Samuel Eto'o scored his first goal of the season as Barcelona came from behind to beat Stuttgart 3-1 at Camp Nou.
Barca survive early scare to win
Samuel Eto'o scored his first goal of the season as Barcelona came from behind to beat Stuttgart 3-1 at Camp Nou.
Antonio Da Silva gave the Germans a shock lead early on, but Barcelona drew level through youngster Giovani Dos Santos before half-time.
Second-half goals from Eto'o and Ronaldinho condemned Stuttgart to another defeat and sent the home fans away happy.
Stuttgart stunned the home fans with the opening goal after just four minutes through Da Silva.
The visitors won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Da Silva stepped up and curled a superb effort high into the net past a startled Albert Jorquera.
The goal stung Barcelona into action and Eto'o missed a great chance to draw the hosts level when a poor backpass gifted him the ball but he saw his poked shot kept out by Raphael Schaefer.
Barcelona went close to equalising on 11 minutes when Eidur Gudjohnsen picked out Xavi's run into the box, but Schaefer kept out the midfielder's shot with his legs. The ball broke to Dos Santos who drilled in a shot which Schaefer turned round the post.
A minute later Stuttgart almost caught Barcelona on the counter attack when Ewerthon burst clear down the right and fired in a shot which flew just wide of the target.
Barcelona continued to pile on the pressure and Schaefer was again called into the action on 15 minutes when he kept out Dos Santos' shot with his legs.
The impressive Dos Santos looked the man most likely for Barca and he went close to scoring just past the half-hour mark when he cut inside down the left and curled his effort just wide of the far post.
Equaliser
Barcelona finally drew level on 36 minutes with a somewhat controversial goal from Dos Santos.
Ronaldinho was the creator of the goal when he picked out Dos Santos inside the box and the youngster bundled the ball home with some of his midriff, although Stuttgart argued the winger had handled the ball and Schaefer was booked for his protests.
Barcelona stepped up the pace in the second half and they grabbed the lead on 57 minutes with Eto'o netting his first goal of the season.
Xavi burst clear from midfield and he slipped in Eto'o who cut past his marker before drilling his left-footed shot past Schaefer.
Barcelona put the game beyond Stuttgart on 67 minutes when Silvinho got down the left and cut the ball back for Ronaldinho to slide the ball home from close-range.
Schaefer denied Barcelona a fourth goal on 71 minutes when he acrobatically kept out Ronaldinho's free-kick from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later Stuttgart almost pulled a goal back when Ewerthon's outrageous effort from 35 yards out came back off the crossbar with Jorquera all at sea.
| Barcelona |
Team Statistics |
VfB Stuttgart |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 10 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 11 |
Corners |
2 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
7 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 89.9 |
Passing Success |
83.6 |
| 11 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 81.8 |
Tackles Success |
81.8 |
| 58.3 |
Possession |
41.7 |
| 54.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
45.4 |
|
