Match Preview: Wednesday 31/01/2007 22:00 (GMT +1): Copa Del Rey, Quarterfinals, first leg
FC BARCELONA - REAL ZARAGOZA

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 99.000
Referee: Rodríguez Santiago


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta (Belletti), Oleguer, Puyol, Gio - Edmilson (Motta), Deco, Xavi - Iniesta, Saviola, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Real Zaragoza (4-4-2): Cesar Sanchez - Gerard Pique (Oscar), Sergio, G. Milito, Juanfran - D´Alessandro, Chus Herrero (Longas), Zapater, Lafita - Sergio Garcia, D. Milito - Manager: Víctor Fernández


Match Preview:

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard is well aware that Zaragoza is the team that has inflicted the most damage on Barca during his time in charge at the Camp Nou. Zaragoza have already knocked the Blaugrana out of the Copa del Rey twice and he wants to make sure that his team is prepared and avoid making it three-in-a-row.


Last year Frnak Rijkaard´s men went into the first leg at La Romareda on the back of a record breaking 18-match winning streak but lost 4-2 in a very entertaining game. The second leg was won by a 10-men Barca, after Ronaldinho was controversially send-off by Ronaldinho, but the 2-1 victory was not enough to proceed to the next round.


Barca has not won the Copa del Rey since 1998 (under van Gaal, La Liga & Copa) and record winner Barca are desperate to bring the Cup to Camp Nou this year. Therefore Rijkaard will field a full-strength squad. Marquez is back after his suspension in La Liga against Celta and thiago Motta as well as Santi Ezquerro have been excluded. Only 16 players are allowed to be named for the Cup matches. Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi, Lilian Thuram and Sylvinho are all out due to injury.


Real Zaragoza will definetely be without César Jiménez, Luis Carlos Cuartero, Pablo Aimar and Albert Celades. Sergio Fernandez is doubtful. Gerard Piqué and Chus Herrero are both back from injury but lacking match fitness. Carlos Diogo is back after his 5-game suspension.


My Prediction:
This is a real Cup encounter where recent form, results or position in the table does not matter and anythiong can happen. Zaragoza will come to Camp Nou to defend and try to score with one of there lethal counter attacks. FC Barcelona will try to show the supporters that last Sunday´s excellent performance was not a one off, but is keen to keep a clean sheet before they go to La Romareda for the second leg.

Anything can happen today, but should everything go as planned, Barca will come off the pitch as winner. However, I believe that La Romareda will be the decisive place, who will proceed to the semifinals.
I is hard to believe Barca will be thrown out of the Spanish Cup for a third time in a row against Zaragoza.


FC Barcelona - Zaragoza 2:0



Visca el Barca!