hang on through injury time.
A fantastic result for Real Valladolid and the roar of the crowd as the final whistle blew, tells the whole story of how important the victory is for them. For now, they’re outside the relegation zone, ahead of the remaining games this weekend. Barcelona meanwhile, will be hugely disappointed. Banging their heads against a brick wall for ninety minutes, they simply couldn’t find a way through. A blow for their title bid.
Real Valladolid 1-0 Barcelona
Referee: Hernández Hernández
Real Valladolid XI: Mariño; Rukavina, Rueda, Mitrovic, Peña; Rossi, Valiente (58′), Rubio, Bergdich (71′); Guerra, Manucho (65′).
Goals: Rossi (16′)
Subs: Sastre (58′), Óscar (65′), Rama (71′)
Yellow Cards: Bergdich (46′), Valiente (51′), Rossi (51′), Peña (75′), Rubio (82′), Sastre (90′)
Barcelona XI: Valdés; Alves, Piqué (71′), Mascherano, Adriano; Xavi, Busquets, Fàbregas (60′); Pedro, Messi, Neymar (73′).
Goals: None
Subs: Alexis (60′), Sergi Roberto (71′), Tello (73′)
Yellow Cards: Piqué (64′)
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