Barca wins over malaga

Barça have notched up their eleventh win in a row on a rain-soaked pitch in Malaga. Xavi, scoring twice, Messi and Alves all put their mark on the game.
Barça’s unbeaten run continued tonight in a rain-soaked Rosaleda stadium after torrential rain had been falling all over the Andalusia region in the hours leading up to the game. Through hard-work and effectiveness, Barça have notched up their eleventh win in a row despite the water-logged pitch. Xavi and Messi gave Barça an early advantage, and then in the second half, another from Xavi and an own-goal from an Alves free-kick brought yet another Barça goal spree. Uncertainty about the pitch It was touch and go whether the game would go ahead after so much rain had fallen, but at eight o’clock the pitch was declared playable on. Despite the state of the turf preventing speed and precision, the game got off to a lively start, with both sides fighting hard and going for goal. Another lightening start Barça struck the first blow in the 5th minute when Xavi scored from a direct free-kick. Yet Malaga, who also came to the match on good form, pulled back with a magnificent shot from Duda in the 12th minute. Guardiola’s men found it difficult to impose their game. In one of their attempts to build up a move, Messi received the ball in the area and put it beyond keeper Arnau’s reach. A decisive 1-3 The game slowed down for a period while the rain eased off. Barça took control, although they were operating mainly in midfield and having problems linking to Eto’o. The team gained depth with the arrival of Thierry Henry, who played a part in Barça’s third goal. Henry managed to kill a cross from Eto’o with his head, laying the ball at Xavi’s feet, who accordingly obliged by making it 1-3 with his left foot in the 53rd minute. Alves insistent With a 1-3 lead, Barça kept up the pressure without taking any unnecessary risks. In the 66th minute, Alves tried a repeat of the goal he scored against Almeria from a free-kick, but he hit the post. The Brazilian tried once again in the 81st minute, and this time a deflection from a Malaga defender made it 1-4. This was the cherry on the cake in another goal spree for a team who now have eleven consecutive victories behind them (seven of them in the league).