To summarise the game from my point of view..

Geared down, simple, quite boring game which was a totally different contrast to the Chelski game. Maybe Barca thought they could afford to drop a half a gear in order to save some energy to finish off Chelski. Although Valencias win applied some pressure to the Barca game.

Messi showed some jaw-dropping touchs and passes. Ronaldinho wasn't in it. He tried a few tricks & couldn't beat any players. Many incomplete passes from the Brazilian & wasn't a threat to Zaragoza. Barca were tight enough at the back & Valdes made some self-assuring saves.

Then the main point for me.. Why was Eto'o walking off the pitch emotionally, until he was comforted by team-mates and Rijkaard? Then at FT whistle, he walked off emotionally whilst turning down his coat offer with ignorance and anger. Then gestured to the fans? Then swarmed by media until he was covered by Frank...

Great goal from Larsson though & the penalty incident was crazy.

lolo, I just posted the exact same topic at the exact same time... strange! This one goes into more detail though so ill delete mine.

I only saw the first half and it was very boring, not really any clear chances although Messi should have crossed for Eto'o instead of shooting.

Interesting and strange incident with Eto'o, I havent seen it yet but that sounds strange, what sort of gesture did he make to the fans?

I didnt see the goals either but it was lucky in the end, scoring in the last 10 minutes. Its a good win though against a tough team and after the Chelski game most of them would have been tired

I'm not so sure what kind of gestures they were. Firstly I thought he gave the fans the fingers, but then his hand was changing direction & the camera's weren't helping. The chinese commentary weren't helping me with it either.

He looked distraught for some reason. Maybe there was racist abuse going on from the Zaragoza fans? You could see he was emotional and the Ref tried to help stop him leaving the pitch mid-game.

It must have been something like that, I cant think of any other reason for it. The game is probably on sky again in a while, I might watch the second half to see that

Yea. Maybe you can make better of it than me. I was watching on PPLive, so the commentary nor picture was the best. It happened quickly also.

Just hope it was racism. Would be nice if it was news, that Eto'o was to switch for Henry in the summer . Love Henry, but Eto'o is younger.

I was just told that Eto'o was complaing of racism. But an unreliable source, so I'm still looking for the truth on it.

Yes it was due to racist words. First of all he wanted to leave the game because it already happened last season in this stadium and he was fed up. But the other Barça players said to him that the best was that he ignored these racist shouts and finally he decided to continue playing.

Hopefully that doesnt start up again, it was terrible for a while last season but it died down for a while. Zaragoza should be made to play their next game behind closed doors

I couldn't see the match because I was in a carnaval party but I've seen it this morning and it was racist insults. It's curious but the players who are most insulted are Eto'o and Roberto Carlos Anyway, this is always the attitude of a bunch of stupid people you know. It should finish!

I read it on the news. Why Eto'o only? I never heard racist abuses directed to Ronaldinho( only few cases) , Larson and Rijkaard. Anyway, this is spoiling spain image. I am glad that asians players are not keen for Spain.

Yes, it was racism... but eto´o has to know that they do it as a way of presure and now every team and his supporters knows how to presure him... I think that his has to get no notice of it

Please, before offending me and my country, read what I said above:

"And I think Eto'o didn't deserve that"

No way I'm gonna EVER defend racist attacks or insults, that is simply stupid. What I say is that Eto'o is not exactly a saint.

@Raul, you're quite harsh, aren't you? Players spit at each other and do worse things when no one's watching, Etoo had the disgrace of being filmed when he did.
Anyway Zaragoza is quite a fascist pitch, they should close it down for a match or two.
I don't think people are racist in Spain, people just insult players like Etoo and Robert Carlos instead of Ronaldinho or Larsson because they are polemic players, a lot of people from rival teams don't like them, that's why. Everyone loves Ronaldinho, so it's not a matter of skin. Of course it was also a tactic to put pressure on the rival team, but they got it wrong 'cos we won, he, he. I don't think Spain is more racist than any other country, really. I think these insults are the equivalent of others like motherfucker, son of a bitch, etc. I don't think people mean those racist insults, they just do it to put out the rival. Even though, it's inexcusable.
The game itself was really boring due to a very tactical match, nobody wanted to assume risks, not even barça this time which I think it's good cos we don't have to attack mindlessly all the time and do all the spectacle ourselves, sometimes we just need to go for a result like the rest of teams in the world. Barça will be ready for Chelsea next time, the match of the season! Also, Ronaldinho was injured, that's why he didn't shine this time. Hope he gets full recovery for the Chelsea game.
Oh, I forgot... Goodbye Madrid!

