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Barcelona 0 - Liverpool 0 Barcelona: Reina;
Gabri, Puyol, Frank De Boer, Sergi; Guardiola, Cocu; Luis Enrique (Xavi 72'),
Rivaldo, Overmars (Zenden 72'); Kluivert. 4-2-3-1. Goals: None. A surprisingly boring match at the Nou Camp, with both teams apparently frightened of each other incapable of making any indent on the opposing defence. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier said before the match that this one could end five all, and a capacity crowd turned up expecting another magic night in Barcelona, with tickets on the black market changing hands at prices up to 75,000 Pesetas. However Houllier was also aware that playing open football against Barcelona can be suicide, and he set out his stall accordingly, with Heskey playing an at times defensive midfield role and Owen alone up front. Puyol came in to the Barcelona side in an unfamiliar central defensive role, with Abelardo out for the rest of the season and Reiziger failing a late fitness test. Both teams seem to have decided to leave everything for the second leg in Anfield, with Barcelona expecting to see a more adventurous Liverpool leaving some gaps for them to get at least the score draw they need, and Liverpool confident that they can use their home advantage to win the tie. The game was almost entirely devoid of scoring chances, with the one and only shot on target in the whole match coming from substitute Xavi five minutes from the end, which Westerveld saved without too much trouble. The home fans started to get impatient, and were obviously in disagreement with Serra Ferrer's conservative substitutions, when a more adventurous manager would have probably risked Iván De la Peña, now back in the squad after a long injury, or at least one of the other forwards, Alfonso or Dani. But it was not to be, and Barcelona now have an uphill battle in a fortnight's time to have any chance to win the only major prize missing from their trophy cabinet. |
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