Kuileta Madrid Bongo ni kituko

,Kweli tuko tayari kucheza na Real Madrid?
. Alifu hatujamaliza tunataka kuhitimu?
. Kuialika Real Madrid ni uvivu wa kufikiri…


Mimi ni mmoja ya Watanzania waliopatwa na furaha kusikia kuwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete akitamka kuwa kuna mipango ya kuialika timu ya Real Madrid ya Uhispania kuja kucheza nchini Tanzania.

Nafikiri tuliofurahi tuko wengi kwa sababu kadhaa lakini zikiwemo zile za kujua utukufu wa timu hiyo katika medani ya soka duniani, na jinsi timu hiyo ilivyo na wachezaji wenye majina makubwa.

Hiyo ni mbali ya uwezo wa kifedha na kibiashara iliyonayo timu hiyo, ambayo hakuna ubishi wowote ule ndio timu tajiri kuliko zote na hadi hivi sasa ikishikilia kuwa na rekodi ya kuwa ndio timu tajiri kuliko zote duniani.




Kutokana na utajiri wake, siku zote Real Madrid hutaka wachezaji walio bora ulimwenguni na ndio maana wakati mmoja ikathubutu kumnunua Zinadine Zidane kwa mabilioni ya shillingi za Tanzania na rekodi hiyo ikiwa bado haijavunjwa na timu yoyote ile duniani.

Kwa mpenzi wa soa nje ya Uhispania kwenda Bernabou, uwanja wa Real Madrid wakati wa mazoezi ni karibu ya pepo ya dunia na sikwambii kwenda wakati wa mechi itakuwa na raha ya kiasi gani.

Na iwe wachezaji wa sasa akina Ronaldo, Robinho, Beckham, Roberto Carlos na wengine hawapo hapo Real Madrid itapokuja Tanzania, lakini hao watakao kuwepo wakati huo basi watakuwa ni wa kiwango cha sawa na hao.

Ingawa kwa sasa timu ya Real Madrid inapita katika kipindi kigumu kimchezo. Pamoja na nyota lukuki ilionao, lakini inasaka mafanikio katika ligi ya ndani na sikwambii kwenye ligi ya Ulaya. Kocha baada ya kocha amefukuzwa, lakini wapi.

Kinyume na timu nyingi za Ulaya, Real Madrid haijaitambulisha sana na mpira wa Kiafrika kwa kuchukua wachezaji nguli wa Kiafrika. Ni timu ambayo bado haijaona uhodari wa wachezaji wa Afrika kama zilivyo timu nyingi za Ureno, Uingereza, Uholanzi na hata timu nyengine za Uhispania ambapo wachezaji kama Ben McCathy wa Afrika Kusini waliwahi kuchezea.

Taarifa ya Rais Kikwete ilikuja alipozungumza na waandishi wa habari na huku tukiwa tumetangulia kumuona akikabidhiwa jezi yenye jina lake wakati alipotembelea uwanja wa Real Madrid akiwa safarini kwenda zake Ulaya.

Lakini kusema kuwa nina furaha haina maana kuwa sina masuali ya kuuliza juu ya mualiko huo au tuseme ziara tarajiwa ya timu hiyo ya Real Madrid kuja ndani ya Bongo yetu, ikiwa mambo yatakwenda kama inavyotarajiwa.

Nianze na hili la mambo kwenda kama inavyotrajiwa. Ziara hiyo imenitia shaka kwa Kikwete kusema kuwa kuja kwa Real Madrid kutategemea na kupata ufadhili ili kuweza kukileta kikosi hicho. Nina shaka.

Shaka yangu ni kuwa sifikiri kuwa tuna uwezo wa udhamini wa kuileta timu kama Real Madrid, kwa sababu sijui kuwa Kikwete anajua kwamba dhana nzima ya udhamini nchini Tanzania bado ni changa mno na mfano mzuri anaweza kuuona katika hizi harakati za kuiunga mkono Taifa Stars.

