Barca targets the Spanish Cup. The Blaugrana have an opportunity to start strong in November.


FC Barcelona will meet CD Alcoyano in the round of 32 of the Spanish Cup. The first leg will be played on 13th November or 19th December, and the return leg on 2nd January. Read all about the fixture:


Spanish Cup Action Begins For FC Barcelona.

Match Report: Wednesday 18/04/2007 21:00 (GMT +1): Copa Del Rey, Semifinal 1st Leg
FC BARCELONA - GETAFE 5-2 (3-0)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 55.000
Referee: Mejuto Gonzalez


Goals:

1-0 Xavi 19´
2-0 Messi 29´

3-0 Messi 45´
3-1 Güiza 58´

3-2 Nacho 60´
4-2 Gudjohnsen 63´

5-2 Eto´o 74´


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Joquera - Zambrotta, Marquez, Puyol, Gio - Iniesta (Ezquerro 84´), Xavi, Deco - Gudjohnsen (Oleguer 67´), Eto´o, Messi (saviola 77´) - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Getafe (4-5-1): Luis Garcia - Cortes, Belenguer, Alexis, Paredes (Pulido 85´)- Mario Cotelo (Pachon 75´), Celestini, Alberto (Güiza 45´), Casquero, Nacho - Manu - Manager: Bernd Schuster


Match Report:
FC Barcelona made a huge move towards the Spanish Cup final with young Leo Messi being the protagonist of the evening win over Getafe. Barca is travelling to madrid for the second leg with a 5-2 advantage.


Messi was the hero of the evening. First he assisted Xavi with the opener, just to score a Maradona-like goal to put Barca 2-0 upfront. He added his second (also a beauty) just before halftime.


0-0 at halftime break and a very entertaining Barca show left every viewer believing that the match was already over. After dominating the opening half, suddenly Getafe was back into the game. Two goals by Guiza and Nacho cut the margin down to only 1 goal (3-2).


In minute 63 Gudjohnsen volleyed a corner from about 12 meters into the net.


On minute 74, Xavi set up Eto'o who fired the ball home. 5-2!


Leo Messi, the hero of the this superb football night, received a deserved standing ovation when he was substituted for Javier Saviola for the last 15 minutes.


My Comment:

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard started with a very offensive line-up. Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Deco build a creative midfield and Messi, Gudjohnsen and Samuel Eto´o build the attacking line.


A wonderful football evening that had it all. Several fantastic goals, with Messi probably scoring the goal of the season. An exciting lead at halftime and the shocking 2 goals that brought Getafe back into the game. Finally a great and very entertaining 5-2 victory that pushed the door to the final wide, wide open.


I am having a beer now! Cheers!

The draw for the semifinals of the Copa del Rey has paired FC Barcelona against Getafe, managed by former German Barca star and captain Bernd Schuster. The two-leg tie is scheduled for 18th April and 9th May with the first leg to be played in Barcelona.


Barca and Getafe have already met once this season. On matchday 17 of La Liga, FC Barcelona travelled to the suburbs of Madrid with many first team regulars unavailable. The Blaugrana came back with 1 point, a (1-1) draw, thanks to a superb "Ronalinho style" free kick goal by Xavi.


Barcelona and Getafe have only met once before in the history of the Spanish Cup. In the 1977-78 season, the two sides drew 3-3 in Madrid followed by an incredible 8-0 triumph in the Camp Nou on Barca´s way to win the Spanish Cup finally.

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.

Match Report: Wednesday 28/02/2007 21:30 (GMT +1): Copa Del Rey, Quarterfinal, Second Leg
REAL ZARAGOZA - FC BARCELONA 1:2 (0:2)

La Romareda, Zaragoza – Attendance: 35.000
Referee:


Real Zaragoza (4-4-2): César – Diogo, Piqué, Gabriel Milito, Juanfran – D'Alessandro (red card 69´), Zapater, Movilla (Celades 46´), Oscar (Aimar 46´) – Sergio García (Ewerthon 72´), Diego Milito - Manager: Victor Fernandez


FC Barcelona (3-4-3): Valdes - Oleguer, Thuram, Puyol - Marquez, Deco (Gudjohnsen 85´), Xavi, Iniesta - Giuly (Zambrotta 74´), Messi, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Goals:

0-1 Xavi 18´
0-2 Iniesta 25´

1-2 Piqué 71´


Match Report:
FC Barcelona surprised Real Zaragoza at La Romareda and got their revenge by beating Zaragoza 2-1 away. Barca advanced on away goals to the semi finals of the Copa del Rey.


In the first leg at Camp Nou, Real Zaragoza beat the Blaugrana 1-0, but a superb first hour performance guaranteed Barca a semi-final encounter.

