Barça cool, calm and collected in Kyiv

Daniel Alves paid tribute to FC Barcelona's pass masters after the UEFA Champions League holders negotiated a safe passage to the knockout rounds of the competition.

Possession counts
The Blaugrana recovered from the shock of Artem Milevskiy's second-minute goal for a fired-up FC Dynamo Kyiv to top Group F thanks to strikes from Xavi Hernández and Lionel Messi. "We knew it would be difficult, and it was very cold out there too," Alves told uefa.com. "But after going a goal down, we managed to find our balance and get plenty of possession, and because of that we produced a great performance in the end." The statistics back up Alves's comments: the visitors had 78 per cent of the ball on a harsh winter's night at the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium.

Raising their game
However, the 26-year-old right-back, who supported Barcelona's attack throughout with a succession of trademark storming runs, acknowledges the hard work that lies ahead if Josep Guardiola's men are to retain their European crown. "We expect the same as ever in this competition, just like last year," he said. "The knockout stages will be difficult. We need to maintain and raise our level if we're going to go on right to the end."

'Group of Death'
The Brazilian international also recognised the quality of Barcelona's opponents in what club president Joan Laporta had dubbed the "group of death" – all four sides had a chance of qualification before kick-off on Matchday 6. "When you come up against national champions, it's always difficult," said Alves. "We knew they had to be strong to win their leagues, and you have to give them a lot of respect for that." Indeed, the Catalan team had not taken any of the competition lightly according to their defender. "We worked just as hard against Dynamo as we would in any UEFA Champions League match. We gave a focused, and an excellent, display."

'Best in the world'
Alves's compatriot Betão reflected on what might have been after an ultimately frustrating campaign in which Dynamo let slip leads against FC Internazionale Milano and Barça. "We played well in the group and we had opportunities to get more victories, especially in the home game against Inter, so it's a bit of a disappointment," the 26-year-old defender said. The blow of losing to another late goal, after the 2-1 defeat by Inter on Matchday 4, was hard to take. "Barcelona had a lot of the game, but with five minutes to go we thought we would end up with at least a draw," said Betão. "Unfortunately, Messi scored a great goal to show us why he is the best in the world."

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Barça progress after early scare

FC Barcelona emerged unscathed from a difficult examination by FC Dynamo Kyiv to claim a comeback victory that took them through to the UEFA Champions League first knockout round as Group F winners.

Messi winner
The holders were on the ropes at a chilly Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium when Artem Milevskiy headed Dynamo in front inside two minutes, but they fought back to level through Xavi Hernández just past the half-hour before Lionel Messi's imperious late winner removed all doubt. Victory confirmed top spot for Barcelona ahead of FC Internazionale Milano and denied Dynamo a place in the UEFA Europa League as they finished bottom.

Milevskiy strikes
Josep Guardiola's men had not conceded away from home in this season's UEFA Champions League, but Dynamo struck with the first attack of the match. After Gerard Piqué's foul, Andriy Shevchenko swung in a free-kick from the left and Milevskiy's glancing header at the near post caught Víctor Valdés unawares, the ball squirming from the goalkeeper's grasp and into the net. At this stage Dynamo were provisionally in second place.

Barcelona dominate
However, Olexandr Shovkovskiy was not having a much easier night in the Dynamo goal and his miscued clearance almost handed Messi a 13th-minute equaliser. The goalkeeper, though, quickly recovered and dived to push away the Argentinian's left-footed shot. Barça began to monopolise possession, and by midway through the first-half they had enjoyed 80 per cent of the ball, though they were struggling to create clear opportunities. Messi started to drop deep in an attempt to pull the strings and he had a shot deflected wide after a typically surging run.

Xavi leveller
On 33 minutes, the Blaugrana pressure finally told. Messi sent Eric Abidal away on the left and the full-back's low cross allowed Xavi to guide in from close range. Barça continued to move the ball well and on the cusp of the interval Daniel Alves tested Shovkovskiy with a cross-shot after a flowing move. Dynamo's need to set the pace in the second period meant they were vulnerable to counterattacks and Messi was denied a certain goal by Ognjen Vukojević's alert interception. The home side responded well, and Shevchenko delivered another free-kick that Leandro Almeida headed into the side-netting.