Real Madrid ni timu ambayo dau lake ni kubwa kupita kiasi. Kila mchezaji ana kiwango chake kinachoitwa “appearance fee” au fedha za kuitokeza mbali ya gharama ya hoteli ya nyota tano na msafara mzima ukiafiri daraja la kwanza .

Sitaki wala siwezi kukisia lakini naona gharama itayokuja kuhitajika inaweza ikaonekana ni kufuru kwa Watanzania. Sisi tuna taarifa kuwa Kikwete aliziona nyingi mno fedha ambazo zingehitajika kumlipa kocha wa Kibrazil wa Taifa Stars, Marcio Maximo, na ndio maana ujio wake ukachelewa sana. Sasa fedha ya Real Madrid ndio itayokujwa kishindo.

La, pili inaonekana Kikwete ama haelewi vyema au hakupata ushauri mzuri alipotoa ombi kwa Real Madrid kuja kwao kuwe mwezi wa Februari wakati wa kutarajiwa uzinduzi wa uwanja mpya wa taifa. Nimesema hivyo kwa sababu mpenzi wa soka na mfuatliaji anatarajiwa kujua kuwa mapumziko ya soka Ulaya ni kilele cha baridi mwezi wa Disemba au baina ya Julai na mwisho wa Agosti.

Hili la kupumzika wakati wa Disemba ni baadhi tu ya nchi za Ulaya, lakini la ziara za timu za vilabu vya Ulaya kufanywa wakati baada ya kumalizika msimu na kabla ya kuanza mwengine, ndio linalotumika kualika timu. Ziara nyingi ni wakati huo.

Hiyo haina maana kuwa ni sawa kwa timu za taifa, la. Tofauti na vilabu basi timu za taifa zinafuata ratiba inayotolewa na Shirikisho la Mpira Miguu Duniani FIFA, ambapo humo ndimo mataifa hutafuta mechi za kucheza na mataifa mengine.

Kwa maneno mengine ingekuwa kutafuta timu kusadifu na ufunguzi wa uwanja, basi Kikwete angetakiwa atafute timu ya taifa kuweza kuja wakati ligi za nchi zinaendelea, lakini kufanywe utafiti ni tarehe zipi ratiba ya FIFA inaruhusu ndani ya hiyo Februari yenyewe, lakini yawezekana haitakuwa Februari 5.

La tatu, kama Kikwete angekuwa ameshauriwa katika hili, pengine nchi isingegharimika au kuhangaika kutafuta wadhamini kuileta Real Madrid iwapo timu hiyo ingealikwa kupiga kambi yake ya mazoezi nchini Tanzania hapo mwakani na sio kuja tu na kucheza mechi.

Mimi naamini kama Real Madrid kuja Tanzania kutawawezesha pia kucheza mechi moja Afrika Kusini, hiyo itakuwa ndio njia njema ya kuwashawishi kucheza nchini kwetu. Na kusema kweli kwa wenzetu wa Afrika Kusini zipo klabu zenye uwezo wa kucheza na Real Madrid kama ilivyotokezea karibuni wakati wa ziara ya Manchester United.


La nne, kwangu mie ni kwa nini iwe ni Real Madrid? Suala hili limenitaabisha sana. Maana sijui kigezo cha kuichagua timu ya Real Madrid ni kipi, au kwa kuwa fursa tu ya kupita Uhispania ilitokezea?
Kuileta Real Madrid Tanzania maana yake ni kuwa icheze na timu ya taifa ya Tanzania peke yake na tusibaki tukidanganya kuwa timu nyengine yoyote inawez ikacheza nayo seuze kuwa wao wenyewe wanaweza kuwa wana nafasi ya kucheza zaidi ya mechi moja wakiwepo nchini.

Suala linakuja jee tutafaidika kiasi gani na ziara ya mechi moja ya Klabu, hata Klabu hiyo iwe ni kubwa kabisa duniani? Fedha ambayo itatafutwa kuidhamini Real Madrid, kama hoja ni kuleta vilabu, kwanini zisiweze kutumika kuleta vilabu vyengine vitatu au vinne kuja kucheza Tanzania, ambavyo vilabu kama hivyo hadhi zao hazitazuia kucheza na vilabu vyetu kama Simba na Yanga?

