Objective: another final
FC Barcelona go out to defend a convincing 5-0 first leg win over Almería as they seek to qualify for yet another final (20.00h). Guardiola is taking his full squad, and only the injured Puyol, Jeffren and Iniesta have no chance of playing.
Barcelona (FCB).- Tonight’s game with Almería should be FC Barcelona’s penultimate challenge in the cup. The fixture at the Juegos Mediterráneos is surely the most important that the team has played all season – because there’s a cup final ticket at stake, the third major final of the Guardiola era. But despite winning 5-0 at the Camp Nou, Barça know they can’t afford to relax. The quarter final game against Betis has already taught them that lesson.
Attack the best form of defence
Also after winning 5-0 in the first leg, FC Barcelona were stunned by a great start from the green and whites, who immediately scored two goals in Seville. Tonight, Barça have to avoid making similar mistakes. “We’ll attack and we’ll attack” promised Guardiola on Wednesday, who feels the only way to defend their lead is to go out and extend it.
Rotations expected
So important is the game that Guardiola has called up the full squad to travel. Rotations are to be expected in the FC Barcelona eleven, especially with some tough fixtures around the corner, including the resumption of their Champions League campaign in February. That means some of the less regular starters may get a run out, including Barça B’s Thiago and Nolito, who are in the squad. All we know for sure is that the injured Puyol, Jeffren and Iniesta will play no part.
Almería missing Piatti
Meanwhile, Almeria are defending their best ever cup run, in which they have only lost once, at the Camp Nou. According to their manager José Luis Oltra, this game is a “challenge.” It certainly is after the Andalusians’ last two encounters with the Catalans have produced 13 goals, and all of those were scored by FCB in 8-0 and 5-0 wins. To complicate matters further, Oltra is going to have to go into the game without the injured Juanma Ortiz, Juanito, Marcelo Silva and Piatti, although the game should see the debut of Feghouli, who has just arrived on loan from Valencia.
BARÇA BITE
The other semi final to follow
The other semi final of the Copa del Rey features Madrid and Sevilla, and kicks off at 22.00, immediately after the Almeria v Barça match (as long as there is no extra time). Madrid won the first leg 1-0 at the Sánchez Pizjuán thanks to a goal from Benzema.