COPA Del Rey Final: Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao

Wait WTF that makes no sense at all.

Are they trying to get people killed?

Let's hope nothing goes down before the match...

Anyway, can someone confirm if these formations are accurate or not? Especially bilbao's:

http://eurosoccerweb.com/copa-del-rey-barcelona-bilbao/

Ohh I see totalbarca already has a tactical analysis on the match.

_LMG_10_ wrote:Let's hope nothing goes down before the match...

Anyway, can someone confirm if these formations are accurate or not? Especially bilbao's:

http://eurosoccerweb.com/copa-del-rey-barcelona-bilbao/

Lol no... Definitely not. Who did that? They managed to get the Bilbao team almost 100% wrong. I don't think they've ever seen them play.

Sport predicts: (95% certain I'd say)

Is Bielsa seriously going to go for the 4-3-3? He would be much better served to use the 4-2-3-1, which has been much more succesful for him.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Is Bielsa seriously going to go for the 4-3-3? He would be much better served to use the 4-2-3-1, which has been much more succesful for him.

It will be definitely more like a 4-2-3-1, but those will be the players. If they change anything, it might be to add some more energy and steel to the midfield in place of De Marcos.

CBarca wrote:Wait WTF that makes no sense at all.

Are they trying to get people killed?

What are you guys surprised? This is Spain. Most of their people and main powers are all in favour of hating catalan and basques. Fortunately, I don't think I'll be at risk cause I'm arriving at Madrid around 19:00 and the fascist demonstration should be over at that time.

Madrid's community president, Esperanza Aguirre, even said that if we whistle the Prince and the Spanish hymn, the match should be suspended and she made install a 100.000 watt set of speakers for the hymn. I fear for my ears.

Anyway, I will leave my lungs whistling from the stands the bleeping hymn and Prince tonight....
I hope to see a good match and that we win it!

Visca el Barça i Visca Catalunya!

free_cat wrote:

CBarca wrote:Wait WTF that makes no sense at all.

Are they trying to get people killed?

What are you guys surprised? This is Spain. Most of their people and main powers are all in favour of hating catalan and basques. Fortunately, I don't think I'll be at risk cause I'm arriving at Madrid around 19:00 and the fascist demonstration should be over at that time.

Madrid's community president, Esperanza Aguirre, even said that if we whistle the Prince and the Spanish hymn, the match should be suspended and she made install a 100.000 watt set of speakers for the hymn. I fear for my ears.

Anyway, I will leave my lungs whistling from the stands the bleeping hymn and Prince tonight....
I hope to see a good match and that we win it!

Visca el Barça i Visca Catalunya!

Stay safe, don't run into any Ultras.

All these fascist and separatist movements are for old racist people and frustrated males who don't get much action down there.

BarcaKizz wrote:It will be definitely more like a 4-2-3-1, but those will be the players. If they change anything, it might be to add some more energy and steel to the midfield in place of De Marcos.

I'm not so sure about that. Bielsa used the 4-3-3 in his last match against us, and in the final against Atletico. Both of which were a mistake in my judgement but I don't know if he sees it that way. I wouldn't be surprised to see him use that.

@danyjr you are miserable to say that separatism is the same than fascism. we are Democratic and peaceful, and we are pretty well served down there.

you guys will sweep the floor with bilbao

free_cat wrote:@danyjr you are miserable to say that separatism is the same than fascism. we are Democratic and peaceful, and we are pretty well served down there.

I have lived in Spain long enough to know most of it is, with all due respect, bull. I fully sympathise with communities which had been under Spain's dictatorship for many years and I respect them. But let's not fool ourselves. In Barcelonès, many people (especially newer generations) speak Castellano as their main means of communication. I was grown up in Barcelona and almost all my friends speak Castellano to each other not Catlaan. Outside the city and in countryside, I agree more people speak Catalan and feel Catalan. But the funny thing is even those people from the city whom their main language is Castellano regularly go to Plaça and sing Els Segadors. Isn't that hypocritical? Anyway, sorry if I offended you. I didn't mean everyone who is a separatist is miserable.

On topic:
Still don't understand why Bielsa doesn't play Javi as DM instead of Iturraspe and San José in defence.

Because Javi is superior with the ball and they intend on passing out from the back as much as possible, rather than giving it away cheaply.

Pep to start Keita and Cesc one more time to troll the fans

Yup Mole, I fear of it too. 3-4-3, Montoya on the bench, Adriano, Masche, Pique in defence, Xavi, Busi, Keita and Cesc in mid, Iniesta wasted as LW again (((((, Messi and one of Pedro/Alexis in the attack. I hope we will see classic 4-3-3 with Xaviestquets in the midfield but I doubt it.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Pep to start Keita and Cesc one more time to troll the fans

MOLE REVERSE JINX



3-0 at the half, good job Barca, Pedro is bossmode-ing it.

I knew this would happen... 3-0 at halftime. We've looked incredible.

Xavi is on fire. The general is back. Iniesta and Messi as well

Pedro's back! I knew he would score in this game. Great overall too, looks like he wants that Euro spot.

Iniesta is awesome so far, Tito I believe you won't put him as a LW in any game, keep Don in CM. Pedro - clinical. Pinto, Sanchez and Adriano our worst players, Sanchez is really average.

Bilbao had a poor game. Tactically terrible, typical loco really. And that was definitely a penalty and Piqué should have been red carded.

Pedro saving his best game of the season until the end.

Alexis, he plays so nervous and so uninspired. It is not in his nature to play the Barcelona way. He needs to be more free and play with his instinct. Same reason why I think Neymar won't succeed in Barça.

Piqué had a good game. Lively, confident, bold and focused. Something we hadn't seen from him for a year.

Great game, killed it in first 30min, rest does miracles on concentration and precision.

matpol wrote:Iniesta is awesome so far, Tito I believe you won't put him as a LW in any game, keep Don in CM. Pedro - clinical. Pinto, Sanchez and Adriano our worst players, Sanchez is really average.

How exactly? Adriano had a great game... Solid and great going forward. I would say his second half was better but his first want not bad at all. Such an impressive player for me.


Another note... All season I've wanted to use Thiago more as a left-forward. His footwork is so magical, he can certainly play there and let Iniesta and Adriano into his space at times. Skinned his man at least twice in about 5 minutes. If Pedro is the other winger stretching play and running in behind, Thiago is perfect in a Ronaldinho type role. I would have tried this more often at least. Much better than Alexis who stops the whole play to pass back, so we have to go back to our CBs to restart play. More Thiago plz.


Great way to send off the mister. Visca el Barca! Visca Pep!!!

Outstanding performance! As soon as the whistle blew, all I could think of was: no more Pep. That's the end of that. For some reason, it came to me like a sudden realization.

Anyway, great game, Pedro really impressed me. No way is he going to be left out of the Spain squad now. Also that finish from Messi!