Cup final dress rehearsal

Barca take on Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp at 20.00 tonight (live on R@dio Barca), 67 days before the two meet again in Valencia to decide who takes this year’s Spanish Cup.
Both teams are sure to be keen to put down a marker ahead of the Cup Final on May 13th, with both equally in need of the points right now, if for rather contrasting reasons. Barca will be hoping to put an end to their disappointing run of five games without a win and maintain their lead at the top, whilst Bilbao need a win to lift them well clear of the relegation battle just below them. Pressure on Tonight’s game isn’t the final then, but there is still plenty of pressure on Barca, who have seen their lead at the top whittled away over the last three weeks from 12 to just 4 points as they took just one point out of nine. Madrid, who also play tonight, have themselves enjoyed a winning streak and three points against Bilbao would certainly ease any possible doubts in the Barca fans minds. Four defenders out Both clubs are coming off hard semi finals in midweek and although they were successful, there’s still a price to pay. For Barca, Caceres’ red card in Mallorca means he’s out for tonight’s game, as are the injured Abidal and Milito. To add to Guardiola’s problem’s, a fourth defender, Dani Alves, is also suspended and so youngster Alberto Botia has been drafted in to the squad and may well get the chance to make his first team debut at some point tonight. Three out for Bilbao Bilbao are also missing players, with three of the heroes who figured in Wednesday night’s win over Seville not travelling for the game after picking up knocks: Aitor Ocio, David López and Ion Vélez. Crucial clash Tonight’s game is set to be a crucial point in this season’s La Liga campaign as Barca look to recover their form and their winning ways. It’s also, just as importantly, going to be a fascinating rehearsal for the Cup Final in Valencia. The Barca fans will be hoping that it’s their team who take the points in the first clash tonight and the Cup in the second act in May.

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Barça and Athletic in five previous finals

The two clubs with that have won the Copa del Rey on the most occasions in history are due to meet on May 13 in Mestalla in the final once again as FC Barcelona take on Athletic Club de Bilbao.Barça are back in the final eleven years after the last time, when they beat Mallorca in 1998, and their opponents will be Los Leones, who have not appeared in this stage for 24 seasons. The last time Athletic were in the final they lost 2-1 to Atlético de Madrid in 1985. The last meeting Curiously, the Basque Country club last won the cup the year before their last apearance when they played against FC Barcelona in the Bernabéu in 1984 thanks to a solitary goal from Endkia. That game has been remembered down the years for incidents on the pitch after the match. 1920 and 1932 Back in 1920, the two teams first met in the final when they played in El Molinón in Gijón and Barcelona ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Martínez and Alcántara. Some 12 years later Barça and Athletic met again, this time in the Chamartín stadium in Madrid and the Basque out won this time 1-0 with Bata netting the winner. 1942: Copa del Generalísimo The final in 1942 was a difficult encounter for both sides as they played in the post-war era and it was a hard-fought encounter. Escolà and Martín both scored twice for Barcelona while Iriondo, Elices and Zarra replied for the Athletic in a 4-3 win for the Catalan outfit. 1953: Kubala and Manchón Kubala and Manchón were decisive when Barcelona met Athletic again eleven seasons on as they helped the team to a 2-1 win on June 21, 1953. Venancio scored for Athletic.

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Guardiola: “Breaking the run”

Pep Guardiola believes that FC Barcelona can “break the run” of five games without victory when Athletic Club de Bilbao visit Camp Nou and has faith in “the strength and solidarity” that they have shown.On the day that he was presented as the new coach of Barça, Guardiola stated that he would not promise any silverware, but that the team would work very hard and in the next few weeks of the season that it what will be needed. “We are sure that we are a team that are prepared to work,” he said. “I think we saw that on Wednesday and because of that we are in any kind of trouble. Things are not that bad.” Strength and solidarity “The strength and solidarity” are key things in the team, according to the coach and he knows that he cannot promise victory every game, “but I want to see hard work to try and push ourselves as far as possible. We are intent on trying to keep going right until the end of the campaign.” Improving the play Despite going for five consecutive games without a win, Guardiola does not think that the team have any anxiety and are confident of “breaking the run” ahead of the game against Athletic. “Our intention is to maintain our good feeling and to improve our play.” Cup encounter Guardiola is very knowledgeable about every team in the team league and he has seen Athletic play on various occasions. The trainer has already congratulated his opposite number on reaching the Copa del Rey final and they will meet again on Saturday. “Games like they have the other day happen every 15 of 20 years. But when they do nobody will forget them and they will want o take that form into this next match.” Dress rehearsal The game this weekend will not show how the Copa del Rey final will go, which is due to be played on May 13, but Guardiola admitted that he it could help to learn a few things. “They have good players at the back and players with great spirit, like Yeste, Orbaiz and David López. Protecting Messi Lionel Messi has been the target of some fouls and hefty tackles again recently and Guardiola reiterated his desire to see referees protect the more skilful players. “One day they will really do some damage,” he stated. “Lately, he has been knocked to the floor almost every time he receives the ball. The referees have an obligation to protect players that are having that done to them. Not only Messi, but anyone.”

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