Copa: Barça – Atleti, Wednesday 4pmEST, GolTV
By: Isaiah | January 13th, 2009
Copa del Rey, leg two, in the Camp Nou. Barça enters with a 3-1 lead after Messi’s gorgeous hat trick last Tuesday. Despite the obvious lead (2 away goals is quite a hefty lead) and the location of the game, this won’t be a cakewalk. Simply put, for Atleti this is Javier Aguirre’s chance to prove his worth as a manager. He’s on the hot seat, so to speak, and could very well see the axe fall if he continues to lose games against the likes of Athletic Bilbao.
Not that Aguirre is holding his cards close to his chest. In fact, he’s already released his starting squad list and starting lineup. The former is this: Coupet, Leo Franco, Antonio López, Pernía, Ujfalusi, Perea, Pablo Ibáñez, Luis García, Raúl García, Assunçao, Éver Banega, Miguel de las Cuevas, Simão, Camacho, Kun Agüero, Sinama-Pongolle.
The latter — the starting lineup, according to the Atleti official site — is this: Coupet, Antonio López, Pablo, Perea, Pernía, Camacho, Raúl García, Éver, Simão, Sinama-Pongolle, Kun Agüero.
So, they’re missing Seitaridis, Maxi, Forlán, Bernabé, Domínguez, Heitinga, and Maniche. I don’t now who Bernabé and Domínguez are, but the others are certainly big names in the Atleti world. Regardless, we’ll have our hands full facing Agüero, who must be looking to one-up his friend Messi, especially if Papa Maradona is around to see this one too. If he does show up, El Diego will once again only be watching one of his pint-sized stars since Messi is being rested by Guardiola as part of his continuing squad rotations.
Despite the fact that the entire squad (minus Milito) practiced today, it appears that neither Xavi nor Messi will play any part of the match. I can’t say I disapprove because we’re up 3-1, but it would be somewhat of a disaster if we ended up losing. Still, you have to like Barcelona’s chances. Any win, any draw, and losses of 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, or 2-3 will put Barcelona the next round.
As usual, there’s no official squad list the day before a home game — it will be released tomorrow, probably while I sleep — but we can surmise that without Xavi and Messi, we’ll see a squad that’s filled with lots of Hleb, Keita, and Gudjohnsen. Iniesta might get a start as well — perhaps even the armband again if Puyol is also rested — which would push Hleb out to the right to play Messi For A Day.
My desired starting lineup is this: Pinto, Alves, Pique, Caceres, Sylvinho, Yaya, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Bojan, Hleb
First, Busi can serve his suspension and this is the perfect opportunity to do so; why not take it and put in Yaya? I mean, all you’re going to do is put in Yaya Toure and then both are available for the important Depor league game. Secondly, there’s no really good reason that you can name to not trust a midfield of Keita and Guddy fronted by Iniesta, Bojan, and Hleb when it’s up against a second-string Atleti midfield. The defense may have some problems with Agüero and Sinama-Pongolle, but I think that the midfield, which appears to lack any true creativity unless Simão or Camacho can provide it on the break. My fear would be that Alves would have too much ground to cover if Pique can’t handle Sinama-Pongolle. Caceres, fortunately, has a lot of speed with which to combat Agüero’s, but we might miss Puyol’s positional sense. Sylvinho can provide some of the offense, but starting Abidal to help Caceres may not be the worst idea since it will provide some defensive stability and will help Pique and Caceres to double team whoever gets the ball in deep.
If you are looking for a truly epic game, I’m not sure this is the one for you, but it should still be good. Guardiola thinks that Atleti is always dangerous, and Aguirre really should be fielding a team capable of winning 3-0 (a 3-1 win for Atleti would mean extra time and penalties), but I’m here to tell you that it’s going to be somewhat dull.
Official Prediction: 1-1. It’s about overall results for Pep rather than individual results, so don’t expect the team to be truly motivated to get out and allow Agüero and company to counter. It’s our house, yes, but our house won’t save us from the draw.
Category: Team News
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Comments
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i think we can expect to see henry and then see him rested against depor perhaps in favour of iniesta on the left and giving keita or busi a run next to xavi.
i dont think pep has started any reasonably serious games without at least one of henry, eto’o or messi.
