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[ B A R C A ]...sekadar melukut di tepi gantang...
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Barcelona hope for Rey of sunshine
Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao in Wednesday's Copa del Rey final, and they will be hoping for a much smoother ride following their recent dramatic games as they bid to win the trophy for a record 25th time.
The Catalan team last won Spain's knockout competition 11 years ago at the Mestalla Stadium, and have recently endured some high drama as they attempt to become the first Spanish team to win their domestic league, cup and European Champions League in a single season.
In the dramatic second-leg Champions League semi-final last Wednesday, Andres Iniesta's injury-time goal earned Barcelona a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and passage into the Champions League final.
Four days later, Barcelona came within three minutes of winning the Spanish league title at their Camp Nou stadium only for Villarreal to equalise in a 3-3 draw that will keep coach Pep Guardiola's team waiting for at least another week.
Guardiola hopes victory against Bilbao will help banish the memory of Sunday's disappointment and act as the prelude to title celebrations next weekend, setting up the season's finale when they meet defending champions Manchester United in Rome on May 27.
Must-win
"Now, we have to raise ourselves quickly and put a smile on our faces.
"It's been a long time since Barcelona played in a Copa del Rey final and we have to win it,'' Guardiola said.
Barcelona's situation contrasts greatly with that of Bilbao, who have not won any major silverware since they won the Copa del Rey by beating Barcelona 1-0 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium 25 years ago.
However, Bilbao remain historically one of Spain's most successful teams and will be bidding to win the Copa del Rey for the 24th time, which would lift them level with Barcelona as record winners.
The Basque team would even consider a triumph as their 25th in Spain's knockout competition as they also claim the very first Copa del Rey in 1902,which was won by Vizcaya, a representative team comprising some Bilbao players.
Bilbao fans are so excited about the long-awaited final that about 20,000 of them watched the team's final training session at their San Mames stadium on Sunday.
Optimistic
Bilbao captain Joseba Etxeberria is optimistic, even though he accepts that Barcelona will start as favourites to win the fourth final of six played between the teams.
"A single match at a neutral ground, and with both teams at the same strength - anything can happen.
"And when it's Athletic, even more so.
"We certainly don't rule out a victory and bringing the Cup to Bilbao,'' Etxeberria said.
A Bilbao win would represent a triumph for their policy of selecting Basque-born players, the only exceptions being players from the bordering region of Navarre or those who have passed through their junior teams.
Barcelona has been hit by injuries and will be without Iniesta, striker Thierry Henry and defender Rafael Marquez, together with centre back Gabi Milito, a long-term casualty.
"Even without Rafa, Titi (Henry) or Andres we will lift ourselves and we'll carry on with what we have got,'' Guardiola said.
"And if we don't have 11 players, we'll use the junior team.''
Young striker Bojan Krkic, who has led the Barcelona attack in this season's Copa del Rey games, is expected to start the game.
Bilbao have no injury worries, with coach Joaquin Caparros resting more than half his team in Saturday's league game against Real Betis.
The depleted team won 1-0 to ensure their record of never having been relegated will continue for another season.
Copa del Rey winners
Last five years:
2008 Valencia
2007 Sevilla
2006 RCD Espanyol
2005 Real Betis
2004 Real Zaragoza
Most titles:
FC Barcelona (24 times) |
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takde live ke game malam neh |
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Balas #382 MetalFire\ catat
tadak....
astro memang syai.... |
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menang dah satu cup |
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Originally posted by hyphrigian at 14-5-2009 02:11 
tadak....
astro memang syai....
patut la wa tekan guide tarak |
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Barcelona beat Athletic to lift 25th Copa del Rey
Three goals in a devastating nine-minute spell at the start of the second half saw Barcelona to a 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday and the first of three possible titles.
Yaya Toure levelled for Barca in the first half before Lionel Messi, Bojan Krkic and Xavi struck after the break to give the club their 25th Copa del Rey.:pompom:
The Catalans could wrap up the Primera Liga title this weekend and they face Manchester United in the Champions League final on May 27.
"Now we are reaping the rewards of all the hard work we have put in during the season," Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets told Spanish state television as the team celebrated on the pitch.
"I hope this weekend we can secure our second title."
Barca had an unfamiliar look in defence with reserve keeper Jose Manuel Pinto in goal and Yaya Toure at centre back again, and they were quickly exposed at a set piece.
Pinto had tipped a Javi Martinez shot round the post and Fran Yeste made it count. His whipped-in corner after nine minutes found Gaizka Toquero rising above two defenders to head in at the back post.
Athletic looked fresher, snapping at Barca all over the pitch, until Toure stepped up to level in spectacular fashion as he advanced out of defence.
The Ivory Coast midfielder went past three Bilbao players in the 31st minute, and from outside the area drilled a low shot inside the near post.
Gradually Barca asserted themselves and as they swarmed round the Bilbao area in the 55th minute it was Messi who struck, firing through a crowd of legs after Gorka Iraizoz could only parry Samuel Eto'o's shot.
Three minutes later, Bojan raced through on a break to score off the far post and with Bilbao reeling Xavi curled a superb freekick over the wall and in off the near post in the 64th.
Just before Xavi's goal the match was held up briefly after Barcelona defender Daniel Alves was hit on the head by a tin can thrown from the stands.
Alves was able to continue and television pictures showed police leading a fan away.
Athletic were a broken team after that, but earn a place in next season's Europa League with Barca's place in the Champions League assured for next year. |
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Balas #386 toaster\ catat
tim cap kelpa laut afrika buleh la..try chelsea tgk..terkincit.. |
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TAHNIAH BARCELONA FOR WINNING THE COPA DEL REY  |
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congrat ...
mgu ni mng la liga pulak...
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Reply #387 Pak_Jen's post
selamat tak lwn real madras... |
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Reply #388 ShadowChaser's post
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mng piala miki pon jadi la.... |
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Reply #389 katana83's post
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1 point lagi.. |
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off topic.. klu x slh, ath.bilbao ni suma local player kn?
polisi diorang cm tu |
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Reply #394 katana83's post
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Reply #394 katana83's post
ooo... bagus aa team camni..semangat sepanyol ..
by the way, kongratz barca.
next, liga primera.
champions league? hehe ...we'll see. |
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congrats2..
pas tu angkat la plak CL  |
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Reply #397 karipapayam's post
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keh..keh...wait n see... |
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Author
Post time 14-5-2009 01:42 AM