Xavi opened the scoring on minute 18, with Andres Iniesta adding a second goal in the 25th minute of the game. Argentine Andres D'Alessandro saw red in the middle of the second half and a committed Zaragoza side shortend Barca´s lead on 71 minute through former Blaugrana player Piqué.


FC Barcelona completed an impressive comeback when they overturned the 0-1 deficit. This should be a signal that Barca is back at their best and successfully can do the trick again in 6 days when they hve to turn over a 1-2 deficit against Liverpool at Anfield. At this time, the roaring lion Eto´o will be available for selection as well! This will give the Blaugrana team an additional moral boost.
However, the victory over Real Zaragoza will silence the critics and will bolster the confidence for the upcoming important matches at Sevilla on Saturday, then the away trip to Anfield against Liverpool, followed by "El Classico" against Real Madrid at Camp Nou.


FC Barcelona started the match with a surprising attacking line-up. Barca coach Rijkaard chossed to play a 3-4-3 system instead of the usual 4-3-3.

Oleguer, Thuram and Puyol started as the three central defenders, with a 4 player midfield in front of them. Marquez as anchor, with Deco, Xavi and Iniesta mastering the midfield to support the attack. Ronaldinho was given a free role, alongside Leo Messi and Ludovic Giuly.


Barca started to attack from minute 1 and caused a lot of problems to the Zaragoza defence. as expected, Zaragoza tried to defend the 1-0 lead but obviously did not expect this kind of pressure. It was the fast flowing, passing football that we like and Barca was in total control of the game (67% of ball possession in an away match!!!).


In minute 18 Barca finally scored the deserved lead. Xavi won posession in the centre of the field and while running forward, exchanged passes with Rafa Marquez who set the Blaugrana midfielder free. Xavi then beat the approaching Zaragoza goalkeeper and sent Cesar to the right, but the ball just next to the left post into the goal. 1-0 for Barca!


But FC Barcelona did not sit back but pressed forward for the all important second goal. After 21 minutes, Leo Messi tested the Zaragoza keeper with a shot, but not hard enough to beat the Zaragoza goalie.
Just minutes later, Messi again run through the Zaragoza defence and tested Cesar again but this time the rebound fell to Andres Iniesta who volleyed the ball into the net. 2-0 for Barca and 2-1 on aggregate!


Real Zaragoza created two good opportunities before half time break. Former Barca player Sergio García fired a long distance shot on top of the crossbar and Oscar had a good opportunity to cut the Blaugrana lead when he shot over the goal from close range.


Ronaldinho with an uncharacteritic header and Leo Messi had excellent chances to increase Barca´s lead, but they both did not take heir opportunities.


At halftime, Real Zaragoza introduced veteran Albert Celades and inspirational Pablo Aimar to give their midfield some more creativity (for Movilla and Oscar. The new players and the crowd gave Zaragoza the well needd lift, but it was Barca first who stepped on the accelarator again, with Xavi and Iniesta at the centre of the action when the flowing passing game started all over again. Deco then had two chances, with the second one coming very close to score but only hitting the post.


When Zaragoza´s Argentine midfielder Andrés D'Alessandro was sent off after 69 minutes, trying to headbutt Leo Messi, most people believed the match was over and Barca could enjoy the last minutes in simply passing the ball and keeping possesion. But this proved to be wrong!


Barca´s former youth player Gerard Piqué scored and cut the lead to 2-1 and with his goal Piqué set up an exciting last 20 minutes. the Blaugrana still had to survive a few scares before the end as Carlos Diogo and especially substitute Ewerthon both went very close.


But the final opportunity of a fantastic football night actually was produced by Barca. A superb passing play through the midfield set Leo Messi in the last minute free and the young argentine went one-one-one with Zaragoza´s goalkeeper Cesar. He easily shot the ball past the keeper only the left post to deny him from scoring.


My Comment:

A wonderful football night with a strong performance. Barca is back at their best and proved that they are able to win away and score 2 goals on the opponents ground. should be a signal for the team and a warning to Liverpool FC.
With Lilian Thuram and Carles Puyol outstanding at the back, Barca was able to build their attacks and move the ball around at great speed in midfield. For me, andres Iniesta is in sensational form and I just like the way and coolness how he solves tricky situations. His goal loast night was just the icing on the top.


Great to watch how the Blaugrana moved the ball around in midfield. they passed with great efficiency and forced the opposition to run around to regain possession. All the players up front kept changing positions and kept the Zaragosa rearguard busy and confused. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, in particular, were all over the pitch. Giuly, Deco were largely responsible for creating spaces for other players. All in all it was a great team effort.


I am looking forward to the next 2 weeks. First Sevilla, then Liverpool and finally the Merengues. I believe strongly, we can do it at Anfield, even it will be extremely difficult. The team showed they are up for it!



Visca el Barca!