Barca tries to bounce back from scoreless opener

Aug 31, 2007, 14:54 GMT

Barcelona, Spain - The signing of former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was the biggest swoop of the summer, and made an already potent Barcelona attack down right lethal.

However, the Catalan side enters Sunday's contest against Athletic Bilbao coming off of a 0-0 draw at Racing in a match that saw Barca play the final 23 minutes with a man advantage but still fail to find the back of the net.

Barca manager Frank Rijkaard opted to go with his proven trio of strikers up top as Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Leo Messi featured in the starting 11 with Henry on the bench.

Also joining Henry as a spectator to start the match was Deco, who has been rumored to be on his way out of the Nou Camp.

After a sluggish first half, Barca picked up the pace but still had no answer for a tough Racing back line. The passing was not quite as crisp and the shots all seemed a little less threatening, but that is to be expected on the season's opening day.

However, it was Barca's inability to capitalize with a numerical advantage that was the most concerning.

Henry came off the bench and nearly won the game in the final minutes when his right-footed effort came back off the post, and it will be interesting to see if Rijkaard was influenced at all by the Frenchman's positive performance.

Ronaldinho has been the topic of a huge move to Chelsea in the past week, but the club has continued to deny any concern that he will be playing anywhere but at the Nou Camp this season.

For now, Rijkaard needs to worry about how he will fit so many talented strikers into the lineup, and how he can keep these players, who are each used to starring roles, happy with occasional stints on the bench.

Scoring was the least of Barca's worries entering the season, and one game should not be cause for panic, but it is important that the club shows improvement and scores a few goals against Athletic Bilbao this week.

With captain Carlos Puyol out because of injury, Oleguer filled in capably and will hold down that spot until Puyol returns.

This is an extremely talented team that should begin to show its brilliance in the coming weeks. The club will play three of its next four games on home soil and should provide the home supporters with plenty to cheer about.

Also on Sunday, Valencia look to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat in its opener when the club visits Almeria, Mallorca travels to Atletico Madrid, Getafe meets Recreativo at Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Espanyol tries for its first points of the season at Real Betis, Valladolid entertains Deportivo and Villarreal meets up with Real Madrid in a matchup of teams that won their first game of the season.

On Saturday, promoted side Real Murcia, who won its opener, visit Levante and Real Zaragoza host a Racing side that earned a point from Barcelona in its opener.

Monday features a Sevilla team that is still reeling from the death of midfielder Antonio Puerta hitting the road to meet Osasuna.

© 2007 The Sports Network