Match Preview: Thursday 10/05/2007 21:00 (GMT +1): Copa Del Rey, Semifinal, 2nd Leg
GETAFE - FC BARCELONA - GETAFE (1st leg: 2-5)

Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, Madrid – Capacity: 16.000
Referee:


Getafe (4-4-2): Luis Garcia - Costas, Belenguer, Alexis, Paredes - Mario Cotelo, Celestini, Vivar Dorado, Nacho - Verpakovskis, Guiza - Manager: Bernd Schuster


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Joquera - Zambrotta, Oleguer, Puyol, sylvin ho (Gio) - Edmilson, Xavi, Iniesta - Giuly (Saviola), Eto´o (Gudjohnsen), Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Preview:

FC Barcelona have travelled to Getafe three times since the Madrid neighbourhood club promoted to La Liga a few years ago. Barca have never lost at the Coliseum. The results so far: 2 victories and 1 draw.
On the first visit, in 2004-05, Barça won 2-1, a year later 3-1 win. In January this year, Barca drew 1-1.

But Getafe is in good form and Barca can expect a tough battle. Not only that Getafe has a good home record but recently the team from the Madrid suburbs have collected 7 out of 9 possible La Liga points.


FC Barcelona and Getafe played the first leg of their semi final at Camp Nou. The match will always be remembered as the night of "Messi´s Maradona goal". The first leg ended 5-2 for Barcelona, which means Getafe has to win at least with a 3 goals difference to proceed to the final in Madrid.


Frank Rijkaard will rest Lionel Messi and Lilian Thuram for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe. Deco and Marquez have also been given more time to recover from their injuries. Ezquerro and Motta have been left out for technical reasons. Xavi has not travelled with the team to Mardid and asked the club for permission to travel later on his own due to personal matters. The grandmother of his fiance died and therefor Xavi will meet the team later in Madrid. But xavi is available for selection for the Getafe encounter tonight.


FC Barcelona squad: Valdés, Jorquera, Puyol, Zambrotta, Belletti, Gio Van Bronckhorst, Oleguer, Sylvinho, Xavi, Edmílson, Iniesta, Eto´o, Gudjohnsen, Saviola, Ronaldinho, Giuly.


Getafe coach and former Barca legend Bernd Schuster has not given up hope of turning around the 2-5 first leg deficit. He hopes that the fanatic supporters will "set the stadium alight" and hopes that the support will make "the team fly over the pitch". Getafe coach Schuster is delighted that Messi is rested, due to his pure quality on the pitch. Schuster will tactically rely on his team´s qualities and is not out to change anything just for the sake of surprise. Of course, Getafe will try to go out and score an early goal.


My Prediction:
5-2 is a comfortable lead and a mopuntain to climb for Getafe, especially when the opponent is current La Liga leader FC Barcelona. Anything else than reaching the final, I would call a disaster. But... the team has to finish the job first and are not allowed to rest on the laurels.


With one leg in the final and one eye on the important home match against Betis on Sunday, the team could be focused on something else than Getafe. I just do not hope so, because Getafe are willing to upset the European Champions and are convinced they can turn it around.


The 5-2 is no guarantee to reach the final!


I am confident that Frank Rijkaard will tell the boys what to do. Even some key player´s have been rested, the others will be 100% focused.


With the comfortable lead in the back, I am convinced Barca will (again) not lose at the Coloseum.


Getafe - FC Barcelona 1:1



Visca el Barca!