Real Madrid karibuni ilialikwa Saudi Arabia, matokeo yake? Matokeo yake ni kuwa Saudi Arabia ilifungwa magoli 8-0 na wachezaji wa timu hiyo walisema dakika 90 ilikuwa ni kama kutwa nzima.

La tano, ambalo linafuatia hoja hiyo hapo juu, ni kuwa Tanzania bado inaweza kufaidika kuzialika timu kubwa za Taifa za Afrika ambazo ziko sana mbele yetu na ambazo tungezialika ingekuwa vyema zaidi kuliko kwenda kufuata jina kwa Real Madrid.

Timu kama zilizoingia Kombe la Dunia mwaka huu za Ghana, Angola, Tunisia, Togo na Ivory Coast na timu kama za Cameroon, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Afrika Kusini hapana shaka zinaweza kutupa changamoto ya kimchezo na uwezo wa wachezaji wetu kuonekana na sio kwa kucheza na “bwamtimu” kama Real Madrid.

Tunapozialika timu ambazo ziko mbele kisoka kuliko sisi ina maana kiwango chetu katika orodha ya FIFA kinapanda. Kwa mfano Tanzania ilikuwa nafasi ya 165 mwezi wa Julai, lakini mechi zake mbili tu dhidi ya Rwanda iliposhinda bao 1-0 na 2-1 dhidi ya Burkina Faso iliinyanyua Tanzania hadi nafasi ya 105.

Na sare ya juzi na Kenya bila ya shaka Tanzania itakuwa ndani ya nafasi 100 za orodha ya FIFA na kuiweka nchi katika nafasi ya kuonekana na kuheshimika na hivyo kupata mialiko kucheza na timu za taifa nyengine duniani.

Kwa maana hiyo hizi ndizo timu muhimu za kucheza nazo, na sio klabu ya Real Madrid kwa ajili ya kufuata umaarufu, hadhi na utajiri wake. Imekuwa kama vile mtu anataka kuhitimu wakati ndio kwanza amemaliza alifu na hilo kusema kweli ni gumu mno kutokea ingawa tunasikia kuna baadhi ya watu ambao uwezo wao wa kiakili unakuwa mkubwa kupita umri wao.

Klabu kucheza na timu ya taifa si vyema na ndio maana nadra mno kusikia Real Madrid kucheza na timu ya taifa ya Uholanzi, au Liverpool kucheza na timu ya taifa ya Uhispania, mambo hayo huyafanya wakubwa wakia huku kwetu.

Jengine, ni kuwa kuialika timu kama Real Madrid ni lazima tuwe na uhakika na suala zima la muundo mbinu. Kuja kwa timu kama Real Madrid kutakuwa na na maana kuja kwa kundi kubwa la waandishi wa habari, wafuasi sugu wa timu hiyo lakini pia watu kutoka nchi za jirani

Na wengi wa hao watakaotoka Ulaya watakuwa ni watu wenye uwezo wao wa kifedha na tabaan makaazi yao yatakuwa ni hoteli za nyota tano na nne. Je tunazo za kutosha na katika mazingira mazuri?

Linaloambatana na hilo ni uwanja wenyewe yaani ile sehemu inayochezewa mpira. Real Madrid hawachezi tu katika kila kiwanja.Wanacheza katika viwanja vyenye hadhi yao, hawajui kukosa wala kasoro ya kiwango walichokizoea.

Kwa maana nyengine suala la kuwa kualikwa Real Madrid kunatokana na kuzindua uwanja huo mpya, kwa maana ya sehemu ya kukalia, ni jambo la wazi kuwa hatua zinapaswa kuchukuliwa ili kuhakikisha kiwanja cha kuchezea kinakuwa na aina ya majani yanayostawi Afrika lakini pia yanayoweza kukubalika na timu kama Real Madrid, ili wachezaji wa watu wasije wakachunika kana wanavyochunika wetu kila siku.

