Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Copa Del Rey Match Preview: Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao









The two strong La Liga teams FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao face once again for the second leg of Copa Del Rey game on Wednesday.

Barcelona trail 2-1 from the first leg at San Memes and Luis Enrique believes that meeting at Camp Nou will be more entertaining and a lot more different as he calls fans to back the team on the match day.


This is the real test for Luis Enrique's side to make a greater comeback after the loss in the first leg, the Barcelona team look more motivated and it seems they will come up with some bigger plan to qualify for the next round.

FIFA's 'The Best' awards event on Monday was snubbed by the Barcelona side in order to train for this game, for the absence the Barcelona captain sent a video message to FIFA apologizing for the same.
"We want to show our gratitude at having been chosen and apologize for not coming to the gala, We have a hugely important game against Athletic and so we couldn't be there"


The Barcelona boss Luis Enrique said that the decision not to attend the gala was taken by the players.

He also said "It's a different incentive to what we have in La Liga. We're coming off two negative results and we want to change. They were unfair results in those two games."

"We know we normally play with a lot of space in behind us in defense and that we shouldn't commit mistakes. These are risks that we know of."

"We need to go out and score a goal and move ahead of them on aggregate. This will make them take more risks. It makes return legs interesting"

"What we need is a victory, especially when we've played as we have in the last couple of games, where we feel like we deserved more."

Having scored a goal away from home gives much-needed motivation to the Barcelona side to turn the results in their favor.

Ernesto Valverde will be without his two important players on the second leg in Raul Garcia & Iturraspe as they were shown the second yellows for fouls on Neymar in a short span of five minutes from 75 to 80th minute.

It's a do or die situation for both the teams as this game is the only chance for qualifying to the Quarter Finals, Athletic will be looking to take chances on the counter attacks and Barcelona's victory will depend on finishing the chances they get and making things difficult for Bilbao.


Predicted Lineups:

Barcelona:  Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Denis, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Neymar.

Athletic Bilbao: Moreno; Etxieta, Elustondo, Laporte, Balenzia; Mikel Rico, Etxebarria; Susaeta, Muniain; I.Williams, Aduriz




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