CDR preview: Córdoba vs FC Barcelona: Time for the Copa…

This is a cuppa. It is not the Copa. It just sounds similar.

First of all, apologies to those of you who don’t really understand the title of this – “time for the Copa” sounds a lot like “time for a cuppa”, which is a commonly used term for an erm, cup of tea, in Britain. I say it a lot anyway. Or something…yeah…moving swiftly on.

But it is time for another Copa match! This time Barça face Córdoba, who Barça B played against earlier this season and lost 2-1. That’s what happens when you have Eusebio in charge. You lose. Often. However, with Barça yet to lose a match this season – in La Liga and the Copa, obviously – what are the odds of losing to Córdoba? Tito was of course very respectful in his press conference ahead of the match with the usual, “everyone expects us to win but the game will be very difficult”, and actually, given how difficult Barça like to make things for themselves this season, I can actually believe that.

The official website claim that the fact Tito has only left Valdes, Adriano and Iniesta out of the match squad show that he has the utmost respect for Córdoba, but I beg to differ. Mainly because said he wanted to rest Iniesta ahead of this weekend’s match against Atlético, due to Cesc’s injury. As for Valdes, well, the day he plays a Copa match is the day Barça win with a clean sheet. I am disappointed Adriano has been left out because he’s been on fire lately, but you know, Jordi Alba needs to catch up so we have a fight on our hands for the Left Back Pichichi…

So who has made the squad? We have the following – GK: Pinto, Oier. DF: Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Mascherano, Bartra, Montoya, Jordi Alba. MF: Xavi, Thiago, Dos Santos, Busquets, Song. FW: Pedro, Tello, Villa, Alexis, Messi. Where are all the Barça B kids? Probably hiding away due to fear of injury. I don’t blame them. Speaking of Barça B, I have a Barça Offside exclusive just for you! It is definitely not true. But it could be.

Natasha: “Hey, Sergi Roberto, I hear Tito wants to include you in the squad for the match against Córdoba! Sounds cool, right?”
Sergi Roberto: “What? Noooo! Please! Have mercy! Injuries! Injuries!”
Natasha: “Dude, I was just saying…it’s not like JDS is gonna get any minutes…we rely on you!”
*Sergi Roberto runs off into the distance mumbling something about injuries, curses, and more injuries. He hasn’t been seen since.*

That was that. Kids these days, eh?

So tomorrow we might see the following lineup: Pinto – Montoya, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba – Busquets, Thiago, Xavi – Tello, Messi, Pedro. I doubt Puyol will play after he was subbed off out of precaution during the last match. JDS probably won’t play because it’s JDS. I’d like to see Villa start but he had a pretty terrible game against Benfica so if he does play, it’ll be as a substitute.

I don’t see Córdoba giving Barça too many problems, although they may decide to park the bus and not move all evening. That sure would liven things up. Or you know, make things very frustrating. It’s not like that’s ever happened before! Tomorrow’s match is the first leg with the return being played at the Camp Nou

My prediction: Messi to score 7 goals and for the stadium to implode. Messi will then float off the ground and a halo will form around his head. I mean, a second halo, around the one that’s already there.

We kick off tomorrow at 7pm GMT, 8pm CET and if you’re in another time zone then I’m afraid you’ll have to do the maths because I am numerically illiterate. See you then and Visca!

Some Related Barcelona Posts:

• Copa del Rey Final Preview: Athletic de Bilbao vs FC Barcelona

Category: Team News