Barca give sorry Hibs a 'real lesson'

THE dire predictions in the build-up to last night's match at Murrayfield between Barcelona and Hibernian had largely concerned the expected size of the crowd. In the circumstances, at over 23,000 that was respectable, but Hibs' performance in their 6-0 defeat was anything but.

Playing their first of two matches in Scotland – they meet Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow – Barcelona were awe-inspiring, with Lionel Messi showing why he is currently regarded as the best player in the world. Even so, having been back in training for longer, Hibs should have done more to at least make their illustrious opponents fight for the victory.

With his team yet to score a goal, Mixu Paatelainen does not have his problems to seek. The Hibs manager, however, said he is still confident that everything will be in place by the time the SPL begins in a fortnight, and he is not worried as the new season looms.

"No, not at all," the Finn said. "We got a real lesson there. Now we analyse it – we sit down and watch it and the players won't like it. It will be fine when (the visit to] Kilmarnock comes around. We're working towards that."

Having put that brave face on, Paatelainen accepted his side had been torn apart. "I'm very disappointed. We knew we were going to be up against it, but, especially in the first half, we should have defended better. They're an absolutely fantastic side. Their movement and passing was first class. I want to give all the credit to Barca."

Yet no matter how fantastic Barcelona were, Paatelainen had to concede it was not exactly a pleasant experience seeing his team being shredded by them.

"I was gutted when the sixth goal went in, and I was gutted when the first goal went in," he added. "It's very lonely and painful to stand out there."

Ian Murray, who played for the first half before giving way to a French trialist, Steven Thicot, whom Paatelainen hopes to sign, offered a similar interpretation of events. "It was not enjoyable to be three down after 15 minutes," the midfielder said. "But it was great to play against these players. We might not get the chance again. You have to take the opportunities when they come.

"Obviously it is quite embarrassing to be beaten 6-0. It's not a great advert for us or Scottish football, but I would think they would beat most teams."

There were at least two consolations from the match for Dean Shiels. One, he was his team's most impressive performer, and two, at the end he changed shirts with Messi.

"At times they made us look quite stupid, but we should not be embarrassed," Shiels said. "They are a world-class team."

At least those who turned up to watch the match did not feel as lonely as many had forecast. While the lowest suggestions were that the crowd would fail to climb above 20,000, the actual attendance was closer to the 25,000 which the organisers, management company Platinum One, had hoped for.

Still, even though the size of this crowd compares favourably with almost every attendance Hibs have had in Edinburgh for the past quarter-century, it is less than half the size of the crowd which turned up at the rugby ground to watch Hearts play Barcelona almost exactly a year ago. Those who turned up last night were at least rewarded with a far more incident-packed game than the one which Hearts lost 12 months ago.

It was a rewarding debut as Barca manager for Pep Guardiola, who insisted he did not think the game had been too easy. "I know we'll have tougher games than this, but to start with it's OK," he said.

Guardiola politely praised Alan O'Brien – "their winger was fast and is a good player" – but, in truth, no-one in a green shirt gave him anything like the headache he is experiencing over the possible loss of Messi on Olympic duty. The matter remains unresolved, and while anxious to hold on to the Argentine player, Guardiola simply needs a decision as soon as possible.

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