La mwisho ni kuwa dili ya Real Madrid kama itaweza kufanikishwa basi ni njia nzuri ya kuiweka Tanzania katika nafasi nzuri ya kufaidika wakati wa michuano ijayo ya Kombe la Dunia itayofanyika nchini Afrika Kusini hapo mwaka 2010.

Maana kama timu ya Real Madrid imekuja na kucheza hapa kwetu kutakuwa na sababu gani timu za kimataifa nazo zisiweze kuutumia uwanja huo?

Basi tusubiri tuone, nimeiona makala hii katika www.tanzaniasports.com
 
hakuna usahihi katika hili, naamini mheshimiwa rais ameamua kuwaleta real madrid kutokana na mapenzi yake binafsi katika timu hiyo. kwanza alipaswa kuangalia hali nzima ya kiuchumi katika nchi yetu inayokabiliwa hasa kipindi hiki ambacho tumetoka katika janga kubwa la umeme lakini ametumia tunaita "political model decision making"kwa manufaa ya watu wachache akiacha wanafunzi wakiendelea kuumia toka shule ya msingi nikimaanisha matatizo ya upungufu wa waalimu adi chuo kikuu na 40% yao.Mheshimiwa kama anataka kulinda heshima yake ya kuchaguliwa kwa kishindo basi anapaswa kumulika kwa kina matatizo yanayoikabili jamii ya kitanzania na sio matakwa ya wenye nchi wachache.Eryk Msyangi
 
Naangalia hii mechi ndiyo inaanza sasa hivi, I hope it'll be entertaining.
 
Dakika ya 35 Real Madrid 1 Barc 0. Goal scorer Battista.
 
match imeisha barca kalala kwa hako kamoooja tuu na wako nyuma kwa madrid kwa point 7 now
 
aah mechi imeniuma hii leo. Madrid ndio haooo wanayoyoma. Pointi 7 nyingi kwa timu kama Real Madrid.
 
550x.jpg

Real Madrid football club players celebrate their 31st league title win in Madrid on May 4, 2008. Thousands of Real Madrid fans converged on the famous Cibeles fountain in the Spanish capital on May 4 to celebrate after a 2-1 win over Osasuna.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008
MADRID: Real Madrid were crowned Spanish champions for the 31st time on Sunday after defeating Osasuna 2-1 after scoring twice in a sensational final three minutes.

Real were heading for defeat after Francisco Punal scored an 83rd minute penalty against ten men Real, who had Fabio Cannavaro sent off, but the champions responded with Arjen Robben and Gonzalo Higuain scoring in the dying minutes. Real retain the championship with three games left to play and can go into Wednesday’s home match with arch rivals Barcelona in relaxed mood. After watching Barcelona win successive titles Real have now followed suit and captain Raul Gonzalez is likely to lift the championship trophy on Wednesday.

It is a first league title for Real coach Bernd Schuster in his maiden season after taking over from the sacked Fabio Capello in the summer. Barcelona put their Champions League disappointment behind them crushing Valencia 6-0 on Sunday as they warmed up for Wednesday’s ‘El Clasico’ against Real.

Barcelona stayed within four points of second-placed Villarreal, who won 2-0 against Getafe, with a fine display. Barca scored three times against Valencia in the opening quarter hour. Lionel Messi won and then converted a penalty on five minutes before Xavi (8) and Thierry Henry (14) struck to wrap up the game early on.

Henry added a second and Bojan Krkic grabbed a brace as Valencia fell apart. The only downside for Barca is that Samuel Eto’o and Deco will miss the Real match through suspension after collecting cautions.

Valencia are only two points from safety and have a six-pointer against rivals Real Zaragoza, one point below, on Wednesday. Earlier a brace from Turkish international Nihat helped Villarreal sink Getafe and they are now in the driving seat to finish second.

Elsewhere, Sevilla closed to within three points of the final Champions League spot with a crucial 2-0 home win over Valladolid. Atletico Madrid’s win over Recreativo on Saturday put pressure on Sevilla and they responded with a first half brace from Brazilian striker Renato sealing the points.

