<p style="text-align: justify;">Normally, it requires a <em>Hérculean</em> effort to defeat FC Barcelona at the <em>Nou Camp</em> and that too without conceding a goal. <strong>Hércules</strong> did just that! And it would be highly unjust if their achievement isn’t appreciated. Come what may, this victory will go down in the history of the <em>Blanquiazules</em> as one of their greatest ever. In fact this isn’t the first time that the <em>Alicante</em> side has beaten the <em>Catalans</em>. Back in 1997, Hércules defeated FC Barcelona in both the league matches – <strong>2-1 at <em>Jos<em>é</em> Rico P<em>é</em>rez</em></strong><strong> and 3-2 at <em>Nou Camp</em></strong>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Albeit, this is just the beginning of the new season but for a team which boasts of one of the best attacks in the world, a defeat at home, that too without finding the back of the net, is the last thing that fans can expect.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Josep Guardiola fielded a team devoid of players like – Xavi, Busquets, Pedro and Dani Alves. Captain Puyol was also recuperating from an injury. Mascherano was handed his league debut. Despite this, with a first XI comprising of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, David Villa amongst others along with the <em>Nou Camp</em> faithful, it wasn’t too difficult to imagine three points. Esteban Vigo and his boys had other plans for the Catalan faithful. Recently promoted Hércules had added sheen to their squad by <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,19227_6344748,00.html" target="_blank">signing a striker of David Trezeguet’s calibre</a>. <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,19227_6351965,00.html" target="_blank">Dutchman Royston Drenthe</a> and <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,19227_6319034,00.html" target="_blank">Paraguayan Nelson Valdez</a> were brought in to give more attacking options. The <em>Blanquiazules</em> three summer signings had a match to remember whereas the three <em>Catalan</em> summer signings had a home debut to forget.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: center;"> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="271" caption="David Trezeguet: From Italy to Spain, to intimidate defenders "]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-march-2010/image/8218261?term=Trezeguet" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0px;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8218261/sports-news-march-2010/sports-news-march-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=8218261" border="0" alt="Mar. 10, 2010 - 05607396 date 10 03 2010 Copyright imago Sesa David Trezeguet Juventus Torino 10 03 2010 Juventus Center Conferenza Stampa Della Juventus Alla Della Partita Tue Europe League contro Il Fulham Photo Giorgio Inside photo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITAxFRA Football men UEFA Europe League Europe League EC 3 2009 2010 Turin press conference Portrait Vdig 2010 vertical premiumd." width="271" height="380" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">The home side started well with the lion’s share of possession but were unable to break the visitor’s defense. Hércules meanwhile made the most of their first realistic chance. Nelson Valdez put the visitors ahead because of some shabby defending by the home side. Nonetheless, the finishing was quite decent. Barcelona stepped up and Pique came close to scoring an important equalizer. Mascherano looked out of sorts in his first match, making it quite clear that the Argentine captain needs some time to get into the groove. He picked up a yellow card on his debut as early as in the 20th minute. Adriano was slotted in to replace his compatriot, but he surely lacked the bludgeoning capability of Alves.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: center;"> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="253" caption="Mr.Guardiola, where is PLAN B?"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-april-2010/image/8591716?term=pep+guardiola" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0px;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8591716/sports-news-april-2010/sports-news-april-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=8591716" border="0" alt="Apr. 21, 2010 - 05798821 date 20 04 2010 Copyright imago Sesa delusione Pep Guardiola Milano 20 4 2010 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza Inter Barcellona Inter Barcelona Champions League Semi-finals 1st Leg 2009 2010 Photo Andrea Staccioli Inside photo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITAxFRA Football men Champions League EC 1 2009 2010 Milan Single Vdig xkg 2010 vertical premiumd." width="253" height="380" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">The visitor’s Back Four were all on the wrong side of thirty, but they formed an excellent cohesive unit to deny the Catalans. Midfield pivots Matias Fritzler and Abel Aguilar too provided excellent support. The <em>Hérculanos</em> custodian too had a fabulous game making some very crucial saves. Nelson Valdez, the Paraguayan International completed his brace 13 minutes into the second half with a superb build up and a well taken shot from just inside the box. Gerard Pique’s regular forays into the opposition’s box showed how desperately the home team wanted to utilize the aerial route. From a Barcelona point of view, their <strong>Plan B is still missing</strong> from the scheme of things.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="380" caption="Hercules' Nelson Valdez (left) and Abel Aguilar (right) celebrate a goal against FC Barcelona "]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/hercules-player-nelson/image/9731836?term=nelson+valdez" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9731836/hercules-player-nelson/hercules-player-nelson.jpg?size=380&imageId=9731836" border="0" alt="Hercules' Nelson Valdez (L) and Abel Aguilar celebrate a goal against Barcelona during their Spanish first division soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, September 11, 2010. REUTERS/Albert Gea (SPAIN - Tags: SPORT SOCCER IMAGES OF THE DAY)" width="380" height="245" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Barcelona’s midfield lynchpin Xavi is yet to play a full game. The reason behind him not playing for the full 90 minutes isn’t known but <em>Catalan</em> fans might just have a reason or two to worry about their favourite son. Having achieved <em>EVERYTHING</em>, is the Spaniard on the verge of a burn-out? Well, this is too early in the season for such a question; nonetheless this is a concern serious enough to bother the fans.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: center;"> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="380" caption="Xavi: Why isn't he playing a full game?"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-july-2010/image/9339618?term=Xavi" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0px;" src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9339618/sports-news-july-2010/sports-news-july-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=9339618" border="0" alt="July 12, 2010 - 06162023 date 11 07 2010 Copyright imago BPI Xavi of Spain Celebrates Winning The World Cup Final Against Holland PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxFRAxNEDxESPxSWExPOLxCHNxJPN men Football World Cup National team international match Final Johannesburg Victory Winner World Champion Celebrations Vdig 2010 horizontal Highlight premiumd Football." width="380" height="253" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Pep Guardiola has always been accused of being <em>tactically weak</em> and that this weakness has been camouflaged by the abundance of talent. How far this is true will be tested this season as teams all over Europe have studied FC Barcelona like we <em>did our nursery rhymes</em>. This aberrant loss might not be a reason to be worried because last time FC Barcelona lost during the initial phases of the Spanish League was against yet another newly promoted side <em>Numancia</em>, back in 2008-09 but the end-season saw them as eventual champions.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Catalan’s won’t mind this shunt at the end of the season if they can repeat their 2008-09 heroics.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Let us all hope that <em>History repeats itself.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>