:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35815852/493949795.0.jpg)
In the match celebrating the 125th anniversary of Recreativo de Huelva, Barcelona spoiled the celebrations with a 1-0 win to earn their first trophy of the (pre)season, the Trofeo Colombino. The only goal of the game was scored midway through the second half when Joan Roman slotted home a rebound.
For the average Barcelona fan there were many new faces in the starting XI of Luis Enrique's first game as Barça manager as only Martin Montoya, Sergi Roberto and Adama Traore made official appearances for the first team in the past. Of the remaining eight player only one wasn't in the Barcelona system last season, new Barcelona B arrival Alen Halilović.
In true friendly fashion the game started off slow with neither team threatening in the early going. In fact, the first shot of the game didn't come until the 18th minute when Dani Nieto missed the target from a free-kick. Barcelona were in control since the opening kickoff, but the youngsters, and there really isn't a better way of saying that as goalkeeper Jordi Masip was the oldest at 25-years old, weren't able to consistently press toward the Recreativo goal.
The hosts on the other hand didn't mind staying back in numbers, but didn't really start committing players forward until after the 20th minute. But similarly to Barça they too were unable to break through the organized defense.
The next shot didn't come until the 30th minute when after a long play that included some lovely dribbling from Adama and Alex Grimaldo, and ended with Montoya attempting a curling left-footed shot that whistled wide of the far post. The fans at the Nuevo Colombino didn't need to wait very long for the next try as just three minutes later, after a corner kick, Halilović fired a volley on goal from 20-yards out, but the shot was right at the Recreativo goalkeeper.
The remainder of the half didn't offer much excitement. Barcelona controlled the ball in Recreativo's half for the most part, but the hosts' organized defense offered little room and the youngsters were unable to score the first goal of the 2014-2015 preseason before the halftime whistle. All in all the youngsters played a good half, dominating the hosts at times, and the only thing that was missing was a goal or two.
The second half started with Barcelona completely changing their starting lineup. Marc-Andre ter Stegen made his Barcelona debut, as did Barça B signings Juan Camara and Diawandou Diagne. The lineup featured also a few more-known names as Marc Bartra, Gerard Deulofeu and Ibrahim Afellay were also subbed on.
From the halftime kickoff it was noticeable that there was more intensity in this eleven compared to the one that played in the first half and quickly chances followed. Deulofeu was always very active on the right side while Afellay also tried to work some of his magic and fired a good shot on goal in the 51st minute that was saved.
Recreativo also picked up their game in the second half, showing more life and even spending some time in Barcelona's half. In the 64th minute, after some poor defending, the hosts even fired off a shot, but it whistled harmlessly over the crossbar.
Three minutes later though Barcelona finally found the back of the net. The play started with a give and go between Afellay and Deulofeu with the latter proceeding to skip past a defender and firing a shot on goal from 20-yards out. The Recreativo goalkeeper did well to keep it out, but the rebound fell straight to Roman who buried it under the keeper to open the scoring.
In the 75th minute Barça came close to doubling the lead when Roman, Afellay and Jean Marie Dongou combined brilliantly to create a chance, but the Recreativo goalkeeper stopped the chance. A few minutes later ter Stegen was called upon to make his first save in a Barcelona shirt and he made it look easy.
Barcelona's next chance didn't come until the 90th minute when Deulofeu made a good run into the box from the right side, powering a shot on goal from a relatively bad angle only to be denied by the crossbar. Quickly thereafter the referee whistled for full time and Lucho's Barcelona won their first trophy. It is the first time Barcelona have won the Trofeo Colombino, after finishing second in 1981 and third in 1986.
Roll Call:
| Roll Call Info | |
|---|---|
| Total comments | 527 |
| Total commenters | 29 |
| Commenter list | Anders Thomassen, Anirudh_Kul, Arron Duckling, Ayush Tiwari, BartraFTW, Bostjan Cernensek, ElIlusionista, FCB4Ever, First_Cule, Lapulga, NoImagination90, Ragnar_Lothbrok, Ruy Diaz, Scratch and Snif, Sebanovic, ThebeautifulGame, Uncharted_Almo, barcenal, craig00000, defeaning_silence, dlapa, footballfordoze, grinder.gpro, hobo_barca, iAmJustin, robyn_bird96, segunaina, syredeathtrooper, tilak |
| # | Commenter | # Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | craig00000 | 103 |
| 2 | NoImagination90 | 58 |
| 3 | Anders Thomassen | 53 |
| 4 | Ruy Diaz | 50 |
| 5 | Bostjan Cernensek | 41 |
| 6 | ElIlusionista | 41 |
| 7 | Uncharted_Almo | 32 |
| 8 | BartraFTW | 21 |
| 9 | FCB4Ever | 20 |
| 10 | Lapulga | 17 |
