Ten-Man Barca Held By Almeria

n a spirited contest at the Mediterraneo, the blaugrana twice took the lead, but Almeria's discipline and ability from set-pieces saw them through.

So too did Gabi Milito's late sending-off, which took place in the context of a match that saw the hosts pick up no bookings while the visitors amassed five.

Barcelona lined up in their usual 4-3-3, but one heavily modified by injury. Ronaldinho missed out while Lionel Messi tended his own knock. Toure Yaya, meanwhile, was also on the treatment table.

Thierry Henry, meanwhile, sat on the bench to allow Iniesta into a left-forward position. In turn, Eidur Gudjohnsen joined Edmilson and an on-song Xavi in midfield.

Almeria are also practioners of a 4-3-3, albeit with a more aerial flavour. Crusat and Juanma Ortiz started on either side of Negredo up front, while Juanito went toe-to-toe with Edmilson in central midfield.

In any case, Barcelona enjoyed most of the early possession, but found themselves battled to the hilt by an Almeria side eager to take their second big-name scalp of the season after having already beaten Real Madrid.

Still, Barcelona's pressure eventually paid off when Andres Iniesta carved out a fine opening goal on the quarter hour mark.

The midfielder, clearly relishing his advanced role, conducted a fine excursion down the left before cutting inside and stinging Diego Alves' gloves with a low shot. While the 'keeper did get a touch to it, Bojan Krkic was on hand to toe-end the rebound into the back of the net.

While Iniesta was the architect, credit must also go to Bojan for his energy and positioning, and he continued to impress heading further into the half.

However, so too did Almeria, who moved the ball from defence to midfield with pace and height in order to counteract the Barcelona threat from having the ball on the deck.

Indeed, it was the aerial threat that resulted in the equaliser just after half time. The Mediterraneo men won a corner which Corona floated in to the edge of the six-yard box. With marker Lilian Thuram nowhere, former Getafe defender Ruben Pulido glanced a fine header past Valdes to make it 1-1.

With the home fans willing them on, Almeria again pressed on, with Corona's rocket of an effort ten minutes from half time flying just over Valdes' bar.

Mané, too, came close, but the half almost ended in Barcelona's favourite as the effervescent Xavi set up Bojan for a one-on-one from the narrow angle, which Diego Alves did well to save.

Heading into the second period, both sides had their chances, but it was the introduction of Thierry Henry for Edmilson ten minutes after the break that made the difference.

The French forward received the ball from Xavi out on the left, where he mazed his way past Aitor Lopez Rekarte before cutting the ball back for Samuel Eto'o at the near post. The Cameroonian centre-forward duly netted, and Barcelona had the advantage.

The match had already had a few bad-moments, but only Puyol had picked up a yellow card before the referee began to stamp his authority on the match with quickfire bookings for Iniesta and Milito around the hour mark.

After some end-to-end action involving a Negredo header and a Henry near-miss, the latter of these was to prove decisive as Gabi Milito picked up his second yellow card of the evening.

Barcelona's going down to ten men necessitated a tactical change, with Bojan coming off for Sylvinho as Abidal moved into the centre of defence.

It seemed to pay off as the hosts found themselves contained - until four minutes from time.

The equaliser came from yet another corner. Corona drifted the ball in from out wide, shifting it in for Kala Uche to make it 2-2.

Injury time arrived with Barcelona eager to net the winner, but in fact Almeria had done enough for the draw.