You said more or less what I said, then why am I harsh?
And normal players don't spit at the face of other players, no?

Oh, and in Zaragoza people at least don't threw pig heads!! (And I remind you that Camp Nou wasn't closed, so don't make me laugh now claiming to close La Romareda)

Raul, you are totally over the top! Are you saying that because of a spitting incident that racial remarks are ok and justified? It sure sounds like that to me. Spain is starting to have a very big problem with this, there is NO reason for racial comments, NONE.

I must admit, I'm not only confused by what you say but very disappointed as well..........

Please, before offending me and my country, read what I said above:

"And I think Eto'o didn't deserve that"

No way I'm gonna EVER defend racist attacks or insults, that is simply stupid. What I say is that Eto'o is not exactly a saint.

Accidentally I edited my first post, when I only wanted to quote myself

Since your original post has been 'edited', as you put it, theres not much more I can say.....you did very much make it sound as if the racial comments were OK since the spitting incidents had occured. I in noway will justify spitting in someones face, it's totally uncalled for, but racial remarks are nothing more then pure hatred......

I was stating facts as far as the ever increasing racial problems in Spain (from Aragones remarks to these chants we often here about), if thats 'offending you and your country', it's not my doing, I'm just stating that facts here.......

I'm not taking 'aim' at you, just was a bit dumbfounded by your comments (which no longer exist) you made.........

I don't know what happens but lately all my comments sound bad for you. I literally said that "Eto'o didn't deserve it" as any person in this world does. What I added was that spitting on other's faces won't help him. I didn't ever mention that I support racist facts because I DON'T. And I hate totally everyone who supports them or yells for it.

And you offended me, specially because you suggested spanish people are racist, and that's very disappointing indeed. About the Aragones' thing, I already said a lot of times that it was the british media who invented words. He said to Reyes "You're better than the black". I don't see any racism sign there, do you? And about the chants, I can't say a word, stupid people are everywhere, not only in Spain. Or are all the english supporters violent and drunk hooligans?? No, I don't think so.

But anyway, I'm not gonna try to change your mind, you'll know what you think

Well, we have both had our say, I have no problem with how you feel, I'm just telling you how I feel. But let's clarify one other thing here, Aragones statement had a word after black (which you failed to mention) that changed the whole meaning of what he said, and this is what turned it into a racial comment......

Now that we know where are coming from, we can carry on and talk about the beautiful game itself, and hopefully not have to worry about this type of stuff anymore......

This is a very complicated problem, because many palyers are shoted by the supporters, and noboy complains. I'm not defending racism, I don't want to say that. You can see some examples:

etoo--> black
roberto carlos--> monkey
guti-->gay (maricona in spanish)
torres--> niñato ( no idea in english, something like spoilt boy)

we can't tolerate racism, nor any kind of violence, physical or verbal, because these words can create finish in fights, (I hope not).

Guti might be very open with his sexuality. Therefore he should be taking this abuse with a smile. Think of it more as, Guti finding partners by his sexuality being publicly announced often. Beckham gets many offers this way too.

@Raul... I think they should close Zaragoza's field and still think they should have closed the Camp Nou when the Figo incident happened, my colours don't make me blind. Get it? Violence and abuse is intolerable at any field.

About Eto'o spitting incident you said textually "he behaved like a monkey" suggesting that he deserved the abuse on him. Well that is what coach Clemente said exactly in the press round after the match and he was criticised by EVERYONE. Some people don't think before talking.

Spitting is a huge form of disrespect (I wouldn't even spit in the street), but racism is as low as you can get.

Judging from oranje and Raul discussion, it looks like I have missed a lot of things.
Raul, if the sentence "Please, before offending me and my country" was directed at me, you probably have misunderstood me. I dont blame a whole nation for the acts of some narrow-minded biggots. What I was saying that those biggots are ruining Spain image.
And I agree with oranje, when he said that whatever the reasons are, racism shall not be tolerated. I dont have to remind everyone that we are living in the 21 centery.
I just wanted to know, why only Eto'o? From some of the replies, I got the answer. Eto'o, unlike the others, gives it a big deal. But I think it is justified. I have read an interview of Eto'o a while ago where he mentionned why he reacts about the racist chants. He said, for him it is fine. But when he thinks about the black kids, who didnt choose to be born in Spain, beeing abused by their friends, because their friends saw on TV black players beeing racially abused and think it is a normal thing; he can not accept it. I am not a big fan of Eto'o comments, but I respect that one.

And talking about Aragones, why refering to Henry with "black"? Henry has a name. Would be more appropriate to refer Henry with "the world best striker" ( well, at the time of the comments ).
Anyway, I will always be a barcelona fan