Ronaldinho strike allows Barca to salvage draw
A deflected strike from Brazilian forward Ronaldinho allowed Barcelona to scramble a 1-1 draw against Osasuna in a Spanish first division match at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
A deflected strike from Brazilian forward Ronaldinho allowed Barcelona to scramble a 1-1 draw against Osasuna in a Spanish first division match at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
The visitors had taken a thoroughly deserved lead when skipper Cesar Cruchaga nodded in from a corner early in the second half but Ronaldinho popped up to equalise 16 minutes later when his low shot spun off defender Jose Izquierdo and into the net.
The result put Barca into second place in the table, a point behind leaders Deportivo Coruna and one ahead of Real Madrid, both of whom play on Sunday.
Osasuna, who have begun the season in confident fashion, move up to fourth, level on points with Real.
The Navarrans eclipsed their opponents in the opening exchanges with some slick passing moves and rapid counter-attacks, former Olympique Marseille striker Ibrahima Bakayoko heading just wide of the post within the first minute.
The Catalans struggled to find their rhythm and did not mount a serious attack until the 23rd minute when midfielder Luis Enrique sent a miscued shot over the bar after Patrick Kluivert and Javier Saviola had combined well to prise open the Osasuna defence.
Despite the presence of Ronaldinho, who joined the club for 30 million euros ($33.89 million) from Paris St Germain in the close season, Barca looked surprisingly short of ideas in attack.
The Brazilian was rarely able to wriggle free from the attentions of Uruguayan midfielder Pablo Garcia and without any recognised wingers on the pitch Barca were unable to get behind the Osasuna defence.
It came as no surprise when Osasuna took the lead early in the second half after Cruchaga outjumped Philip Cocu following a well struck corner from Patxi Punal and nodded in past Victor Valdes.
Barca coach Frank Rijkaard immediately decided to reshuffle his pack by sending on wingers Ricardo Quaresma and Marc Overmars soon after.
The move paid off within minutes and it was Portuguese midfielder Quaresma who provided the cross that led to the Ronaldinho goal and prevented Barca from slipping to their first defeat of the season.