Posted from
United States
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I think Bojan will score one and the game will end in either 1-1 or 1-2 going to the visitors. I pretty much agree with everything you said so I don’t need to add anything else.
Posted from
United States -
Alex, it doesn’t look like Messi will play, but you never know with Guardiola. There’s just no reason to risk him in a game like this.
Posted from
United States -
Isaiah, im pretty sure that Caceres has a better chance of nabbing a goal than Hleb does.
Posted from
United States -
My god, 1-1? 1-2?!??!?!?!?!
More like 3-0 barca.
Posted from
Kuwait -
I hope you’re right, Nothing, but Atleti aren’t a pushover team, especially if we start the lineup were talking about. Guardiola still hasn’t announced his squad list, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled — also, Victor Sanchez, who really needs a good nickname cause VicSan just doesn’t work, is also out through injury.
Posted from
United States -
It’ll be a dull game. I feel like Alves won’t have the proper defensive cover to make his usual runs, and Sylvinho won’t be too much help on the left. 1-1.
Posted from
United States -
I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. I think Aguirre, in both the motivational and tactical sense, has been a horrible coach with Atletico. They have an attacking force that when at its healthiest and best has the potential to be as good as any in European football (yes, including ours). Their problem has been their center midfield and their defense. Their attackers cant do any good if they aren’t getting the ball and become frustrated if they are isolated. Thats the difference between their attacker and ours. The Barcelona forwards relentlessly pressure the ball if they lose it, working like defensive mids whereas the Atleti guys just become frustrated.
When you see smaller teams dominating possession and ruling the midfield against Atleti even with a man down (I’ve seen it twice) you know you’ve got a problem. Aguirre somehow insists on playing Luis Garcia who has done a passable imitation of the Invisible Man. Maniche and Assuncao don’t have enough technical and passing skills between them to control the center midfield. They are both yellow card machines that play hard but are simply no Xavis. He’s got some great young talent on the bench in de las Cuevas and Camacho but he’s had them rotting there for a while. Regarding Banega, if you get him on loan from Valencia, USE him. The kid is good. I saw him at Boca, he is another in a long line of good-great Boca holding midfielders. He just needs a chance. However, all that is worth nil if Aguirre keeps running the team on such a lax tactical structure. They have no philosophy except give the ball to Simao or Maxi and have them be creative or serve Kun and Diego and let them figure it out.
Their danger is that every once in a while the stars align for them and they out out a GREAT game. With their offensive firepower they can beat anyone. If you let Kun get the ball, he can destroy anyone including us (remember last year’s Kun vs. Barca game when he killed us?). The key is to keep him isolated where he cant do any good.
Posted from
United States -
Nothing: I would like that score as well but we’re not going to be playing any starters. This is a game mostly for the kiddies to get experience, and Atleti is not that bad of a team. Like Hector said, they’re decent and sometimes they’re great.
We just have to wait and see who shows up today.
Posted from
United States -
That’s a good analysis, Hector. We’ll be seeing Camacho today, so perhaps you’ll be proven right that he is fully capable. Didn’t he make his debut last year in our loss at the Vicente Calderon? He played started that game, anyway.
What we need to do is destroy their midfield. Marquez could start simply because he hasn’t played in a bit and he’d help calm the waters at the back, but hopefully not at the sacrifice of another game on the bench for Caceres, who is getting to the point of desperately needing playing time.
I’ll stick with my starting lineup simply because it’s the one I want to see, but it is a good point raised by some that Alves should get some time off. They’re right, of course, but who do we use in his place? Puyol has also played in several consecutive matches, so we could use Caceres there and put Pique and Marquez in the middle. Perhaps I should have bet on that happening.
Posted from
United States -
That sounds about right Isaiah. Give Alves some time off but have him on the bench just in case things get ugly. We probably (i.e. hopefully) wont need his offense as much today. The guys is, I would argue, the best athlete on our team. The miles he runs each game and the speed that he covers them in during each game is just mind blowing. He hands down covers the most distance for us. However, we gotta be careful not to strain the guy.
