Copa del rey [ Semi-Finals | 1st leg]: Valencia CF Vs FCBarcelona

~ Available Players: 14 First team Players +
Barca B players trained with 1st team on Monday: -Isaac Cuenca, Jonathan dos Santos, Tello, and Sergi Roberto- along with Rosell, Espinosa, Balliu, and Sergi Gómez.

Read more: http://www.totalbarca.com/2012/news/22-players-prepare-for-valencia/#ixzz1l1FUFpvt


~Injuries:
- Pedro [should be back winthin a week?]
- Iniesta [Out for 3 weeks, 25 Jan].
- Long-term Injuries: Fontas, Afellay & Villa.

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Line-ups Predictions, Formation, Score? Discuss.


======================

~ Barca Stats:

`FCBarcelona Vs Valencia:

#FCBarcelona played 5 times vs Valencia in Copa del Rey, Semi-Finals: Won in (1942, 1963, 1990), Lost in (1949, 2008)

#FCBarcelona record vs Valencia [Copa del Rey]: 33matches [18W, 7D, 8L] | Goal-Difference: 74-53 [+21]

#FCBarcelona played 17 ties Vs Valencia in Copa del Rey History: 11W, 6L

@MessiStats vs Valencia [at Mestalla]: 2W, 3D, 1L | scored 2goals and assisted 4 in 439 minutes.

@MessiStats vs Valencia: 6W, 5D, 1L | scored 6goals and assisted 5 in 959 minutes.

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~ FCBarcelona Away Record [2011-2012]

#FCBarcelona record, Champions League: 3 away matches [3wins], also 3/3 in Copa del Rey

#FCBarcelona away record this season [all comp. minus laliga]: 9W, 1D, 0L | Goal-Difference: 6-20 [+14]

#FCBarcelona away record this season in #laliga: 4W, 5D, 1L | GoalDifference: 10-16
[+6]

Stats via https://twitter.com/BarcaStatistics

I am hoping for........


-----------------------Pinto------------------------

Dani Alves----Machete---------Pique----------Abidal

---------------------Busquets---------------------

------------Xavi----------------Thiago------------

Alexis-----------------Messi-------------------Tello


If Pique isnt fit enough then Abidal to the middle and Adriano to leftback. Puyol the last 2-3 games has looked a little dodgy.


I dont think this will be the line up though. I bet Cesc will play, I just at least hope its not for Thiago.

Maybe Cuenca instead of Tello, but who knows.

Pedro is certainly out for next two games. He could be back for the return of the cup semis against Valencia next week. [ cat radio]

Holy crap, how unlucky is Pedro this season with injuries!

Btw, the game is on:
01-02-2012 21:00

IMO,

Pinto
Alves Masche Pique Abidal
Thiago Sergio Cesc
Alexis Messi Tello

Puyol & Xavi needs rest !

~ 14 First-Team Players in training today morning + Barça B payers: Isaac Cuenca, Jonathan dos Santos, Tello, Sergi Roberto, Marc Bartra, Marc Muniesa, Montoya and Rodri.



http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/futbol/primer-equip/detall/noticia/primer-entrenament-del-dia

Playing a player who plays in B system, can cost you the game guys, I dont think its wise letting Tello play such a tough game.
My suggestion would be to play Pedro instead, but still my opinion only.

Pedro is injured.

And we use our B team, because playing is the only way they are going to get better.

Rather that sitting and watching.

Tello gave a good cameo on the weekend, so if Cuenca got his chance and did well, lets see what Tello can do.

The Franchise wrote:Pedro is injured.

And we use our B team, because playing is the only way they are going to get better.

Rather that sitting and watching.

Tello gave a good cameo on the weekend, so if Cuenca got his chance and did well, lets see what Tello can do.

Oh my bad, in that case I agree playing Tello in attack is a good idea.

Khaledbarca wrote:~ 14 First-Team Players in training today morning + Barça B payers: Isaac Cuenca, Jonathan dos Santos, Tello, Sergi Roberto, Marc Bartra, Marc Muniesa, Montoya and Rodri.



http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/futbol/primer-equip/detall/noticia/primer-entrenament-del-dia

14 first teamers fit? 14?!?! For the best club side in the world, wtf!

