MADRID, Spain — Barcelona's bid for a treble resumes with the Spanish league leader playing crosstown rival Espanyol on Thursday in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Barcelona holds a 12-point lead in the league and is through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, where it is favoured to win its third European Cup. But rookie coach Pep Guardiola hasn't discarded the idea of adding a record 25th domestic cup to the trophy cabinet - and the first since 1998 - despite fears that the squad may not be in optimal health for the stretch run as a result of the extra games.
Espanyol faces a near impossible task, needing a derby victory at the Camp Nou stadium to advance to the semifinals after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
"To me, right now, Barcelona is the best team I have ever seen," Barcelona defender Eric Abidal said Monday.
Barcelona has been unflappable at home, with only one defeat in its 16 games this season - a meaningless Champions League match where Guardiola fielded a second-string lineup.
Defender Rafael Marquez and midfielder Seydou Keita remain questionable for Thursday's match due to injury concerns.
"Luckily we're playing at home, where we're a team that plays even better football," Abidal said. "It's an important title, and we want to win all the titles we can."
Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry could all be available, the three forwards having combined for 45 of Barcelona's 63 league goals.
Espanyol has responded under new coach Maurecio Pochettino with two draws - including the scoreless draw in the first leg against Barcelona - in the two matches since the Argentine took over. Espanyol, which is in the league's relegation zone, has two victories in its last 15 games, with both of those coming in the domestic cup competition against inferior opponents.
Athletic Bilbao's quest to join Barcelona with 24 cups hit a snag last week when it only managed a 0-0 draw against Sporting Gijon. Athletic striker Fernando Llorente missed a first-half penalty that would have given the Basques an advantage at the San Mames.
Given the club's philosophy of only fielding Basque players, the cup represents one of the few realistic targets in any given season.
"For us, this competition is very important," Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros said. "It's important due to the history of the club. Everyone here is very motivated for this competition."
The two clubs meet Wednesday, when Mallorca looks to defend a 1-0 first leg win at Real Betis.
Mallorca is coming off two straight wins - including a 3-1 league win against Valencia on Sunday - while Betis' erratic form continued with a 1-0 loss to Recreativo Huelvo.
Valencia travels to Sevilla nursing a 3-2 first-leg advantage in a matchup featuring the holders of the last two cups. Both clubs are coming off Sunday league losses.
Valencia striker David Villa is questionable to play for the defending champions after leaving the first leg with a leg problem. Valencia coach Unai Emery could start Cesar Sanchez for the first time since acquiring the goalkeeper from Tottenham.
Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez is under pressure after the club's 2-0 loss to 10-man Racing Santander and a second straight defeat at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan could leave his future in jeopardy.
Captain Enzo Maresca said the club was hurting without right back Daniel Alves, who the team was built around for years until the Brazil defender's off-season move to Barcelona.
Now, Sevilla's midfield has become the focus, although that hasn't been working of late.
"In this moment, the team is generally not playing well," Maresca said. "The midfielders are not working, but I don't think it's just a question of them.
"There is a solution, and we'll try to find it on Thursday."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment