ronaldinho punishes púchov published: thursday 16 october 2003, 0.59cet
fc barcelona 8-0 škm púchov (agg: 9-1) ronaldinho sparkles in barça's emphatic home win.
ronaldinho was the toast of the camp nou after scoring a stunning hat-trick in fc barcelona's eight-goal demolition of škm púchov in their uefa cup first round second-leg match.
two doubles the catalan side, who had been held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg against the unfancied slovakians, completed the victory with doubles from javier saviola and midfield player luis enrique.
early opener it was barça's first home win of the season and summer recruit ronaldinho began the party, hooking the ball over púchov keeper tomas bernady and into the net with just six minutes played, following a rebound from a saviola shot.
pre-match doubt the brazilian international, who was doubtful before the game with a leg injury, soon doubled barça's advantage with a spectacular half-volley in the 13th minute after thiago motta's effort had been saved.
curling free-kick it was another brazilian who put frank rijkaard's side 3-0 up - motta's curling free-kick from the edge of the area leaving keeper bernady rooted to the spot.
stunning goal ronaldinho's third goal was arguably the best of the night. he completed his hat-trick with a stunning solo strike, racing from 10 metres inside the púchov half before sending a sensational chip over the head of a bemused bernady. he still had time to set-up luis enrique for barcelona's fifth before leaving the pitch to a standing ovation midway through the second half.
further strikes the scoring continued in his absence, saviola registering his first in the 73rd minute and luis enrique on target again two minutes later when he bundled in from close range. saviola compounded púchov's misery when he rounded off the scoring with his side's eighth goal after a brilliant overhead pass from the impressive gerard lópez.
