Copa Del Rey Preview: Atletico Madrid - Barça
Monday, 05 January 09, 02:11 PM · Comments(12)
Pep Guardiola will make several changes to the team that beat Mallorca for tomorrow night's Copa del Rey first leg game at Atletico Madrid. Carles Puyol, Rafa Marquez and Alex Hleb are all nursing injuries while Victor Valdés, Xavi Hernandez, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Samuel Eto'o have all been rested and will not travel. Coming into the 16 man squad are Albert Jorquera, Martin Caceres, Gerard Pique, Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Messi.
Atletico's coach Javier Aguirre has announced the team that will start against Barça and the surprise is that dangerman Kun Agüero will start on the bench. There will be six changes to the side that lost 3-1 at Valencia with Coupet, Seitardis, Antonio Lopez, Maniche, Maxi Rodriguez and Sinama Pongolle replacing Leo Franco, Ujfalusi, Pernia, Raul Garcia, Luis Garcia and Agüero. Atletico's starting XI will thus be: Coupet; Seitardis, Antonio Lopez, Perea, Heitinga; Maxi Lopez, Assunçao, Maniche, Simao, Sinama Pongolle, Forlan. After losing 6-1 at Camp Nou in October Atletico then lost 1-2 at home to Real Madrid before embarking on a 15-match unbeaten run which came to an end with the defeat at Valencia.
Barça haven't won the Copa since winning the league and cup double under Louis Van Gaal back in 1998 so it would be great to win it this year. While the Copa is not as important as the league or Champions League we have enough of a cushion in the league to put in a serious challenge this season. Messi, Alves and Iniesta will almost certainly start and possibly Thierry Henry will be the only player from the team against Mallorca who starts. Atletico will want revenge for the 6-1 thrashing in the league and tomorrow's game will no doubt be complicated. The first objective will be to score an away goal while it will be a real test for our defence without Puyol and Marquez.
Barça's 16-man squad: Pinto, Jorquera, Alves, Piqué, Caceres, Abidal, Sylvinho, Victor Sanchez, Toure, Busquets, Keita, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro, Bojan, Henry.
Barça's possible starting XI: Pinto; Alves, Pique, Caceres, Sylvinho; Keita, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Bojan, Henry.
My prediction: Atletico 2 Barça 2
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12 Comments · Add yours
It would be great to see Bojan in the starting-11 tomorrow.
Is there any news on Milito?
My prediction: Atl. Madrid 1-1 Barca
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw it's great to test our defence without puyol and marques.
we will win tomorow night because still our boys including iniesta,messi, alves, and keita so it's same.
my prediction is : atletico madrid 2--3 barca .
I hope Guardiola's overconfidence in his bench players does not cost us the tie. I have a bad feeling about this game !!
I think its going to be a tough game for Barca especially their goalie and their defence seems to be a bit shaky from sylvinho, Pique and Caceres but also Atletico won't find it easy because of course its Barca not any other team and its Messi against them. Maybe 2-1 for Barca with Messi and Bojan grabbing Barca's goals Forlan for the Madridistas. But also as FCB-Holland said maybe Pep's over confidence might cost him the game although I doubt that unless he rested Messi then there is a definite problem in this. Does anyone know how long will Milito be out for? because its been a long time since we saw him play. I think Pique should be loaned out to Roma because they need a cb and Barca have plenty in his position and he could gain a good experience at a club like Roma. Also Henrique is out on loan why not loan the player with an option to buy. Frede's score seems to be te most likely but we will wait and see fot what happens. Maybe a surprise like atleti win 3-1 or something like that nobody knows what might happen.
Ithink that Pep is a bit confident . the prob is in the defence of Barça since Carlos won't play .Anyway, Barça seems that they don't really care about Copa del rey.But we really wann see a gud match there of course in Barça favour .
we will lose this one 2-1 - but the away goal will be crucial. Look for Pep to field our best 11 on the return leg and we'll be fine.
In anycase, its only the copa del rey - I'd rather our boys rest and whip the next team in la liga than get injured or whatever in this one.
pinto - alves - pique - caceres - sylvinho - keita - busquets - inesta - messi - bojan - henry
we can have a good game but the midfield will really need to assist in defensive work and i hope caceres starts justifying the amount we paid for him, he needs to concentrate more, i think our ability to hold possession will be crucial
athletico 1- 2 barca
It will be a tough tie, but if Atleti are just gonna think about getting revenge, then they'll be hurt. Pep knows what he's doing, so there should be know reason to doubt him what so ever. Barca however must be cautious in defence, with everyone helping out.
Barca are taking the Kings Cup seriously, we last won it in 1998 and mosty of the players would like to win it since most of them have never won it. Motivation will be high.
Marquez and Puyol were left out as they are nursing some injuries from the Mallorca match, but they are nothing serious.
Pinto, Alves, Pique, Caceras, Sylvinho, Busquets, Keita, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Bojan (subs: Henry, Abidal, Sanchez)
Barca 2-1
I'd like to see Caceras as the right back and Abidal in center, like he plays for France. The Pique - Caceras duo at center back is too inexperienced to handle Forlan.
Messi is always motivated against Atletico and Bojan really needs to make the most of his playing time. The offense is motivated and tore up Atletico last time, I can't see Atletico keeping Barca off the scoreboard.
I think we should either go for this game or not. Whats the point of resting Eto, but not Henry? Why play Messi but no Xavi?
I think Pep has done great but I dont see the point of having half hearted attempts in games. We have a bad back line tonight, so if we lose the players that play ie Messi and Henry and Pique will feel bad and that might stay with them for other games. Momentum is key at the minute and if we badly with the 70% good players tonight against a strong Athletico team, I just think it might be bad in the long run for confidence and momentum in the league.
But... I hope I am wrong!!
A solid 0-0 or 1-1 would be good for me, prefiction: ATM 0-0 BAR
Well , I was wrong ! You can't really bet against Barça when Messi is in the lineup. He scored all three goals. It could've been four. Fantastic !!
hope the pessimists are happy now
