Leo Messi and Barcelona take it to Racing Santander

After the Messicre of Bayer Leverkusen mid last week in the Champion's League, when Messi netted home 5 goals and Cristian Tello, 2, to lead Barca to an aggregate 10-2 victory over the Germans, its no surprise that Barca, with Messi at the helm, would be victorious over anyone in their way, Even Racing Santander... Away. Barca's away record has been anything but perfect this season, but the boys, looking to make up, wrecked Racing away with a 2-0 result.

Here's how the match went:

The match started off fairly quick paced with the 1st attempt coming from Pedro in the 5th minute. He took a shot to start the scoring off, but his shot went just wide of the Racing goal.

By the 14th minute, Barcelona was still pressing. By this time a foul was giving to Barcelona. Messi geared up to take the kick. While being a excellently take shot, it was also equally excellently saves by Racing's keeper.

Barcelona, dominating, continued to turn up the pace and make attempts at opening the scoring. In the 22nd minute. Andre Iniesta would make an attempt, his shot sadly hitting the cross bar.

The tension would be broken in the 28th minute. GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!! LEO MESSI!!! After a wonderful 1 and 1 with Cesc Fabregas, the little Argentine would open scoring up for the Catalan giants.

By the 44th minute, the pace of the game had begun to slow, but still, Messi, in search of his 2nd would try his foot at goal. His shot was however deflected away for a corner. Nothing from this corner materialized.

1 minute of stoppage time added.... Half time whistle.

The second half would start out equally high paced, with Racing players now defending sloppily. In the 47th minute, a dangerous foul was conceded in favour of Barcelona, but nothing materialized from the free kick.

The pace was kept high when in the 51st minute, Cesc, looking to get on the scoring chart, would find room for his shot. However, the shot was saved wonderfully by Racing's keeper.

The heat would not be off Racing even then, When in the 54th minute Issac Cuenca would try to add a goal. His shot was however, also saved by Racing's keeper.

The final nail in Racing Santander's coffin would result in the 56th minute. GGGGGGGGOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!! Leo Messi does it again. The Argentine capitalizes on a penalty given for a foul conceded due to Racing's frustrated defending.

No real attempts would come for a little over 10 minutes. In the 70th minute Racing would have their shot a greatness. The ball hits the back off Valdes' goal, but alas, is ruled offside, the spirits of the Racing players and fans crushed.

In the 72nd minute Pep Guardiola would make a promising change bring on Tello, last week's double goal scorer, for Issac Cuenca, who had a wonderful game.

Tello, would make his presence felt, when in the 73rd minute, he made a wonderful attempt at goal, which went just wide of Racing's goal.

The press of Barca, in light of Racing's defeated spirit would continue. In the 79th minute, Messi on search for a hattrick would make a shot, which by some luck for the Racing players, would be blocked by Bernardo.

This would be the last real opportunity of the game, exclusive of some more technical changes by Pep.

3 minutes of added time.... Final Whistle.

Barcelona wins 2-0 away at El Sandinero

Match Highlights:

Fantastic game for Racing's keeper who really prevented a slaughtering.

Leo Messi reaches his 50th goal of the season.

Barcelona's 1st clean sheet in La liga since January 28, 2012, when they drew 0-0 away against Villareal.

Match Facts:

By the 56th minute, Barcelona had completed 524 passes to Racing's 167.

Andres Iniesta completed over 98% of his passes.

Barcelona in this game added a few more shots that hit the cross bar and is the team this season with the most shots hitting the bar, at a little over 20 times.

The penalty conceded by racing was Barcelona's 1st given away from home this season

Hope you enjoyed the commentary

Ciao,

Lisa

Football Goddess, Sport Junkie, Barca Girl