Primera División

 

13

Total Shots

6

Shots on Target

2

75%

Possession

25%

• 73'

  Pedro cuts inside from the left wing and slides a pass to the feet of Iniesta. The midfield maestro then attempts the return the ball with an incisive pass through the middle of the Cordoba defence, but Pinillos makes the important block. What an incredible move that would have been if it came off!
• 
  72'

  SubstitutionLusoFausto Rossi
• 71'

  Another change from Miroslav Djukic here. Cordoba captain, Luso, is coming off and he'll be replace by Fausto Rossi. The visitors are running out of time to claw a goal back and give themselves a chance.
• 69'

  We've got a small break in play at the moment as Cartabia is down receiving treatment from the physios. The Argentine has got into some decent areas today, and although his decision making hasn't always been great, he has looked a threat at times.
• 67'

  We get our first booking of the match now and it is just about the most obvious yellow card you will see. Cartabia leads a Cordoba counterattack through the middle but ends up being cynically tripped up by Busquets. The Barca man takes one for the team.
• 66'

  Yellow Card Busquets
• 
  65'

  SubstitutionIvan RakiticXavi
• 65'

  First change of the match from Luis Enrique and Barcelona. Club captain, Xavi, comes on to replace Rakitic in the middle of midfield. The Croatian started the match well with his excellent assist for Pedro and was unlucky with that strike off the post, but still hasn't been at his marauding best in central areas.
• 63'

  Cordoba get the free kick opportunity deep inside the Barca half. Cartabia steps up and whips the set-piece at goal but it cannons off the top of the wall. The ball is still recycled into the danger area but Pique eventually takes control and clears behind for a corner kick.
• 61'

  Mascherano is very lucky to escape a booking here as he goes into a tackle in a scissoring motion on Ghilas. On another day that could even be a red card, but somehow the Argentine escaped even receiving a yellow. A completely needless challenge, but he gets away with it.
• 60'

  SubstitutionÍñigo LópezDaniel Pinillos
• 59'

  We've got our first change of the match and it comes from Cordoba. Inigo Lopez, who failed to spot the run of Pedro for the opening goal, comes off and will be replaced by Daniel Pinillos.
• 57'

  That goal from Suarez has certainly eased a few nerves out there. Cordoba haven't looked particularly dangerous, but with just a one-goal lead there is always the possibility of a shock equaliser. Now that they are two goals up we will probably see them gain more confidence to probe for more goals.
• 55'

  RAKITIC!!! HOW UNLUCKY IS THAT?! Barcelona's summer signing searches for a pass 25 yards out but instead opts to have a crack at goal. It is a wonderful strike and looks poised to nestle in the top corner, but just drifts away at the last minute and cannons off the edge of the post!
• 53'

  Assist Pedro
• 53'

  Goal Luis Suárez
  GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLL FOR BARCELONA! LOS CULES FINALLY DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! Iniesta fizzes a pass into the feet of Pedro, who drives into the box before cutting back to Suarez. The former Liverpool man scores his first La Liga goal with a clever finish under the oncoming Carlos! Two-nil!
• 51'

  Luso collects the ball to find inside the centre circle and finds himself under massive pressure from Rakitic. The Cordoba man eventually does well to shake off the attentions of the Croatian before sliding a pass down the left for Crespo.
• 49'

  It has been a rather reserved atmosphere so far at Camp Nou as the home fans struggle to find much to get excited about. Their side are looking incredibly comfortable, but there is not as much goalmouth action as we thought we would have after that electric start.
• 47'

  Messi goes on a signature run through the middle and manages to ride a couple of scything challenges that should have resulted in fouls. The Argentine makes his way towards goal and gets a powerful shot away, but the attempt is blocked! Our first real glimpse of Messi there!
• 46'

  We are back under way at Camp Nou!
• Half time in Camp Nou. Well it all looked pretty ominous for Cordoba at the start of the match as Barcelona scored just two minutes in thanks to a great finish from Pedro. The hosts have had plenty of possession, but they don't seem too eager to exert too much energy out there, and are very much playing in third gear. Hopefully we see a bit of an increased tempo from both sides in the second period.
• 44'

  Saaaave by Carlos! A cross comes in from the left wing and Pique gets in between the central defenders to hit a bouncing header towards the goal. The retreating Cordoba keeper somehow adjusts his body to tip the attempt over the bar! Barca come close to doubling their lead!
• 42'

  Plenty of short stabbing passes on the edge of the box from Barcelona but they aren't particularly penetrating, which is allowing Cordoba to keep it tight as a defensive unit. You get the feeling that Los Cules' biggest threat in this match may be Alba down the left, as the full-back is being awarded plenty of room to manoeuvre.
• 40'

  Messi receives the ball to feet in the No.10 position and turns sharply before attempting an eye-of-the-needle pass in between the Cordoba defenders for the onrushing Alba, but Campabadal ends up reading it well and makes the interception.
• 38'

