Bitter sweet Sunday

It was quite good day until final minutes of game, but let's start from the beginning..

Barça' team met on Sunday morning in Ciutat Esportiva. The new Board's Advisors Carles Rexach and Josep Maria Fusté have accompanied the whole team.

At 10 they headed El Prat airport and about an hour later landed at Barajas. It was a pleasant flight. Madrid welcomed our boys with sunny sky and hundreds of faithful followers. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Villa, as usual, were the "most wanted". Quickly, Guardiola's team moved to the hotel Westin Palace de Madrid, where they spent some time before game. They had lunch together at 13:30. Some photos below (pay attention to Masch's new hair cut!)











And than there was game, well it was tough one. I'm glad that our team won, first time at this stadium since Pep became coach, but we all know how this game ended with Messi injured. game was intresting one, great goals by Messi and Pique, and many good actions (Maxwell and Busuqets were great), but De Gea (goalkeeper of Atletico) was superb (even Victor Valdes and Pep after game congratulated this young(19!) talented guy)
Of course everyone right now worry about Messi, it's obvious that his injury influenced our moods after game but we have to remember that it was great victory, so I think we should also congratulate our boys for this grea achievement. Some photos from game:














Everything was fine until final minutes of game. The dramatic images of the world’s best player clearly in great pain being stretchered off after a vicious 92nd minute foul by Ujfalusi, who received a straight red, were quickly followed by initial medical explorations that showed ligament damage in the Argentinean’s right ankle, but no apparent break, as many fans watching the game must have feared. It was dramatic...






But right after game Pep Guardiola spoke of his star’s injury: “he’ll be having more tests tomorrow, but in principle a break has been ruled out. He’s injured and the doctors will tell us how he is. Let’s hope the first diagnosis is correct and we can help get him fit again. He’s very said and in tears. These things happen in football”

Some intresting info about gameŁ
Villa was especially unlucky, with three shots on goal, including one against the post – Barça’s fourth in a week after the tree strikes against the woodwork in the Panathinaikos game. No goals, but a great show of movement and skill from the Spanish striker.
The game saw the most cards in a Barça game so far this season – nine yellows, five for Barça and one red.
Guardiola’s only change from Tuesday’s team was the inclusion of Maxwell for Abidal.
Messi’s goal against Atletico means he is the club’s joint fifth leading scorer in La Liga with Kluivert on 90. Mariano Martín is fourth with 97.

Some after-game reactions:
Iniesta commented: “we are a bit down about Leo’s injury, but let’s hope it’s not too serious. We are also happy about the great game the team put in at a very difficult ground”.

Carles Puyol: “We’re really messed up by Leo’s injury. It was a very ugly tackle and could have put him out of the game for a long time – we have to cut these things out"

Sergio Busquets: “We are happy with the win at a tough ground, but down about Leo’s injury”. “The squad were clear that we had to win this one”

Gerard Piqué: “It was my first goal of the season, but I hope it won’t be the last. I controlled it with my chest because I couldn’t see too well with the sun in my eyes”.
“Messi will recover. The team is a bit down, but I’m sure he will be back”

Víctor Valdés: “We knew what we had to do - the boss had given us the key to how we should go into the game”. “Leo is feeling bad. Let’s hope it’s not serious. He’s a player who gets a lot of rough treatment and we really have to protect players like this a lot”.

Pedro Rodríguez: “We played well against a tough opponent and we had chances to score more goals”. “This was an important win and now we have to keep on playing well and winning”.

Dani Alves: “It’s an important win at a tough ground and we take the three points. We are all worried about Leo’s injury, but we hope it’s not too bad and he’ll be back with us soon”.


As always, Andres shared his comment on facebook: "Delighted by the party we've done. I hope Leo's injury is nothing. Now to prepare for Wednesday's match." and he also added this photo