Brazilian striker Fabiano has led the goalscoring charts for most of the season but Real Mallorca’s Spanish international Daniel Guiza moved one ahead in the race for the Pichichi scoring a brace against Athletic Bilbao to take his tally to 24.

Racing are also in the Champions League frame after coming from two goals down to defeat Real Murcia 3-2 on Sunday and move two points behind Atletico in fourth. Murcia’s defeat means they join Levante in being relegated from the top-flight.

Results: Sevilla 2 (Renato 10, 40) Valladolid 0; Almeria 1 (Pulido 47) Real Betis 1 (Odonkor 43); Villarreal 2 (Nihat 36, 43) Getafe 0; Levante 1 (Juanma 77) Espanyol 1 (Luis Garcia 90-pen); Athletic Bilbao 1 (Llorente 7) Real Mallorca 2 (Guiza 2, 70); Racing Santander 3 (De Coz 35-og, Lopez 46, Munitis 57) Real Murcia 2 (Aquino 12, Alonso 27); Barcelona 6 (Messi 5-pen, Xavi 8, Henry 14, 58, Bojan 72, 79) Valencia 0; Osasuna 1 (Punal 83-pen) Real Madrid 2 (Robben 87, Higuain 89).
 
Zikiwa zimebaki siku chache kabla ya kuchuana na watani wao wa jadi, Madrid wameamua kumtolea uvivu kocha wao.................................

Schuster has been replaced by Ramos with immediate effect
Real Madrid have sacked Bernd Schuster as coach and replaced the German with former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos until the end of the season.

The 54-year-old's first game in charge will be Wednesday's Champions League match at home to Zenit St Petersburg.

Real are fifth in the Primera Liga, nine points behind Barcelona, who they face in El Clasico on Saturday.

The Madrid board had given Schuster, 48, several votes of confidence before Sunday's 4-3 home defeat by Sevilla.

Schuster, whose side was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by little-known Real Union, conceded after the match that his side was incapable of winning at Barcelona.

I hope I don't let anyone down and that I achieve the successes that this club has set for this season

Juande Ramos
"We spoke to Schuster this morning about all the difficulties over the past few months," said Real director of sport Pedja Mijatovic.

"We came to the mutual agreement to take this decision. He took the decision well.

"I have to take the opportunity to thank Bernd Schuster for the work he did at Real Madrid. He did an excellent job last season to win the title and the Spanish Supercopa."

Ramos, who has signed a six-month contract, was sacked as manager of Tottenham in October following Tottenham's worst start to a season.

But he made his reputation in Spain by leading Sevilla to back-to-back Uefa Cup wins in 2006 and 2007


bbc.co.uk/sports
 
huyo ramos labda ndo tuambiwe na kuthibitishiwa kuwa alishindwa mpira wa kiingereza arudi huko spain!de funny thing is akiwa na sevilla alifika mbali kinyama hadi kuwa bingwa if nt kufika fainali za uefa cup mara kibwena!

kuja uingereza duh kachemsha hamna kitu kabsaaa!

lets wait n see de outcome ya hii move ila kwa mwaka huu nyota ishaanza onekana mapemaa akuwa barcelona watamaliza biashara mapema mnooo bila upinzani!by april mwanzoni watu wanaweza wakawa washamaliza msimu!
 
Managers are hired to be fired.
Katika kazi ambazo hupaswi kununua chupa ya shampeni na kufurahi kwamba kupata kazi ni umeneja/ukocha wa soka.
 
Managers are hired to be fired.
Katika kazi ambazo hupaswi kununua chupa ya shampeni na kufurahi kwamba kupata kazi ni umeneja/ukocha wa soka.

And as far as Real Madrid they are concerned..ukocha ktk club yao ni kama 'changudoa' u can use her vyovyote vile utakavyo na kum-fire anytime you wish!

They are like 'fish' after a while they start smelling(shombo)...
 
