also Leo Messi´s teammates praised the skills and fantasctic goal of Lionel. The following are some of the comments made by the other Barcelona players:


Andres Iniesta:

My congratulations to him. Leo has evident qualities and he has shown that again today. In five minutes things got difficult, I don’t know how to put it, but when you were 3-0 up, winning 3-2 is frustrating. Nothing is sorted, until the game is over we can’t claim to be through. We have a good lead but we will have to work to do over there”.

Very similar, he starts off in a similar position and even the dribbler at the end was the same. It was a work of art.

Deco:

We are happy because apart from a great footballer, he is a great friend too. I have seen some great goals like Ronaldo’s against Compostela and Maradona’s against England, but this was the best I have seen. It is very similar, but I think it was more difficult, the early dummies are more difficult and then to still have the strength to do what he did, it’s even more impressive.

No doubt we have some brilliant players in ‘Samu’, ‘Ronnie’ and ‘Leo’, who has a great future and they’re saying he could become the best in the world.

The tie is not over yet because Getafe have shown that they can turn it all around in just two minutes. They will be stronger there but we will make sure we go through.

Albert Jorquera:

A great goal, we knew that Messi can do anything but the goal today was quite spectacular.

Before the game we’d have taken the 5-2 but after half-time we should have managed to keep a clean sheet.

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta commented the semifinal draw of the Copa del Rey on Barca TV as soon as he found out that Barca had to play Getafe:

Getafe are a very complicated team and we'll have to work very hard to win the tie. I was speaking to the Getafe president, Angel Torres, at a meeting of the Spanish FA and they didn't want to get Barca and we didn't want Getafe. They're having a great season in the Cup as well and they're very excited about this competition, the same as us.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey was held this Thursday at the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation.


This is the result of the draw:


FC Barcelona - Getafe

FC Sevilla - Deportivo La Coruna


FC Barcelona´s opponent Getafe

Bernd Schuster's team have been the surprise package of the competition so far and have also been enjoying the best season in their history. Getafe will be hoping for a place in the cup final and a chance to play in European competition next season. Xerez, Valencia and Osasuna have all been eliminated by the team based in the suburbs of Madrid.

FC Barcelona´s striker Samuel Eto'o will not travel to Zaragoza for the second leg of the quarter finals of the Copa Del Rey. barca´s medical staff have decided to rest him and continue his rehabilitation and treatment programme. FC Barcelona´s medical services officially stated:

The results show that he is recovering positively from the injury. He needs to maintain the dynamics of the treatment up until now and this needs to be carefully measured.

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard has nominated the 16 players that will face Real Zaragoza tonight:
Valdés, Jorquera, Puyol, Giuly, Deco, Xavi, Gio, Saviola, Zambrotta, Oleguer, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Messi, Thuram, Gudjohnsen and Marquez

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard revealed in the official pre-match press conference that Real Zaragoza have to be considered the favourites, due to the simple fact that they go with a 1-0 advantage into the game and play at home. Rijkaard regrets the absence of Samuel Eto´o but is optimistic that his team can turn the tie around.


Here is a selection of his statements during the pre-match press conference:

Zaragoza are historically good in this competition. The pressure is on them. I am always optimistic. We are very keen and have a clear objective. To win and stop them from scoring from quick counter attacks as they generally do.

He (Eto'o) has been left out after discussion with the medical staff and the player. It is a shame we can't have him with us. Eto'o would not be playing this Wednesday, even it was the Liverpool match we were talking about because it all related to the way his injury is developing.

We have changed a lot of players in recent years and things have worked well, thanks to the strength of the team. There are players that have had fewer chances but they have been just as motivated out there. We have to congratulate them on their attitude and the way they have helped their colleagues.

I think he (Gudjohnsen) is getting better. He is training well and I think he has got over his poor period. The team has also helped him. We started with Eidur as our main striker, then came Saviola and there has been less of Messi because he has been injured.

Ronaldinho had a hard time. I think it was wrong to attack him, but I don't think it is anything we need to worry about too much, it's the kind of thing that happens in any big team like Barça and with players like Ronaldinho. I think, the criticism just motivated him more than ever and he has been able to show that he is physically very well developed.