Nessie School of Languages

by Jordi Clos FC Barcelona web official page

Thierry Henry scored a hat-trick and Leo Mesi added a fourth for FC Barcelona as Frank Rijkaard’s team swept Levante aside in the Ciutat de Valencia on Saturday evening with another impressive performance.

In recent seasons, the stadium has been a difficult hunting ground for the Blaugrana as they have battled with the thin pitch and a though host side, but this weekend all those problems were overcome thanks to a domineering performance that extended Barça’s winning streak to four consectuive games. Dressed in the new electric blue away strip, the visitors caused Levante a real shock as Henry showed why he is considered to be one of the best striker’s in the world with a devastating triple. The Frenchman’s first goals of the league campaign also ensured that the Catalan outfit secured their first away win of the season.

Henry fires up
With Levante sitting in last place in the table, they looked anxious in the opening stages of the game and Barça showed no mercy as they took full advanatge of their hosts frailties. The visitors’ defence looked strong as they repelled everything that the Granotes cold throw at them, while at the other end the away team’s strikeforce looked sharp and clinical. The opening goal arrived in the 17th minute when Xavi headed a clearance back into the area from a corner, Messi’s first time shot was saved by Marco Storari but the ball fell kindly for Henry who was left with the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. Just seven minutes later the Blaugrana added a second as Messi slid a pass through to Henry, who controlled the ball on the left-hand edge of the area and stroked it across the keeper and into the far corner in trademark style.

Growing confidence
The goals left Levante stunned and saw Barça’s confidence grow even further. With the game under control and the passing and movement continuing to cause the home team problems, Henry went close to adding a third before the break as he cut in from the left and fired a low cross-cum-shot that Marco Storari palmed away. Messi also had two chances before the break when he skipped past two players on the edge of the area and fired over and then fired wide when put through by Henry.

Two quick goals
Carles Puyol made his first appearance of the season when he replaced Gabi Milito at the start of the second period. The captain was still settling into the game when Barça put the result beyond doubt with two goals in the space of three minutes. In the 48th minute Deco’s through ball was deflected into the Henry’s path and after edging forward the French international rifled his shot inside the near post before wheeling away to celebrate. As Levante collected themselves, they fell further behind in the 50th minute as Messi received the ball down the right and, after breezing past Bruno Cirillo, fired his shot across the keeper and into the far side of the net.

Restoring some pride
Despite Barça’s superiority, Levante continued to plug away and were able to reduce the arrears when Puyol fouled Alexandre Geijo in the area and Emilio Viqueira stroked home the resulting spot kick in the 73rd minute. The visitors were then forced to finish the game with ten men as Touré yaya limped out of the action after FC Barcelona had made all three of their substitutions. Rijkaard had made his changes with one eye on the Champions League game in Germany against VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday and this win will have boosted confidence ahead of that difficult trip.