Vociferous crowd
Dynamo, encouraged by a vociferous crowd, tried manfully to shape openings, but struggled against a Barcelona rearguard back to its best after their initial uncertainty. In fact the holders looked more likely to score, with only desperate defensive blocks denying Messi, Alves and Andrés Iniesta in quick succession. Dynamo's last throw of the dice was to bring on Miloš Ninković for the more defensive Gérson Magrão in an attempt to wrest control. With just four minutes of normal time left, though, Barça confirmed their superiority, Messi stepping up to curl a magnificent free-kick past Shovkovskiy and end Dynamo's European campaign.

©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.

Messi upstages drama-prone Madrid

Having won the Ballon d'Or on Tuesday, Lionel Messi struck twice at RC Deportivo La Coruña as FC Barcelona cemented their place at the top of the Liga with a 3-1 win on a night which also brought drama for Real Madrid CF.

Messi double
Messi produced a typically assured finish 27 minutes into the late game in Spain, slipping past Manuel Pablo to fire low into the left of the net, but Barcelona's defending was nothing like as slick as they squandered their lead before the break. A misplaced header from Sergio Busquets gifted Adrián López a sight of goal, with Víctor Valdés taking some of the blame for allowing the striker's header to get past him. Barcelona dominated, but it took until the 79th minute for Messi to make that pressure tell, with a slick move ending with Pedro Rodríguez crossing for the unmarked Argentinian to head the winner. Zlatan Ibrahimović then made it 3-1 with a cool strike two minutes from time.

Ping-pong affair
Madrid had earlier got out of jail with a 4-2 win against UD Almería. Los Merengues looked set for a comfortable night when Sergio Ramos headed them into a 30th-minute lead, but the game was turned on its head after the break, with Fernando Soriano finding the net with the help of a deflection off Raúl Albiol before Kalu Uche made it 2-1 with a powerful shot following a corner. Gonzalo Higuaín equalised after defender Santiago Acasiete failed to clear Marcelo's cross, and the game was wrapped up eight minutes from the end, Karim Benzema finishing after Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty was saved. The Portuguese winger soon atoned, though he would have struggled to miss after Higuaín's ball left him an easy finish to make it 4-2. However, his night ended badly as he was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Sevilla slip
The win was doubly valuable to Madrid with third-placed Sevilla FC having dropped two points at home in one of the day's two early games. Sevilla equalised from the spot through Luis Fabiano after Manucho had given Real Valladolid CF the lead at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium, but there were no further goals after the interval. Elsewhere, Club Atlético de Madrid won 2-0 at Xerez CD, with Diego Forlán and Sergio Agüero the scorers.

Ibra: “I’ll become an even better player”

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Marc Guillén

In his first interview with Barça TV as a Barça player, Ibrahimovic assures the fans that he will become an “even better player” in a club like Barça.
When Zlatan Ibrahimovic speaks, he means what he says. He avoids clichés as if they were defenders and addresses each subject with a confidence that makes his words convincing. Here is the interview he has given to Barça TV and which will be broadcast in full at 10 pm tonight (Tuesday) on the programme ‘Bevingut Ibrahimovic’ (Welcome Ibrahimovic).

How did it feel being presented in the Camp Nou?

Monday was a really busy day. First the medical, then after lunch I signed a very important contract that has made a lot of people happy, then came the presentation. It’s difficult to put into words what I felt. These are emotions that can’t be described. You had to be there to understand what I felt.

Are you nervous about everything that has happened?

I was a bit nervous because everyone said there were a lot of people there. Normally I’m quite relaxed but for me it’s a dream to come here. This is where I wanted to play. I made an agreement with the president of Inter that the only club they could sell me to was Barcelona. The others could ask but they wouldn’t get a reply. The only one I answered was Barça. That gives me a special feeling. The move from Malmö to Ajax was good, I was happy. From Ajax to Juve was an important move but emotionally it was a normal event. I thought I would have to keep on playing. The transfer from Juve to Inter seemed like an important fact but it didn’t change my mood…In contrast, this transfer has made me feel nervous.

Nervous…why?

Barça has a historic tradition. Everyone wants to be part of this great club, they’ve made history and I want to be part of that history. For me Barça plays football the way other teams will play in ten years’ time. The way they play is the way I want to play and I believe the people that go to the stadium really enjoy this football and 50% of football is the fans.

What do you know about the history of Barça and its players?

Some great stars have played for Barça. Ronaldo, Romario, Stoichkov, Hagi, Maradona, Ronaldinho..., they’re great names. Everyone knows them and becoming a part of that history is one of my objectives. Everyone wants to come to Barça but not just anyone can do that.

