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Ronaldinho steals the show with hattrick
Barcelona, Oct 16: Ronaldinho scored three times as Barcelona beat Puchov 8-0 in the UEFA Cup.
Barcelona, Oct 16: Ronaldinho scored three times as Barcelona beat Puchov 8-0 in the UEFA Cup.
Brazilian forward Ronaldinho scored a brilliant hat-trick as Barcelona crushed Slovak side Puchov 8-0 in their UEFA Cup first round, second leg tie at the Nou Camp on Wednesday (October 15).
The Catalans were in unstoppable form against the unfancied Slovaks, who had shocked them with a 1-1 draw in the first leg, with Argentine striker Javier Saviola and midfielder Luis Enrique both scoring twice as they notched their first home win of the season.
Ronaldinho got Barca off to a perfect start when he reacted sharply to hook the ball over Puchov keeper Tomas Bernady and into the net on seven minutes after he had pounced on a rebound following a Saviola shot.
The Brazilian international, in the starting line-up after making an unexpectedly rapid recovery from a leg strain sustained last week, proceeded to run the show for the Catalans and it was no surprise when he struck again 13 minutes later.
Picking up another rebound, this time from a Thiago Motta shot, he drilled in at the near post with a spectacular half-volley from the edge of the area to put Barca 2-0 up.
Frank Rijkaard's side continued to monopolise as they stroked the ball around the midfield and then poured forward into attack, but despite a host of opportunities their third goal did not come until just before the break.
This time it was Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta who got on the scoresheet with a curling free kick from the edge of the area that left keeper Bernady rooted to the spot.
World Cup winner Ronaldinho, who joined Barca for around 30 million euros ($35.05 million) from PSG St Germain in the close season, completed his hat-trick with the best goal of the night.
Beginning his run 10 metres inside the Puchov half, the Brazilian threaded the ball through the legs of one defender, skipped past another, feinted to shoot and then sent a cheeky chip over the head of a bemused Bernady.
He still had time to supply Luis Enrique with a scoring pass for Barcelona's fifth before he went off midway through the second half. But the scoring continued in his absence, Saviola getting in on the act in the 73rd minute and Luis Enrique completing his double two minutes later when he bundled in from close range.
Saviola compounded Puchov's misery when he wrapped up with his side's eighth goal after a brilliant overhead pass from the impressive Gerard.
Bureau Report
Picking up another rebound, this time from a Thiago Motta shot, he drilled in at the near post with a spectacular half-volley from the edge of the area to put Barca 2-0 up.
Frank Rijkaard's side continued to monopolise as they stroked the ball around the midfield and then poured forward into attack, but despite a host of opportunities their third goal did not come until just before the break.
This time it was Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta who got on the scoresheet with a curling free kick from the edge of the area that left keeper Bernady rooted to the spot.
World Cup winner Ronaldinho, who joined Barca for around 30 million euros ($35.05 million) from PSG St Germain in the close season, completed his hat-trick with the best goal of the night.
Beginning his run 10 metres inside the Puchov half, the Brazilian threaded the ball through the legs of one defender, skipped past another, feinted to shoot and then sent a cheeky chip over the head of a bemused Bernady.
He still had time to supply Luis Enrique with a scoring pass for Barcelona's fifth before he went off midway through the second half. But the scoring continued in his absence, Saviola getting in on the act in the 73rd minute and Luis Enrique completing his double two minutes later when he bundled in from close range.
Saviola compounded Puchov's misery when he wrapped up with his side's eighth goal after a brilliant overhead pass from the impressive Gerard.
Bureau Report