Big game against very good team that always create us a problems. Hopefully no 3-4-3. Xavi and Puyol are very tired but knowing Pep they will all start. Messi is also tired, but he always wants to play. Mascherano should start with one of Puyol/Pique with him. With Pinto in the goal we are sure to concede. 1-1 or one goal win for us or Valencia is my prediction.

1 – Barcelona have only won one of their last six visits to the Mestalla in the Cup, conceding an average of 2.5 goals per game. Struggle.

4 – Valencia have eliminated Barça in their last four matches over two legs (two Copa del Rey, one Supercopa, one Champions League). Barrier

With that being said though, Valencia have only managed 3 wins out of 8 in 2012, losing to Sevilla and Sociedad while racking up draws against Villareal, Osasuna and Santander.

Barcelona on the hand look in much better shape even without the mighty Iniesta.

I see Barcelona going through might struggle in the first leg away but if you can come away with a win or a draw you will demolish them at home to go through.

~ Guardiola (coach) Record at the Mestalla:
1W, 3D, 0L | Goal-Difference: 4-5 [+1] | 2-2, 0-0, 0-1, 2-2.

Khaledbarca wrote:~ Guardiola (coach) Record at the Mestalla:
1W, 3D, 0L | Goal-Difference: 4-5 [+1] | 2-2, 0-0, 0-1, 2-2.

why can't pep out-coach emery?

Khaledbarca wrote:~ Guardiola (coach) Record at the Mestalla:
1W, 3D, 0L | Goal-Difference: 4-5 [+1] | 2-2, 0-0, 0-1, 2-2.

This stats are only for games vs Valencia. Overall Pep as a coach at Mestalla :
2W, 3D, 1L, Goal-Difference: 9-6, +3, 2-2, 4-1, 0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 2-2.

We played two Copa del Rey Finals at Mestalla under Pep: vs Athletic 4-1 win and vs Real Madrid (0-1 loss after extra time, I counted this as a loss, but if you count this as 90 minutes game, it is a draw).

Valencia and Emery are a talented and smart team, there really is nothing Pep can do.

He has done great things tactically againt them previously but guys like Banega just have career games against us.

Its always the same, Valencia early have the tactical edge and then Pep changes it and we get the upper hand. Whoever does the best in their part of the game usually gets the better result.

Here are some of the great things Pep has done tactically vs them;

Change to Brazil's 442

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/14/barcelona-3-0-valencia-messi-hattrick-henry-deep-forward/

Higher fullbacks and Iniesta dropping deeper

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/10/19/barcelona-2-1-valencia-tactics/


Failed 3 man at the back then change back to normal

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/03/03/valencia-0-1-barcelona-tactics/



Half time changes

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/09/22/valencia-2-2-guardiola-emery-gets-the-better-of-guardiola-early-on-but-barca-fight-back/



Overall, both coaches have tactically done battle fantastic. Look at all of them, some very intresting tactical points and I expect these 2 game to be much the same. I expect a struggle and Pep will have to on his game tactically.

Any lineups yet?

~ Starting Line-up: Pinto; Piqué, Puyol, Abidal, Mascherano; Cesc, Busquets, Thiago; Alexis, Messi, Cuenca.

-Bench: Valdés, Adriano, Alves, Sergi Roberto, dos Santos, Xavi and Tello.


~ Valencia lineup: Diego Alves, Miguel, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Mathieu, Albelda, Éver Banega, Piatti, Jonas, Jordi Alba and Soldado .

We'll see if it's a 343 or 433 soon I suppose, I hope Pep learned his lesson though last game at the Mestalla where we were getting owned using 343.

streams?

looks like a clear 433 with puyol at RB and abidal at LB

Anyone got a good link?

http://veetle.com/index.php/channel/view#4f148de399323

Se7en wrote:looks like a clear 433 with puyol at RB and abidal at LB

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking but it could be Puyol Pique Abidal CBs and Masche in the mid with Cesc behind Messi.

Anyway time for Cesc to step up as CM and show why he is a world class midfielder.