Will you fit into the Barça style?

I think I’ll fit in really well because it’s the way I want to play, the way I want to train, the way I want to learn, because this style of football is what I tasted at Ajax. It really suited me and I learned a lot.

Have you had good references from people that know Barça?

Everyone I’ve spoken to has spoken positively. I spoke to Larsson, Figo, Koeman... everyone I spoke to spoke really well of Barça. Nobody said anything negative, everyone agreed that if you get the chance to come here then take it. Mentally, I was already with Barça when I received news of the Club’s interest. This Club won three titles last season, everything that could be won. When you win you don’t sign, you continue. And then for the next season they come to you and tell you that they want to sign you. Normally a club that wins everything doesn’t buy. When they come to you it’s something special. It means a lot and I’m here to continue winning titles.

Will this be the contract of your life?

I want to enjoy the moment. I’m here to enjoy myself and learn. I want to play with the best, and the best team is Barcelona. I want to be an even better player, and I know I will become even better, but you have to work hard and have the best players around you. A better environment than this is impossible.

You’ve spoken to Guardiola. What did he say to you?

He was very happy about everything that’s been done and I’m also very happy that it’s all official now. Guardiola said he’s happy if I’m happy and that the rest will come by itself.

You are a very technical forward. Normally that kind of player is pretty individualistic but your profile is that of a team player.

It’s one of my qualities that I learned in Italy. It’s important to know how to play as part of a team. If you don’t play as part of the team it’s impossible to achieve the objectives that your club is looking for. You have to help your team-mates and your team-mates have to help you. It’s also true that there are players that have the quality of playing in a more individualistic way and that’s also good. Everyone has to use his talents.

“I’m sure Barça will continue to win titles”

Marc Guillén/Roger Bogunyà

Dmytro Chygrynskiy believes Barça “offer the best football in the world” and is “sure the club will continue to win titles, improving and growing.”In an interview with Barça TV and fcbarcelona.cat, the first ever Ukrainian to play for FC Barcelona has spoken about such topics as his admiration for Luis Enrique and Iniesta and the way he has always been fascinated by Barça.

Welcome. I suppose your first few days with Barça have been long ones.
“They have been very emotional days, since I landed in Barcelona I have been astounded by the way Barça and the fans have treated me. It has all been very nice.”

How did the negotiations go?
“I have to be a realist, ever since I learned of Barça’s interest I remained prudent. In fact I only started believing it once it was official, before that it was all just rumours.”

What was it like playing in the Super Cup against your future team?
“It was quite a strange game, but I was still part of Shakhtar and so I couldn’t allow myself to play at half strength. I had to play as well as I could as a Shakhtar player, to act responsibly.”

What do you know about Barça? Did you watch them last year?
“Of course I know about Barça, it is a well-known club with a huge army of fans. That’s why I have always followed this club, both in terms of its results and in terms of the players in the team.”

Is there any past or present player that you have admired?
“A player I’d single out, from about 7 or 8 years ago, was Luis Enrique. As for the current players, they’re my colleagues so I don’t want to say I like one player better than another. I think all the players are professionals and very good. But the first time I played against Barça, a year ago, I was impressed by the way Iniesta played.”

Do you know Luis Enrique also wore 21?
“No, I didn’t know Luis Enrique had the same shirt number as I do. It’s nice to know, I like that.”

Do you think the way Barça play will suit you?
“Barça play the best football in the world right now. I am sure the club will continue to win titles, growing, improving. And I am sure players’ careers progress much faster when they play for a club like Barça.”

Did the Barça philosophy have any effect on Shakhtar?
“As players, we didn’t know much about the tactical nuances of Barça, but we followed the team, its results, and they were a model for us. One of the reasons I am here is precisely because our way of playing is not so different from that of Barça.”

Tell us briefly about how you started in football.
“I’ve always played football. It’s as if I was born with the ball in my hands, if I can put it like that. I come from a small city and as a kid I played wherever I could. There was a school in my town, but it was small. When I was thirteen I went to study in a more professional school, I made a lot of progress there and when I was 14 I joined the Shakhtar youth set-up.”

Curiously, your first European game was against Barça.
“Life brings these odd coincidences. It must be symbolic that when I was 17 or 18 my first five minutes were against Barça. I like to think that in a certain way it was destiny and that’s why I am where I am now.”