PBP: 12/13 Copa del Rey Semifinal: Leg 1 | Real Madrid v FC Barcelona | 30 Jan 2013 [R]

Rana catesbeiana · Jan 30, 2013

evil_allan said: ↑

i feel like going at them in "full mayhem" mode plays to the strengths of madrid by turning the match into more of a physical competition. madrid can more than hold their own in those kind of end-to-end one-on-one battles, but they can't match us on a collective level if we can manage to seize control and move the ball around quickly. madrid will be the ones hoping for full mayhem because that gives them a chance to see the ball once in a while because it means more high risk passes and therefore more possession turnovers. i think it might be a better idea to frustrate madrid early on by controlling the ball and minimize their home-field advantage - shut the bernabeu up and the frustration will boil over and the home team will struggle.

remember, there is a second leg at our house so the pressure is all on madrid today. the atmosphere in the bernabeu is already pretty toxic to begin with, and if we can keep control of the ball we can use that in our favour. i'm not saying they need to be slow, actually they will need to move the ball very very quickly in order to stay ahead of the madrid players, the idea is to dominate and control proceedings - to suffocate and smother them. i think patience, and control, will be key today. hold the ball ... make them run around in circles ... frustrate them ... lure them out of position ... and then pounce!
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Maybe I formulated my wish unclearly. By "full mayhem" I don't mean fast, direct, 100% physical ****-on-a-stick. More like, controlled and active attacking. Like, I want us to take the initiative, rather than let LPB play near our goal a lot. In some clasicos, it has seemed that LPB has started very brightly, like being "more awake" than us. I don't want that tonight.

Ok maybe "full mayhem" sounds stupid lol. And I definitely agree that control is the key.

.Azulgrana. · Jan 30, 2013

Starting Lineup:

Pinto
Alves Pique Puyol Alba
Xavi Busquets Cesc
Pedro Messi Iniesta

Bench: Valdes, Mascherano, Adriano, Song, Thiago, Alexis, Villa

Bartra doesn't make the final match squad and will watch the game from the stands #fcblive Montoya, Cuenca, and Tello stayed in Barcelona

Rana catesbeiana · Jan 30, 2013

100% expected line-up. Good stuff.

Rana catesbeiana · Jan 30, 2013

LPB: López - Essien, Varane, Carvalho, Arbeloa - Xabi Alonso, Khedira, Özil - Callejón, Cristiano, Benzema.

* I thought Marcelo would've started. Hm. Never kinda decided what to make of him as a player. On the other hand he links well with Cristiano, on the other hand he has those occasional meltdowns like the scissoring of Cesc. I guess he's like Pepe, very good, but does him team harm with those black moments. Another interesting choice imo is Essien, and I guess Carvalho as well. Gotta punish that make shift backline imo (and gotta stay focused in our defence).

unclesox · Jan 30, 2013

So Lopez isn't cup-tied despite playing for Sevilla against Espenyol and Zaragoza in previous rounds.

.Azulgrana. · Jan 30, 2013

Real Madrid's starting lineup:

Lopez
Essien Varane Carvalho Arbeloa
Khedira Alonso
Callejon Ozil Ronaldo
Benzema

Bench: Adan, Albiol, Marcelo, Modric, Kaka, Higuain, Morata

celito · Jan 30, 2013

jfcule said: ↑

Exactly, LPB are needier than we are. They will be eager to get on the scoreboard fast. Mou usually plays for a clean sheet(or at least a scoreless draw) at home, but in this case the Bernabeu won't go for it. We should slow things down in the first half and then play with their desperation. The pressure on them will only rise as the match goes on.
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I could be wrong, but I still think Mou doesn't give a damn about what the fans think. He will do whatever he thinks is best for the team and gives him the best chance to win over 2 legs. And given the injury problems, I think he will go for a more defensive strategy.

evil_allan · Jan 30, 2013

we can do this!
ugh, but i can't watch this one live unfortunately. will have to watch later
their back line looks very vulnerable

.Azulgrana. · Jan 30, 2013

Rana posted the correct Real lineup, so I edited my post. Sorry for the mistake, I got the one I posted off of Barca's website, but they changed it to what barcastuff have now as well.

Leon12 · Jan 30, 2013

There's going to be goals in this match, would be great if Messi could break Di Stefano's record in this match.

Gilmango · Jan 30, 2013

I think Marcelo is simply not fully fit, he'd be out there if he was. And I think that one simply cannot be "copa tied" as one can be cup tied in the CL (btw has it been 100% confirmed that Balotelli did in fact play CL for ManSee this year and thus will not play against us for Milan?).

They have lots of fire power up front but once we get to their 2nd choice defenders we should have chances to dazzle - Essien and Carvalho seem to have lost a step, and Arbeloa never impressed me as speedy, Xabi either in front of them.

.Azulgrana. · Jan 30, 2013

Gilmango said: ↑

I think Marcelo is simply not fully fit, he'd be out there if he was. And I think that one simply cannot be "copa tied" as one can be cup tied in the CL (btw has it been 100% confirmed that Balotelli did in fact play CL for ManSee this year and thus will not play against us for Milan?).

They have lots of fire power up front but once we get to their 2nd choice defenders we should have chances to dazzle - Essien and Carvalho seem to have lost a step, and Arbeloa never impressed me as speedy, Xabi either in front of them.
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You can be cup tied in cup competitions in other countries, but I don't think it's a rule in Spain judging by this.

Did Balotelli play for City in the Champions League? This should answer that;

puyol · Jan 30, 2013

lol @ Casillas girlfriend , showed up at an intreview saying that there are problems in real madrid and that the players hate mourinho , im betting casillas told her to say that

Viscaelbarca · Jan 30, 2013

Stream Link!

Rana catesbeiana · Jan 30, 2013

Pumped up! Clasico time in 15 minutes!

.Azulgrana. · Jan 30, 2013

inswinger · Jan 30, 2013

TOTS UNITS FEM FORÇA

.Azulgrana. · Jan 30, 2013

Links, please!

ShortyMac · Jan 30, 2013

Let's go Barcelona!

inswinger · Jan 30, 2013

Here we go again, slow, lazy start

Rana catesbeiana · Jan 30, 2013

Ok, that's the match-opening-five-star-fumble done. WAKE UP GUYS!

ShortyMac · Jan 30, 2013

Good one, Pique...

inswinger · Jan 30, 2013

<gulp> great save from Pinto. Good confidence builder for him but the defense needs to step up.

Rana catesbeiana · Jan 30, 2013

This is EXACTLY the kinda start I did not want. Patience, patience, but can't just wait. Gotta start playing.

manyfaces · Jan 30, 2013

Sheezus. Poor Adán. Mou benches Iker for him and then he's immediately dropped once Iker gets hurt.