Barça lack the finishing to see off Mallorca

Barcelona faced Mallorca in the Camp Nou on saturday night and for the second time this season, dropped points.

On 21 minutes, Messi gave the reigning champions the lead when he eloquently placed the ball past the keeper. Barça looked liked they would ease through the rest of the game until a shock equaliser by Nsue gave Mallorca a share of the points.

Barça started to press from kick off, Bojan's driving shot in the opening minutes tested but failed to beat the keeper.

After dominating most of the possession in the first 20 minutes, a beautiful move gave Barça the lead. Pedro backhealed a pass from Alves to find Messi on the edge of the box, after taking a touch, Messi effortlessly placed the ball into the net, leaving the goalkeeper firmly rooted on the spot.

That was the last of Barcelona's clinical attempts on goal, Messi wasted a chance to put Barça further ahead after his attempt to take the keeper on failed, when hitting it first time seemed an easier option.

Shortly after, Keita found a good position in the box but couldn't direct his header after Abidal's cross was slightly behind the midfielder and he could get enough contact.

Mallorca's first chance fell to Castro who's snap volley brought a save out of Victor Valdes for a corner. The vistors kept up the momentum and Nsue drilled in a header from
inbetween Piquè and Milito.

Pep Guardiola's half time team talk fell on deaf ears as Barça's passing became sloppy and their lack of urgency was evident. Laudrups men took advantage of this and nearly took the lead when Nsue volleyed over from a corner.

The lack of confidence infront of goal was becoming too prevalent, as Dani Alves who was in a perfect place to score, attempted to pass to Messi but completly miss timed the run of the Argentinian and passed behind him.

The poor judgement from Barcelona's attackers was rounded off when Bojan tried to score from the byline, completly overlooking the options that were available inside the box.

Watching Barça on Saturday night was more like watching Arsenal, and desipte lots of build up play there was no end product. Barcelona's lack of conviction infront of goal in recent weeks has made me long for the directness and clinicalness of Samuel Eto'o. I don't think I'll ever understand the reasoning of his departure and the more I see peformances like this, the more I will be reminded of what once was.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]