Benidorm 0 Barça 1
Tuesday, 28 October 08, 05:09 PM · Comments (6)
A goal in the 55th minute from Bojan Krkic gave Barça a 0-1 win over Benidorm in a boring first leg match in the Copa del Rey. The format of the Copa del Rey unfortunately gives us these tedious games where there really is very little of note to report. We all know that the format of the FA Cup in England produces a much more exciting competition so it really is difficult to understand why things are not changed in Spain. This was one of the rare occasions where I would quite happily have not watched the game but I felt for the sake of my loyal readers I ought to stick with it.
I suppose the only thing of advantage of games like this is that some of the players with fewer games under their belts get a chance to play, and Pep Guardiola gave starts to Pinto, Caceres, Pique, Busquets, Victor Sanchez, Hleb, Bojan and Sylvinho who played on the left wing. Barça controlled the game from start to finish with Benidorm's only chance being an early near post header that Pinto managed to palm away. Barça had quite a few chances in the first half the two clearest both fell to Bojan: in the ninth minute a great pass from Alves found the youngv striker but he shot wide of the far post when faced with the keeper, then in the 28th minute Bojan exchanged passes with Sylvinho but then his first touch let him down allowing Cabellero the Benidorm to come out and dive at his feet.
In the 55th minute Bojan made amends. Victor Sanchez robbed the ball in midfield, found Bojan who turned, ran forward and then hit a sweet curling shot inside the post from over 25 yards out. And that was just about it, Pique lashed one over the bar from close range near the end but by then the bar where I was watching had emptied and the staff were sweeping the floor. There was a first team debut for Abraham Gonzalez who came on for Busquets near the end but it was too late for him to have any impact on the game.
In two weeks' time we will have the return game at Camp Nou; now there's a game I really can't wait to see!
Barça: Pinto 6; Alves 6.5, Pique 6, Caceres 5, Abidal 6; Busquets 5.5, Toure 6, Victor Sanchez 5.5; Hleb 5.5, Bojan 5.5, Sylvinho 6.
Goal: m55 Bojan 0-1
Barça yellows: m47 Caceres, m69 Abidal.
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Would someone mind briefing those of us who are less knowledgeable about why the Copa is such a bad competition? I recall asking this same question last year, and I think someone told me it had to do with the lack of television coverage. Is there more to it than that?
I Love La Liga,,,,,But Copa Del Rey 
the first two rounds are the only boring games!! it usually gets better towards the end when we start playing the better teams!
Yeah Ive never understood why the Copa Rey suffers from such a lack of respect in Spain. However, in england the FA Cup is slowing getting worse, now its the Champions League or Premier League or nothing really. Although all of the top teams do play their best teams in the later rounds however even with big teams against big teams in Spain they play a weakened side.
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yeah great victory harry potter
Spain continues to live 20 years in the past with its football structure and that must be soooo annoying for those in Spain let alone foreign watchers like me. Great win for the young guns and good that Sammy was left unused. Didnt see the game as I couldnt find it on my satellite so will have to take Nic's word on the game!
Same for the return leg with more big guns on the bench should do nicely and congrats to Bojan for his goal!