Adriano, expert in breaking open defences

A full back’s job may not be to score goals, but Adriano has an attacking mentality that leads him to shoot on sight and as Malaga found to their cost on Sunday night, he’s not only able to work his way into the box, he’s also got a lethal long range shot on him.

The Brazilian has scored 11 goals in his four seasons at Barça so far and their importance to the team can be seen by the fact that on nine occasions he opened the scoring and whenever he’s scored, Barça have ended up winning.

Adriano goal? A guarantee of success!

In the ten games he’s scored – he bagged two in the 2011 World Club Cup game against Al-Saad–Barça have ended up winning. On Sunday night, his first half corker was the only goal of the game and gave Barça the points – just as his strikes against Valencia at the Camp Nou last season and in Gijon against Sporting the season before had done.

Adriano’s first goal for the Club was in the 2010/11 season against Almeria in the second leg of the Spanish Cup semi-final, when he scored a fine individual goal, breaking into the box and firing low past the keeper. His opening league gial came in his second season at El Molinón.   

Two footed danger

Adriano’s ability to control the ball and shoot with either foot has helped him bag some spectacular goals, with last season’s long range effort with his right foot against Valencia, or the similar effort against Santos in this season’s Gamper Trophy fine examples of his skill. In contrast, his beautifully struck curler on Sunday night was with his left foot  - as was his superb strike against Atletico Madrid in last season’s 4-1 win at the Camp Nou.