Four minutes after Lionel Messi tested the woodwork, Xavi Hernández has put Barcelona in front, finishing a deflected Andrés Iniesta pass to give the reigning Spanish champions a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute. The conversion came as a sprawling Marcelo seemed to block the Iniesta pass, with a clever piece of control from Xavi settling the ball enough for him to chip it over the oncoming Iker Casillas.
The movement started with Andres Iniesta bursting down the left flank, cutting in at 22 yards. David Villa bad a near post run, drawing both central defenders as Xavi ran today the middle of goal. A hard right-footed pass was headed right for Xavi near the spot when Marcelo slid in from his left back position, getting an outstretched right foot to the ball. The pass deflected up off the defenders leg, seemingly giving Casillas enough time to come for the ball. But at the last moment Xavi flicked the ball over the `keeper, into the open net, giving Barcelona an early lead.
Now in the 15th minute, the match remains scoreless. Up and down play has seen a chance for Ángel Di Maria and a near-opportunity for Karim Benzema despite Barcelona holding 75 percent of the possession.
