SPANISH FOOTBALL | JOAN GAMPER TROPHY | FC BARCELONA 5 - NAPOLES 0

Video highlights of yesterdays 5 - 0 victory by FC BARCELONA over Italian Club NAPOLES. The match was for the "Gamper Trophy", Cup that opens officially the Barça season along with their members & in remembrance to the Club founder - Joan Gamper.

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JOAN GAMPER TROPHY 2010 | FC BARCELONA 1 (3) DEFEATS AC MILAN 1 (1)

FC BARCELONA has defeated AC MILAN 3-1 on penalties AFTER the match finished in a 1-1 draw, to take the "JOAN GAMPER TROPHY" which traditionally showcases to all the Barça members the new season squad.

FC Barcelona took the opportunity to thank its appreciated ex-player & star RONALDINHO who returned to the ground, City & Club that made him the World Nº1 & gave him so many titles, as he did to Barça. The Brazilian circled the "Camp Nou" to a standing ovation where he received the thanks & the warmth of the Barça fans who haven´t forgotten his contribution to the Clubs history.

His ex-team-mates wanted to thank Ronaldinho as well & they invited the AC Milan player to join them in the pre-match FC BARCELONA starting line-up team photo

As you can see ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC started after both Barça & AC Milan spent most of the day negotiating the possibility of the Swede moving to Milan. The final outcome is that discussions will continue tomorrow were a LOAN & NOT a transfer buy is the viable option.
A very complex situation that may or may not come to a good port & that we all need to wait & see how things develop tomorrow.

The 1ºst half finished in a 0-0 score with an offside Ibrahimovic goal included, plus a slow yet well organized Milan. Barça who played their traditional touch-ball game also showed lack of "spring in their heels" as many players are still working to find their top form.

The 2ºhalf saw changes with Ibrahimovic taking a "break" & stars like Pique, Alves, Busquets, Pique, Pedro, Messi & Bojan came on to get a run. This gave Barça some freshness early & in the 48th min DAVID VILLA scored his first goal for Barça after he nicked in a ball from another signing Adriano. However, while Barça missed some chances two AC Milan veterans showed their magic in the 68th min when INZAGHI volleyed a superb goal from a Seedrof pass that was just like the old days. The match finished in a 1 - 1 draw & both sides went to the penalty shoot-out stage.

Here Barça keeper PINTO was the man of the moment as he made 3 great saves to finally give his team the victory 3-1 on penalties. An entertaining game full of emotions for Ronaldinho & uncertainty as the future of Ibrahimovic is currently being "played" out. Tweet

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JOAN GAMPER TROPHY 2008: FC BARCELONA DEFEATS BOCA JUNIORS "IN EXTREMIS"(SEE VIDEO)

The Joan Gamper Trophy ( named after the founder of FC
BARCELONA) is played traditionally every year with an invited

top class team to celebrate the new season in front of the Barça

members/fans. It´s a celebration were the Club presents the new

squad ( see foto below) before playing for the Trophy , with this
years guests Argentine Club BOCA JUNIORS.

It was Boca Juniors 5th visit for this trophy in which it had never

won & they wanted to win tonight. FC Barcelona started the 1º half

with its star players (Eto´o, Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta...) on the bench.
The first 45 min was an equal affair with chances falling to both sides,

but nothing really to highlight.

The 2º half saw Barça bring on its above mentioned stars to

go for the game, but were seriously surprised in the 73rd min
when Boca player VIATRI scored after a horrible defensive

mistake from Barça. In fact, Barça has a lot of work to do in defence

as they concentrate so hard in attacking that they leave gaps in
the backend. Boca was exploiting this as much as possible & were

putting Barça in some dire straits all night.

Then in the 90th min when it looked like Boca would finally win the
Gamper Trophy, CARLES PUYOL headed in a brilliant equalizing

goal that secured that it would all go down to the penalty shoot-out

at least.

But there was more unbelievable play ahead, when Xavi crossed

to SAMUEL ETO´O in the last seconds & the Camaroon forward

headed in the second & winning goal to give Barça its 33rd
Gamper Trophy & bring the house down.

Close call for Barça, but its a win. Need some work in defence however

to stop the dangerous counter-attacks. Very unlucky Boca Juniors who

played an excellent game tonight in which they nearly won.

FINAL SCORE : FC Barcelona 2 - Boca Juniors 1. See the goals in

the following VIDEO:

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