Leaving nothing to chance

Half the job done, half the job left to do. FC Barcelona, following the 5-0 first leg win, are off to Seville tonight (22.00, La Sexta and R@dio Barça) to settle qualification for the cup semi finals. Alves and Puyol are the only players missing.

Roger Bogunyà

January 19, 2011 06:38 PM

Barcelona (FCB).- Josep Guardiola has once again shown just how seriously he takes every single match his team plays, for he is taking a full strength team to the Andalusian capital night. All he is leaving behind are the injured Alves and Puyol. Bartra is the only B team player included in a side that will be facing a packed Benito Villamarín hoping their side can do the apparently impossible and turn around the massive first leg deficit.


No time for rest

Betis managed to make life difficult for Barça in the first leg, and won’t be going into this game feeling they already surrendered their chance at the Camp Nou. Guardiola made it clear in his press conference that has nothing but respect for the opposition and was impressed by how well they played a week ago. And that’s why he is not going to risk leaving any stars out of his squad for the return game.

Up for the cup

But the 5-0 margin surely means the players won’t be under anything like the pressure they faced in the previous round at San Mamés, where they needed to score. It wouold be a huge shock if Barcelona didn’t go into the semi final, where they will face either Almeria or Deportivo in a week’s time.

Record breaking Betis

But it would be wise to only worry about the Benito Villamarín for now, where the second division outfit are running away with their division after breaking just about every record going in the category. Just like FCB in the top flight, Betis are on extraordinary form, and just need one more point to break the record for the most points ion the first half of the season. Let the show begin!