  That is really poor from Cartabia. Cordoba have Barcelona on the ropes with a pacey counterattack, with Ghilas leading the charge. The striker ends up sliding a neat ball down the channel for his team-mate, who instead of returning the pass, attempts to catch out Bravo with a strike towards the near post. It ends up being slammed into the side-netting. A real waste.
• 36'

  Pedrooooo! Unlucky! The 27-year-old displays some fantastic trickery on the edge of the box to find a pocket of space before lashing a strike towards the bottom right corner. Carlos is rooted to the spot but the attempt just goes a yard wide!
• 34'

  Iniesta drops inside and exchanges a lovely one-two with Messi before gliding past the defender and into the box. He finds himself one-on-one with the keeper at a tight angle and attempts to unselfishly pass inside to Suarez, but Cordoba clear behind for a corner kick.
• 32'

  You have to hand it to Cordoba though. The promoted side could easily have sat back and crumbled after going behind so early, but they have rallied and are looking relatively solid defensively. However, if Barcelona up the tempo slightly, they will be tested a lot more.
• 30'

  We are just approaching the half-hour mark at Camp Nou and it is still just the one goal advantage for Barcelona. Pedro gave the home side the lead early on and he has looked the brightest of the attacking trio up top. Not too many glimpses of Messi or Suarez so far, despite the latter's unlucky volley into the side netting.
• 28'

  Pantic languishes in possession a little too long at the back which is dangerous with Pedro and Suarez in the hunt for possession. Carlos ends up thumping a long ball up the park and Mascherano dominantly heads out wide for Alba to collect.
• 26'

  A bit of a dodgy moment at the back for Barcelona as Bravo comes off his line to claim a cross and ends up dropping in a dangerous area. The Cordoba players rally inside the box to latch on to the loose ball, but the keeper recovers well to pounce and reclaim possession.
• 24'

  Well after going a goal up so early on you feared the worst for Cordoba in the fact that Barca looked poised to record another couple of quickfire goals. The home side have taken their foot off the gas slightly though which has given the Andalusian side come confidence at the back.
• 22'

  Alba is really having fun down that left wing today. The former Valencia man once again gallops forward into an advanced position and reverses another ball into the danger area. Rakitic is placed at the edge of the box to strike at goal, but the attempt is whipped over the bar.
• 20'

  GHILAS! SIDE NETTING! The Algerian picks up the ball down the right-hand side and powers forward, taking the ball past Mascherano in the process. He drives into the box and gets the shot away, but it is lashed into the wrong side of the post! Much better from Cordoba in the last few minutes!
• 18'

  The visitors finally manage to muster up a shot on goal. Unfortunately for them Cartabia's strike goes wildly into the stand and doesn't pose any kind of threat to Claudio Bravo. Not the best of shots, but it is a glimmer of hope to Cordoba that they can at least get some space up top.
• 16'

  Great work by Mascherano. In a rare Cordoba venture forward, Ghilas attempts to latch on to a pass over the top, which is intercepted by the Barca defender. The Argentine then quickly gathers himself to steal the ball from the feet of Cartabia.
• 14'

  This has really been an exhibition match so far. Barcelona have basically been treating this as a training exercise in the fact that they have instigated a few passing drills in central areas. Iniesta, Busquets, and Rakitic all looking confident on the ball out there.
• 12'

  Suaaarezzz! Half the ground think its in! Alba once again gets to the byline and reverses a pass into the former Liverpool man, who somehow twists his body to get a stabbed volley away, but the attempt goes into the side-netting! So unlucky; would have been a beautiful goal!
• 10'

  Absolutely no sign of an attacking presence from Cordoba at the moment. The visitors may indeed have been up for this game today, but that early goal from Pedro has completely stifled them in terms of belief. If they can just get a couple of passes together in the final third, they may finally get some tempo to their play.
• 8'

  Iniesta collects the ball down the left channel and initially searches for a pass inside before deciding to burst into the box. The Barca captain takes on the defender before shifting the ball on to his right foot and curling a strike at goal, but Carlos makes the comfortable save.
• 6'

  Alba typically gets to the byline before attempting to cross in to Suarez, but Deivid is well positioned at the front post to head away before the Uruguayan can get a strike away. Barcelona really knocking at the door in the early stages here as they look to extend their lead.
• 4'

  What an absolute nightmare start for Cordoba! The promoted side would have been looking to keep solid for as long as possible before even thinking about providing an attacking presence, but they are facing a very, very long afternoon now!
• 2'

  Assist Ivan Rakitic
• 2'

  Goal Pedro
  GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL FOR BARCELONA!!! THE HOME SIDE COME FLYING OUT OF THE BLOCKS!! Rakitic collects the ball just outside the box and dinks a brilliant pass into the feet of Pedro, who takes an assured touch before cushioning a strike into the top corner! One-nil! What a start!
• 1'

  We are under way at Camp Nou