Tatizo sio kocha hao jamaa wana matatizo hata aje nani atatimuliwa
 
Huu mchezo wa soka ni very complicated! One minute kocha anastruggle na timu yake inaburuza mkia kwenye premier league hadi wanaamua kumpiga chini, next minute unasikia kalamba ajira kwenye one of the top clubs in the world!
 
Tatizo Spurs kuna kajikundi cha English players ambao walikuwa wanamuangusha, hivi vijichezaji kama havijapata English manager wa kuwafunza long balls na kukimbia kwa kasi (akina Lennon) huwa hawajitumi kabisaa!
Angalia wanavyojituma hivi sasa tokea awasili Redknapp, tatizo jengine lililochangia ni Lugha, Ramos alishindwa kabisa kuongea English.
Nategemea atafanya vizuri Madrid maana ni Kocha mzuri.
 
Hawa jamaa (Madrid) hawana treatment nzuri kwa makocha so hata RAMOS akifanya vizuri still hatakuwa na uhakika wa kibarua
Vicent Del Bosque aliwapa ubingwa wa Champions na Laliga akatimuliwa,wakabadilisha makocha kama 5 hawakupata kombe hata la mbuzi akaja CAPELO akawaletea kombe wakasema timu haichezi vizuri akaja huyo Schuster nae kachinjwa so hata Ramos sijui kama atamaliza misimu 2
BTW:Ramos CV yake ni nzuri i hope atafanya vizuri
 
Hawa jamaa (Madrid) hawana treatment nzuri kwa makocha so hata RAMOS akifanya vizuri still hatakuwa na uhakika wa kibarua
Vicent Del Bosque aliwapa ubingwa wa Champions na Laliga akatimuliwa,wakabadilisha makocha kama 5 hawakupata kombe hata la mbuzi akaja CAPELO akawaletea kombe wakasema timu haichezi vizuri akaja huyo Schuster nae kachinjwa so hata Ramos sijui kama atamaliza misimu 2
BTW:Ramos CV yake ni nzuri i hope atafanya vizuri
 
Inabidi waanze kujipanga upya sasa isitoshe wale wachezaji wao wote waliokuwa wanavuma karibia miaka 10 iliyopita wanazeeka/wamehama kwenda kumalizia career zao kwingine.

Real Madrid's move to sack coach Bernd Schuster and bring in Juande Ramos sparked harsh criticism on Tuesday from Spanish media, which also raised doubts about the former Tottenham Hotspur manager's credentials.

While some praised what they called Ramos's profound knowledge of the game and his modesty and patience, others said his disastrous stint in London was a bad omen.

Marca slammed Real president Ramon Calderon and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic, calling the club a "comedy" and "shameless".

"The Kafkaesque sacking of Schuster is nothing more than another blunder which joins a long list committed by the club managers, unable to come up with an action plan that is either cheap or effective or even halfway serious," it said.

"The president talks a lot and acts little, the sporting director cries a lot and signs few players, the players earn a lot but don't play much and the medical staff treat many but cure few."

El Mundo
noted that Ramos lost the support of the English players at Tottenham because of his patchy command of the language, a handicap that may colour his relationship with Real's large Dutch contingent.

"As soon as he left, the team mysteriously started working," said the newspaper. "Juande now has his bum on the Real bench and only the gods know whether his resounding failure at Tottenham or his virtuous circle at Sevilla will be repeated."

Spurs suffered their worst start to a league season under Ramos, who arrived in London after winning five trophies in two years at Sevilla, including the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007.

Sport was scathing about Ramos' abilities and said he owed the success he enjoyed at Sevilla mostly to his technical staff.

It said he was inheriting a team that was "unbalanced, had a full sick ward and contained various players in the twilight of their careers including Raul, Guti and Fabio Cannavaro".

"Taking over a team in mid-season and signing for only six months is not something a top coach would do," the paper said.

"But Juande has recognised that it's the only way he can get on to the Real bench, opportunistically diving into the pool without knowing whether the water is hot or cold."

