Easy win for FC Barcelona

 　　MADRID, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- League Champions FC Barcelona returned to BBVA Primera Liga action following a two-week break with a comfortable 4-0 win over Zaragoza in the Camp Nou stadium on Saturday night.

　　Gerard Pique¹, Leo Messi, Carles Puyol and David Villa² scored the goals on a day in which Barca coach Pep Guardiola was able to rest several key players.

　　The game sprang to life after 18 minutes in which Barcelona had been in control, but looked sluggish³ after the international games of the last fortnight.

　　Guardiola started with Leo Messi in his side along with Alexis Sanchez, but Andres Iniesta and Villa were rested on the subs' bench after their efforts with Spain against Costa Rica on Tuesday night.

　　Gerard Pique opened the scoring on 18 minutes with a close range header following Xavi Hernandez's curling⁴ free kick. Pique lost his marker and only had to nod the ball past Zaragoza keeper Roberto Jimenez from the edge of the six yard box.

　　Zaragoza had hardly strung two passes together, but Helder Postiga was unfortunate to see Pique block a goal-bound shot four minutes later as his side launched⁵ a quick break, but that was all Zaragoza produced in the first half as Roberto turned into the hero for the visitors.

　　The keeper produced a double save to deny Messi and Alexis shortly afterwards and also parried a Maxwell drive as the Barca took control.

　　Without being at their best Barca had the visitors penned in their own half and Messi saw another shot blocked before doubling Barca's lead three minutes from time following a flowing passing move from his side. Once the ball reached Messi turned the defender⁶ before beating Roberto with a left foot shot.

　　Puyol scored Barca's third from close range eight minute into the second half. The club captain scrambled⁷ the ball into the back of the net after Seydou Keita had nodded down a cross from the left.

　　Guardiola reacted by taking Xavi and Alexis, replacing them with Iniesta and Thiago Alcantara, while Villa came on soon afterwards.

　　Villa made it 4-0 15 minutes from time with a diving header from a Cuenca cross. It was the perfect end to an easy night for Barca against a rival⁸ that appeared to be happy not to concede⁹ further goals or suffer any injuries to key players.

1 pique   

v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气

参考例句：

• She went off in a fit of pique.她一赌气就走了。
• Tom finished the sentence with an air of pique.汤姆有些生气地说完这句话。

2 villa   

n.别墅，城郊小屋

参考例句：

• We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
• We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。

3 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

4 curling   

n. 苏格兰的冰上掷石游戏, 头发的卷曲, 卷缩 动词curl的现在分词

参考例句：

• Curling hair styles are all the cry this year. 今年烫发的发型很流行。
• I love curling up in an armchair with a good book. 我爱在扶手椅上蜷作一团看我喜欢的书。

5 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

6 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

7 scrambled   

v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 rival   

n.竞争对手，敌手；vt.与…相匹敌，比得上

参考例句：

• None of us can rival him in strength.我们谁也没他劲大。
• She defeat all her rival for the job with nonchalant ease.她从容不迫地击败求职的所有竞争者。

9 concede   

vt.承认，容许，（比赛结束前）认输，退让

参考例句：

• I concede that you are right.我承认你是对的。
• He will not concede what anything ails his business.他不允许任何事情来干扰他的工作。