Barcelona went on the offensive from the very start of the match.  They attacked widely on the flanks, thereby causing Wisła lots of difficulty.  The home side’s players skillfully doubled positions on the flanks, thanks to which they were able to get the ball into the penalty area during practically each play.  Unfortunately, it appeared as though Wisła’s players gave into the magic of Barcelona and Camp Nou, despite coach Skorża’s pleas to do otherwise.  At most four of their players attacked Barcelona at any given time, thus the lone Paweł Brożek didn’t really have anyone to play the ball to, even when he did manage to get hold of it.  In any case, „Brozio” was one of the few players who didn’t treat his opponents with needless respect.  He was able to cunningly fish the ball away from Puyol or Marquez, and was not afraid of dribbling the ball against his opponents.

Unfortunately things looked much worse in defense.  Above all, the most blatant erorrs were losses committed right in front of the penalty area, thanks to which Barcelona was able to create some very threatening plays.  The White Star received its first warning in the 14th minute of the match.  Although the ball did indeed end up in the goal guarded by Pawełek, Marquez was offsides.  Nonetheless, a goal was only a matter of time – the shots at Camp Nou began in the 18th minute.  Eto’o received a perpendicular pass and, despite Baszczyński’s coverage, shot the ball on target into the far corner of the goal.  Pawełek was left with no chance of defending the shot.

Xavi raised the score to 2:0.  Wisła, accustomed to the fact that in the Polish league no one shoots from beyond 20 meters, didn’t reach the Barcelona midfielder, who, having lots of room at the 25 meter mark, immediately decided to take a shot.  He hit the ball so well that it bounced off the goal post and fell into the net.  It appeared as though Barcelona was calmed by this sure lead.  Wisła began to have greater possession of the ball, searching for their chance.  However, after 5 minutes the home side came to the conclusion that they were allowing the White Star too much leeway, and once again things began to boil in front of Pawełek’s goal.

Two goals were scored before half time, hence in order to balance things out Barcelona scored two more during the second half.  In the 51st minute Iniesta played a fast pass to Eto’o, who immediately passed the ball to Henry, who in turn calmly lobbed the ball over the emerging Pawełek.  From this moment on the wait for another goal began.  Barcelona continued to regularly poke holes in Wisła’s defense with perpendicular passes.  Pawełek thus had a number of opportunities to show off some nice saves.  He didn’t allow himself to be defeated in one-on-one situations on two occasions by Iniesta, Yaya Toure, and Eto’o.  He nevertheless succumbed to Barcelona’s Cameroonian striker in the 83rd minute.  Eto’o passed Diaz and shot the ball into the near corner, which Wisła’s goalkeeper didn’t have enough time to cover.     

4:0 was the most lenient penalty that Wisła could have received.  This conclusion is obvious just by looking at the match statistics – the White Star only once shot on Barcelona’s goal, with this shot being off target.  The fingers of both one’s hands would be insufficient in order to count up all of the good and very good ocassions that Barcelona had during the entire match.

FC Barcelona – Wisła Kraków 4:0 (2:0)
1:0 Eto’o 18’
2:0 Xavi 25’
3:0 Henry 51’
4:0 Eto’o 83’

Barcelona: Valdes – Alves, Puyol, Marquez, Abidal – Xavi, Iniesta, Keita – Pedro (65’ Yaya Toure), Eto’o, Henry (84’ Hleb)

Wisła: Pawełek – Baszczyński, Cleber, Diaz, Piotr Brożek – Łobodziński (84’ Małecki), Sobolewski, Cantoro, Jisak (46’ Zieńczuk), Boguski (68’ Niedzielan) – Paweł Brożek

Yellow cards: Cantoro (Wisła)
Referee: Claudio Cichetta
Spectators: 56 786

M. Górski
Wisła Kraków SA Press Office