Game Recap: FC Cartagena 0-4 FC Barcelona B

Major football leagues in Europe are on international break right now, but the lower leagues march on. In Spain, Liga Adelante resumed with their second round of matches.

Barcelona B got their season off on the wrong foot when they crashed to a 2-0 defeat at home to Villarreal B and they hoped to get back on track as they travel to Murcia to take on FC Cartagena. FC Cartagena like Barcelona B, was also coming off a 2-0 loss, sustained in the opening round.

The Line-ups were as follows:

Fútbol Club Cartagena: Reina; Manolo Gaspar, Josemi, Goni, Txiki; Mariano Sánchez, Dimas, Toni Moral, Lafuente; Álvaro Antón y Salva Chamorro.

Barcelona B: Miño; Balliu, Armando, Sergio Gómez, Espinosa; Jonathan Dos Santos, Riverola, Rafinha, Grimaldo; Kike Femenía y Rodri

Manager Eusebio Sacristan stuck with the 4-3-3 formation he used in the loss against Villarreal B, albeit with some new faces. 15 year old Alejandro Grimaldo made his official debut for Barca B. Balliu, Espinosa, Dos Santos, were among the Barcelona B regulars who played their first Barcelona B game of the season. Montoya , Sergi Roberto, Tello, Planas, and Bartra, were all unavailable due to international duty, whether it be for Spain or the Spanish U-21 team.

It was FC Cartagena who started the brighter of the two sides, as Barca B struggled to get into the opposing half and were pinned back. Salva Chamorro immediately tested Ruben Mino in goal but Mino was able to control the effort. Almost immediately against the run of play, Cartagena were made to pay. A slick counter attack started by Espinosa ended up with Rodri crossing for Kiko who finished easily past Reina, 1-0 to Barca B.

The first goal seemed to have a positive effect on Barca B as they started to move forward into Cartagena's territory in search of more goals. A flowing move started by Sergi Gomez should have made it two, but Rodri missed just outside the six-yard box. Espinosa provided Riverola with another great chance minutes later, but Riverola couldn't put it away. It seemed a second goal was almost inevitable and in the 33rd minute, a corner & horrible defending, allowed Rafinha a free header which flew into the net, 2-0 for Barcelona. The remainder of the half resulted in no further goals from either side and Barcelona took a 2-0 lead with then on halftime.

As the second half began, Cartagena pushed for a goal to get back in the game but where let down by their lack of incisiveness. Cartagena grew frustrated and the challenges started flying in hard and fast. Inevitably, a studs-up challenge on Grimaldo ended with Josemi being given his marching orders by the referee. Thankfully, Grimaldo was fine and four minutes later, he made Cartagena pay. Grimaldo skinned two Cartagena players down the left flank and fed Cuenca just outside the box. Cuenca then fed an onrushing Rafinha who turned quite brilliantly and found himself one-on-one with the keeper. Rafinha made no mistake and it was 3-0 to Barca B and two for Rafinha.

Two minutes later, it was Manolo who was sent off for another incident, and just for fun, Barca B added a fourth to rub it in. A thru ball sent substitute Gerard Deulofeu off to the races down the left and he fired a steep angle shot that was saved by the keeper. Reina gave a rebound in blocking Deulofeu and it landed to Cuenca who made it four. The game ended 4-0 to Barca B who clinched their first win of the season in emphatic style.

Barcelona B will look to keep it going next Sunday as they entertain recently-relegated Deportivo La Coruna at the Mini Estadi.