I actually think this might be a good Yaya/Keita or Yaya/Busquets destroyer type game. Maybe Victor Sanchez, if healthy, can let us see what he can do at his natural position of defensive mid next to Yaya.
Posted from
United States -
Playing the team we played against shaktar would be dumb. Playing youngester would be a big risk.
One more thing, if the team comes out to defend, we can easily lose.
Posted from
Kuwait -
Hopefully Pedro sees some time as a sub.
Posted from
United States -
Playing our starters would be an even greater risk.. too many games in a short amount of time. A friendly not too long ago, a game on sunday, one on wednesday, and another important game on saturday.. there’s no other choice really.
Posted from
United States -
I think that our youngsters, coupled with Yaya and without Victor Sanchez (who is injured), can definitely win against Atleti — or at least not lose 0-3 or 1-3. Sure, Aguero is good, but so are we. Remember how amazing it was that we won 1-3 at Atleti and we’re supposedly the best team in the world right now?
Well that shows how hard it is to win so convincingly away from home, no matter who is on the field.
I’m getting excited for the match. Only 3.5 more hours!
Posted from
United States -
Brett, I considered Pedro for a starting spot, but then that would mean he wouldn’t start. So he now has a chance of starting. I do think he should get more playing time, but I’d rather have Hleb and Bojan fully integrated than Pedro — not because either is necessarily better, but because Pedro could use another half season of vacillating between the first team and Barça Atletic.
Posted from
United States -
i am starting to think that isaiah is right about things. pep g. wont release the list of players available for the match until 1 hour prior to game time. this, and judging by the headlines on the FCB website (”anything can happen”, “neither boring nor decided,”) means they are worried about getting people to the stadium. they’re not gonna tell people messi or xavi wont play ahead of time, cos they might not come. we know those spoiled cules…
Posted from
United States -
As usual I’m at work for the midweek game so I’ll be depending on everyone’s comments as my source of colour commentary for this game! Keep them coming at game time guys
Posted from
Canada -
I feel that if Atleti can score the opening goal, then we’re in for a heck of a match. If Barca scores it, Atleti will shut down in their usual fashion and play all boring and lifeless again.
Posted from
United States -
Good article (in Spanish though) about the relationship between Xavi and Busquets-
http://www.sportyou.es/blog/futbol/2009/01/13/xavi-apadrina-a-sergio-busquets.html
Apparently, Xavi has taken the kid under his wing and they have become good friends off the field as well. I didn’t know that they both grew up in Terrasa and played on the same juvenile team (Jabac de Terrasa) before being admitted into La Masia.
Hopefully he keeps growing and developing until he can partner up Xavi at center-mid. He is perfect for the box to box “horse” role due to having a rare combination of passing and positional sense with a big body and street smarts that also makes him a formidable defender. He was also a striker back in the day hence his above average finishing abilities for a center mid. He is also tall and thus a heading threat if he crashed the box. All this is contingent on him continuing to improve and develop but, who knows? He might becomes the new #4 when his “godfather Xavi retires. There are worst persons to learn from I guess.
Posted from
United States -
If that picture in the article Hector linked is supposed to suggest that Xavi and Busi are BFF, then that means Pique and Jorquera are BFF…Back away from the 3rd string keeper, Gerard. Back away slowly. You don’t want to catch Mediocrity from him.
Posted from
United States -
Busquets is.. after Bojan.. the player I’m most excited about in terms of potential because he has a lot of unique abilities. He’s tall and strong.. we need a young version of Puyol who can tower over defenders during corner kicks and free kicks. He lacks the mane, though.
Posted from
United States -
i want to see how Banega play. He has been given a very important role. He used to be a perfect companion to the Lazy Magician at Boca during their magnificent Libertadores triumph.
I think it will be a close match. Never write off a wounded Athletico. Last seasons Cup brings me really bad memories….how we lost to Valencia after such a good first leg.
Posted from
United States -
So if we get through, we r likely to face espanyol. 2 derbies in 1 week.
Also, who is madrid playing???!?!?
LOL
Posted from
Kuwait -
I have posted a comments post for this match. Please move all your match-related blather to there.
Thank you,
The ManagementPosted from
United States
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