However, Gus Poyet, Ramos's assistant at Spurs and a former Real Zaragoza player, was upbeat about the Spaniard's prospects and said he would focus on plugging the holes in defence.

"Real Madrid will never have a problem attacking," he wrote in El Mundo. "Juande knows very well how to identify issues that need resolving, always putting the team before individuals."

The As newspaper also had warm praise for Ramos.

"We have here a coach who is modest, speaks with a quiet voice and avoids egotism and the cameras," wrote columnist Enrico Ortega. "He feels proud to have triumphed as a coach without ever having been an elite player."
 
Hawa jamaa (Madrid) hawana treatment nzuri kwa makocha so hata RAMOS akifanya vizuri still hatakuwa na uhakika wa kibarua
Vicent Del Bosque aliwapa ubingwa wa Champions na Laliga akatimuliwa,wakabadilisha makocha kama 5 hawakupata kombe hata la mbuzi akaja CAPELO akawaletea kombe wakasema timu haichezi vizuri akaja huyo Schuster nae kachinjwa so hata Ramos sijui kama atamaliza misimu 2
BTW:Ramos CV yake ni nzuri i hope atafanya vizuri

Nafikiri kutimuliwa kwa Del Bosque proves the Galactinos hawana uungwana kabisa..i think still the nightmare of him is haunting them na this season siwaoni wakifurukuta kwenye CL na La Liga.
 
Barcelona 2-0 Real Madrid
BBC Sports News

_45296046_messi.jpg

Messi was closely marked by Real​

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga and moved 12 points clear of Real Madrid thanks to late Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi goals.

Real, playing their first league game under Juande Ramos, looked as if they were going to frustrate Barca thanks to some fine Iker Casillas saves.

However, with ten minutes remaining Carles Puyol headed towards Eto'o and the striker's tap-in crept over.

In injury time, Thierry Henry sent Messi clear and his chip beat Casillas.

Before he was ousted earlier this week, Ramos' predecessor, Bernd Schuster, had predicted the defending La Liga champions would find it "impossible" to beat Barcelona.

However, victory did not come easily for the Catalans, who are now unbeaten in 14 league games.
Casillas has still got it. I thought for a while there he was losing it but what a performance

As much as the home side beguiled with their customary slick passing, they found it difficult to break down a Real side whose goalkeeper was in inspired form.

Messi was instrumental in Barcelona's early dominance, with the diminutive Argentine cutting inside Guti, forcing Casillas into a fine reflex save low to his right.

Fabio Cannavaro then had to produce a perfect sliding tackle to prevent Messi from unleashing a shot after he and Eto'o had exchanged a delightful one-two on the edge of the box.

Real kept close attention on the 21-year-old Messi, both legally and illegally, and consequently his influence lessened as the half went on.

Sergio Ramos and Royston Drenthe were both yellow carded for felling Messi, but for all their cynical tactics on the Barca number 10, Real were far from outplayed by the La Liga leaders.

Real caught Barca unawares on the counterattack on a number of occasions and had the best chance to break the deadlock when Drenthe was sent clear on goal only to shoot straight at the onrushing Victor Valdes.

After the break, Eto'o went close with a rasping volley from the edge of the box before the game burst into life when Michel Salgado conceded a penalty for a foul on substitute Sergio Busquets.

However, Barca were once again unable to get the better of Casillas as the Spanish international keeper dived to his left to tip away Eto'o's spot-kick.

_45296062_eto'o.jpg

Samuel Eto'o missed a number of chances against his former club​


Two minutes later and Spain's number one was forced into a double save, firstly stopping a vicious 20-yard shot from Eto'o and then impressively preventing Messi from following up from 10 yards out.

Just as Real seemed to have succeeded in frustrating Barca, Eto'o made up for his profligacy with an easy tap-in and, waving his shirt above his head, the Cameroon international ran away towards the Barca dugout to celebrate scoring against his former club.

To cap the celebrations, Messi, who had been a peripheral figure in the second half, beat Casillas with the coolest of finishes, leaving Real's title hopes hanging by the finest of threads.
 
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