Solitary Iniesta strike takes care of L’Hospitalet

Andres Iniesta scored the only goal in last night’s clash against third-tier club CD L’Hospitalet in the first leg of La Copa del Rey. The game thus ended in a 0-1 win for Catalan giants Barcelona in a game, which saw L’Hospitalet squander a few good chances with Pinto in goal.

A few of the first team players were on international duty but that didn’t stop Guardiola from sending out a strong team just in case there were any surprises. You never know in these cup games! It was a team that featured regulars such as, Busquets, Puyol, Xavi, Villa, Keita, Maxwell and Fabregás.They didn’t have to travel far though as L’Hospitalet is just outside Barcelona located in the suburbs.

The crowd was very thin and it seemed like it was full of L’Hospitalet supporters. Maybe the Barca fans didn’t think it was worth travelling the short trip to see their side skin the home side, which wasn’t exactly the case. As usual Barca monopolized the game but only managed to score one goal – a beauty from Andrés Iniesta who found a way to beat L’Hospitalet keeper José Moragon just before half time.

If anyone was on the lookout for a new keeper then in my opinion Moragon is your man as he really kept his side in the game with some saves that Victor Valdés would have been proud of.

It could nearly have been 2-0 a few minutes later when a Carles Puyol header struck Seydou Keita and went on to hit the post. All this from a corner kick.

To be fair to L’Hospitalet, Barcelona struggled to break down their resolve, who have won their last six league games, and will therefore go to the Camp Nou for the return leg next month still hoping to surprise Barca and cause a few upsets. We’ll just have to see!

This match had to be rescheduled and brought forward because Barcelona will be away at the Club World Cup in Japan when the rest of the first leg matches are played at the beginning of December.

Real Madrid, who beat Barcelona in last season’s Copa del Rey final where Sergio Ramos dropped the cup, will face another third-tier side, in the shape of Ponferradina.