Copa del Rey Semifinal, 2nd leg, Thursday 3pm EST

By: Isaiah | May 9th, 2007

Tomorrow is another game, but one lacking a the spark associated with recent Barcelona games. Sure it’s the domestic cup semifinal, but Barcelona enter with a 3 goal lead and the need to rest some of their stars. The league, as always, is the most important competition and so the focus will remain on that. Barcelona’s official website lists the following 16 man roster:

Valdés, Jorquera, Puyol, Xavi, Edmílson, Zambrotta, Iniesta, Eto’o, Belletti, Gudjohnsen, Van Bronckhorst, Saviola, Oleguer, Ronaldinho, Giuly and Sylvinho.

The notable exceptions are Lionel Messi and Lilian Thuram whose absences are not injury related, but rather they’re “being rested” for the weekend match against Real Betis. Unsurprisingly Santiago Ezquerro joins them in the stands while Rafa Marquez, Deco, and Thiago Motta are all sidelined through injuries. Jorquera will get the start in goal and that’s probably deserved since he’s been the man there throughout the whole Copa del Rey campaign. Plus, they’re up by 3 goals.

That lead is certainly no reason to sit back and take it easy because Getafe are a dangerous side and they’re playing at home. This would be a good time for Bojan or Dos Santos to step up into the first team, but it isn’t to be as Bojan is in Belgium with the Spanish U-17 team and Dos Santos is obviously not in the lineup (nor should he be since I personally do prize the domestic cup or at least just dislike losing).

I expect an open game with Getafe needing so many goals, which means Barcelona should be able to capitalize on the counterattack, though they should still rely on their patented ball-control method. If they can grab 65% of possession they should win, so long as that possession is not merely passes around the back designed to kill off the game from minute 1. That would merely mean Getafe would retain possession more often around the center line and would be in a much better position to get the ball into the box. Both teams are solid defensive teams (Getafe have the best goals allowed record in the league and Barcelona are third overall, second away from home)*, so it could come down to who has the best game at the back, not really who approaches with the better tactic.

You never know, of course, but Barcelona obviously has a distinct advantage here and it would be a serious blow to club moral if they end up losing 3-0 or worse. It could end up being a death knell for the league too as losses of that kind tend to be devestating not just at the time, but during the next match as well.

Regardless of who comes out on top, they will face Sevilla in the final on June 23 after the latter beat Deportivo 2-0 at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday for a 5-0 aggregate victory. Not much competition there, but whoever gets to the final will, hopefully, provide for a more attractive game.

*League stats: Getafe have allowed 6 goals at home and scored 20; Barcelona have scored 26 goals away and allowed 20. Getafe have a 9W-7D-1L record at home while Barcelona have a 6W-5D-6W record at home.

Copa del Rey stats: At home, Getafe are 1W-1D-1L with 5 goals scored and 3 allowed while Barcelona are 3W-0D-0L away with 6 goals scored and 2 allowed. For those of you hadn’t realized that, it’s somewhat surprising considering Barcelona’s league away record, but hopefully they can continue that unbeaten streak.