Watching Barcelona is like playing FIFA09 for me, it is love. It's funny because we play similar ways, using dangerous probing passes to open holes in defenses and crisp balls swung in, typical beautiful soccer. Except mine is in a video game, and Barcelona does it in real life, which makes it that more impressive. Barcelona is the true epitome of both attacking soccer and possession soccer, and it is a joy to watch. Last season they were dominant, taking both the Champions League and La Liga titles. However, changes bring a different face to Barcelona this year, and the question lingers if they can repeat the magnificence that was last year.

Unfortunately I missed the first twenty five minutes of the game because I was working on some other things, so this match report will likely just be more observations and comments then distinct player ratings. First off, if you have not watched Barcelona, do. If you can watch one game a week, watch their game. Show your friends, your kids, your teammates the game as Barcelona plays the way the game should be played. When Barcelona is on their game, they are the best team to watch in the best sport in the world, and nothing outside of the 100 meter final in the Olympics compares. However that lasts ten seconds, and Barcelona goes all day.

Other Notes:

- Barcelona is playing this game minus Iniesta, Henry, and Messi currently, Messi is off to Argentina, and I heard Iniesta might be rested. Still, Barcelona had 75% of possession at half time, which is amazing.

- Barcelona's use of their outside backs almost as wingers gives them width that no one else has. This width is so key as it opens tons of holes in the middle and wide. At one point, Puyol and Pique were on opposite sides of the penalty box as Barcelona moved forward.

- Bojan is the real deal, and when Henry leaves, will step in and shine. His runs are so dynamic and his acceleration is quite impressive.

- Eric Abidal can actually grow hair. Strange. I don't think I've ever seen him with hair before, and I didn't really recognize him.

- The ESPN announcers are so in tune with the flow of the game with their commentary. Words used when words are needed, and on the mark observations make listening to the game a joy as well.

- Valdez, who at times looks bored, still is exceptional when he is tested.

- Pedro, the young winger looks to be quite promising.

- The best league in the world debate has resurfaced during the telecast, and some interesting points have been raised by both announcers, which I will save to take up with Chamo.

- Seydou Keita is a beast in the air. Barcelona has become quite dangerous on corners, as both of the first goals came off of headers and both from Keita, one an assist to Bojan, and one a goal from Keita.

- Youth teams and coaches should be studying the way Barcelona plays, both for a great example of how to move the ball but to see the creative runs that the forwards make and the talent that each player has on the ball but how they use that to benefit the team and not just themselves. I only wish that I would have been exposed to such free flowing, fluid passing when I was young, it might have altered my perspective on what was a very structured offense we ran growing up, which hinders one's development.

- Alves teed up Ibra for the third goal, and suddenly Barca looks incredibly dangerous in the air with all three goals coming off of headers.

- 88 in, and Barcelona holds more then 70 percent of possession. Just disheartening for any team opposite that number.

- 3-0 Barcelona final. Barcelona looked slightly rusty, but they were minus at least four starters, and still dominated play. New boys Maxwell and Ibrahimovic looked to not have completely settled yet, but as the game got into its dying moments, Ibra was at his most dangerous. A good win, yet there is still a drop off between the starters and backups for Barca. Good experience for some of the younger players, which seems to pay off in general for them.

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