La Liga Week 37: Barcelona - Mallorca

Henry 1-0

Eto'o 2-0

Valero 2-1

Webo 2-2

Guiza 2-3


Barca humiliated at Nou Camp

Daniel Güiza stated that he dreams of playing for Barcelona and after netting a late, late winner he will be popular with the Catalan club's fans having given them a reason to start their demonstrations in earnest.

The home supporters wanted to demonstrate against president Joan Laporta, but when Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o put Barça two goals ahead the jeers had to turn to cheers.

Frank Rijkaard was applauded and it was harsh on the coach who brought such a entertaining football to the club to see his last game at home spoiled by the atmosphere and the final score.

Borja reduced the arrears midway through the second half and Pierre Webó levelled soon after, but few expected the visitors to snatch a dramatic winner to keep their UEFA Cup qualification hopes alive after Edmílson had been sent off for the hosts.

For the outgoing Barça coach, he deserved a far more dignified end to his spell at the the club where he was praised in the sports press for his professionalism and conduct throughout his stay.

Instead, the home supporters chose what should have been a send-off for the coach that won the the club only its second European Cup to jeer the players and call for the president to resign.

Whether the star names being whistled at deserved the treatment or not should not have mattered and the fans could have held their protests until close to the end.

But from the start, after Laporta had been jeered while taking his seat, Samuel Eto'o, Deco and Thierry Henry were heckled whenever they touched the ball.

Henry for not living up to expectations and the other pair for comments attributed to them about their desire to leave Camp Nou should the team not improve next term.

The visitors still had something to play for too with Gregorio Manzano's side still in with a shout of clinching sixth place and a UEFA Cup spot next term, but that was not considered to be a matter that should unduly worry the home team.

Barcelona do have a summer of change planned, starting with a new coach, but Henry has said that he wants to stay and he was able to win over the whistling doubters fro the stands with the opening goal in the 17th minute.

A jinking run towards the edge of the box by Lionel Messi ended with the Argentinian flicking the ball to left where Henry stroked it first time inside the near post from the edge of the area.

That lifted the Frenchman's spirits and he was impressive as he tracked back and worked very hard throughout at both end of the field.

Mallorca knew that they could not sit back and defend all evening, but it was not until moments before half-time that José Manuel Pinto was called upon to make two superb saves to keep Barça level.

Ten minutes after the break and the Blaugrana looked to have sewn up the victory. Messi caught a high ball superbly on the volley and when Miguel Ángel Moyá parried it out Eto'o was on hand to score from close range.

The Cameroonian striker showed his frustration at having been booed all evening by following the ball into the net and taking two more swings at it.

With jeers continuing to ring out, Barça's concentration finally lapsed and in the 66th minute Mallorca reduced the arrears when Borja saw his shot from outside the area deflect past Pinto and into the far corner of the net.

While the hosts recovered from that, the away team stunned them by grabbing an equaliser four minutes later when Webó hit the ball into the ground from 18 yards out and it looped up and over Pinto.

Edmílson ended his time at Barcelona in an unceremonious manner when receiving a red card for a hefty challenge having already been booked earlier in the encounter.

A point apiece looked set to be the outcome and just the two goal comeback gave the Barça fans the perfect reason for launching a demonstration, but they were given a real green light in second half injury time.

Eto'o had two good chances to push the points the other way, but in the 94th minute Güiza was given too much time and space to control the ball and slide it past the keeper and show Barça what they could be buying.