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

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.

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

100% expected line-up. Good stuff.

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).

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

Real Madrid's starting lineup:

Lopez

Essien Varane Carvalho Arbeloa

Khedira Alonso

Callejon Ozil Ronaldo

Benzema

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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;

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

Pumped up! Clasico time in 15 minutes!

TOTS UNITS FEM FORÇA

Links, please!

Let's go Barcelona!

Here we go again, slow, lazy start

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

Good one, Pique...

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

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

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