Lance Knight
08-30-2004, 09:14 AM
Racing Santander 0-2 Barcelona: FT Report
PA
SANTANDER, August 29 (Primera Liga) - Barcelona sent out an early warning to their rivals on Sunday with a comfortable win at Racing Santander to mark the start of their new campaign.
Barcelona have not lost on the opening day of the season for 10 years, and second half goals from debutants Ludovic Giuly and Samuel Eto'o ensured the visitors extended that record.
It was a new-look Barcelona side which took to the field and not only because Brazilian star Ronaldinho was missing with a toe injury.
Gone are the Dutch contingent of Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, Michael Reiziger and Edgar Davids while former Spain international Luis Enrique has retired.
Instead, Frank Rijkaard's spending spree has seen Portuguese midfielder Deco, French international Giuly and Brazilians Silvinho and Edmilson brought in as the club aim to end a five-year barren spell without trophies.
Former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson has also been added to the squad alongside Eto'o, with the duo expected to provide the goals along with Ronaldinho.
And right from the kick-off Barca showed they were a force to be reckoned with as Eto'o's early run and shot caused panic in the Racing defence.
It marked the start of 45 minutes of domination by the visitors with Larsson and Giuly in particular causing all sorts of problems for the opposition.
After 18 minutes the duo teamed up in formidable fashion with Larsson providing the perfect through-ball for Giuly, who slightly rushed his shot and launched it over the crossbar.
Moments later it was Deco's turn to try his luck as he struck the ball on the volley to force a great save from Racing keeper Dudu Awat.
Awat was in outstanding form and needed to be as a series of shots from both Larsson and Giuly were kept out of the hosts' net by the keeper.
And on the half-hour mark Swede Larsson was once more denied the opener when his powerful header was again plucked out of mid-air by the Racing stopper.
Barcelona had enjoyed all of the possession yet there was no goal to show for it, and it was starting to look as if the visitors would be frustrated in their attempts to find the opener.
Things looked even more ominous after 55 minutes when a rare Racing foray into the Barcelona area produced a goalmouth scramble before keeper Victor Valdes eventually denied Pablo Casar.
However, Barcelona finally found the breakthrough they were looking for when a cross into the area found Giuly at the far post, allowing the former Monaco star to unleash a shot into the back of the net after 68 minutes.
And just six minutes later, it was all over for Racing when Xavi was brought down in the area by Casar.
Cameroon international Eto'o stepped up to coolly slot home from the penalty spot and ensure an opening three points for Barca.
PA
SANTANDER, August 29 (Primera Liga) - Barcelona sent out an early warning to their rivals on Sunday with a comfortable win at Racing Santander to mark the start of their new campaign.
Barcelona have not lost on the opening day of the season for 10 years, and second half goals from debutants Ludovic Giuly and Samuel Eto'o ensured the visitors extended that record.
It was a new-look Barcelona side which took to the field and not only because Brazilian star Ronaldinho was missing with a toe injury.
Gone are the Dutch contingent of Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, Michael Reiziger and Edgar Davids while former Spain international Luis Enrique has retired.
Instead, Frank Rijkaard's spending spree has seen Portuguese midfielder Deco, French international Giuly and Brazilians Silvinho and Edmilson brought in as the club aim to end a five-year barren spell without trophies.
Former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson has also been added to the squad alongside Eto'o, with the duo expected to provide the goals along with Ronaldinho.
And right from the kick-off Barca showed they were a force to be reckoned with as Eto'o's early run and shot caused panic in the Racing defence.
It marked the start of 45 minutes of domination by the visitors with Larsson and Giuly in particular causing all sorts of problems for the opposition.
After 18 minutes the duo teamed up in formidable fashion with Larsson providing the perfect through-ball for Giuly, who slightly rushed his shot and launched it over the crossbar.
Moments later it was Deco's turn to try his luck as he struck the ball on the volley to force a great save from Racing keeper Dudu Awat.
Awat was in outstanding form and needed to be as a series of shots from both Larsson and Giuly were kept out of the hosts' net by the keeper.
And on the half-hour mark Swede Larsson was once more denied the opener when his powerful header was again plucked out of mid-air by the Racing stopper.
Barcelona had enjoyed all of the possession yet there was no goal to show for it, and it was starting to look as if the visitors would be frustrated in their attempts to find the opener.
Things looked even more ominous after 55 minutes when a rare Racing foray into the Barcelona area produced a goalmouth scramble before keeper Victor Valdes eventually denied Pablo Casar.
However, Barcelona finally found the breakthrough they were looking for when a cross into the area found Giuly at the far post, allowing the former Monaco star to unleash a shot into the back of the net after 68 minutes.
And just six minutes later, it was all over for Racing when Xavi was brought down in the area by Casar.
Cameroon international Eto'o stepped up to coolly slot home from the penalty spot and ensure an opening three points for Barca.