PBP: Copa del Rey Final | Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona | 25 May 2012 [R]

Discussion in 'Barcelona' started by Viscaelbarca, May 9, 2012.

  1. Viscaelbarca Moderator

    Member Since:
    Aug 31, 2007
    Location:
    Australia
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Country:
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    Friday the 25th of May 2012

    | Barcelona (CEST), 22:00 | LOS ANGELES (PDT), 13:00 | MONTREAL (EDT), 16:00 |LONDON (GMT), 20:00 |



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    Vicente Calderón
    Madrid

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    Sat 31/03/12 PRD Barcelona 2 - 0 Athletic


    Sun 06/11/11 PRD Athletic Club 2 - 2 Barcelona

    Bielsa Tactics vs Barcelona

    allas



    Older Encounters

    Sun 20/02/11 PRD Barcelona 2 - 1 Athletic Club


    Wed 05/01/11 CDR Athletic Club 1 - 1 Barcelona


    Tue 21/12/10 CDR Barcelona 0 - 0 Athletic Club
    Sat 25/09/10 PRD Athletic Club 1 - 3 Barcelona
    Sat 03/04/10 PRD Barcelona 4 - 1 Athletic Club
    Sat 21/11/09 PRD Athletic 1 - 1 Barcelona
    Sun 23/08/09 SUC Barcelona 3 - 0 Athletic
    Sun 16/08/09 SUC Athletic 1 - 2 Barcelona

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    Wed 13/05/09 CDR Athletic 1 - 4 Barcelona


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  2. Viscaelbarca Moderator

    Member Since:
    Aug 31, 2007
    Location:
    Australia
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    FC Barcelona
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    Barcelona are undefeated in their last 17 matches against Athletic Bilbao in all competitions.

    Athletic Bilbao have won their last 5 matches in Copa del Rey.

    Barcelona are undefeated in their last 8 matches in Copa del Rey.

    Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in 6 of their last 7 matches in Copa del Rey.

    Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches against Athletic Bilbao in all competitions.

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    Adéu Pep!

    Visca el Barça
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  3. Gilmango Member

    Member Since:
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    Viscaelbarca - thanks for a whole season full of great match threads! And special thanks for getting this one up early. I was about to post this relevant ZM analysis of the Bilbao-AtlMadrid match in the other teams thread but it fits better here. First a remarkable quote: Diego Simeone named his expected line-up – Tiago was suspended, so Mario Suarez and Gabi played in the centre of midfield. None of the starting XI started the 2010 final.

    Remarkable is the 2nd sentence, contrast that with our general continuity in the last 3 years of Pep.

    Here's the link to the whole thing, a good read as always, hopefully we can learn something from it: http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05...c-bilbao-falcao-wins-the-europa-league-again/
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  4. unclesox BigSoccer Supporter

    Member Since:
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    Location:
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    The new tournament logo as released by the RFEF on March 7.

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  5. os_mutante Moderator

    Member Since:
    Aug 8, 2003
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    I'm going to be in Thailand. 3AM! Hope I can find some barca fans.
  6. Viscaelbarca Moderator

    Member Since:
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    Dani Alves broke his shoulder and is probably out of the final. :rolleyes:.

    Sánchez and Pinto trained with the squad today...
  7. Gilmango Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 20, 2006
    Location:
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    So about the best (only?) 4 person D we can mount is Montoya-Pique-Masch-Adriano in front of Pinto. We look to have our normal first choice midfield X-B-I. Then we have Messi up front with two of Sanchez, Pedro, Cesc, Cuenca, Affelay, or Tello.
  8. os_mutante Moderator

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    This sucks. The game just got a whole lot tougher.
  9. inswinger Member+

    Member Since:
    May 17, 2001
    Location:
    NYC
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    FC Barcelona
    They won't be available for this game, but doctors are optimistic about Villa's imminent return (maybe in time for Euros) and Abidal's possible recovery this summer. :thumbsup:

    I'm going to be in San Francisco for this one... can any of you NoCal folks recommend a good Barça-friendly spot in downtown or SoMa?
  10. Gilmango Member

    Member Since:
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    Much as I have enjoyed Spain's success I would prefer if Villa, like Puyol, misses the Euros. Even if he makes the squad - which seems less and less likely - it is hard to see him getting much PT.

    If Abidal ever plays for Barca or France again I will be surprised (less it is a friendly / celebratory send off game). I am no doctor, but I have read that the anti-rejection meds one takes after a transplant are tend to sap one's stamina.

    In San Francisco downtown/SoMa I don't know of any Barca-identified spots but the most football-mad spot is surely Steff's sports bar 141 2nd Street between Mission and Howard (really between Minna alley and Natoma alley). Multiple screens and you can bring in outside food so long as you buy a drink there - their menu is very limited (cheap hot dogs or corn dogs, chips, free popcorn). I don't work downtown on Fridays or I'd try to join you there (Fridays I work at my daughter's co-op preschool in the a.m. and then from home so I'll be streaming the game at home).
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  11. Viscaelbarca Moderator

    Member Since:
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    I hope Villa plays in the Euros. Think of it as an intensive pre-season for him, it would get him up to speed with the rest of the squad...
  12. BocaFan Member+

    Member Since:
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    Brooklyn, NY
    Considering that 2 of Spain's 3 friendlies leading-up to the Euros are the same week at the CdR final, I just can't see how Villa has any chance at all to make it. If he can't make the CdR final, then he can't make the pre-tournament friendlies either.
  13. inswinger Member+

    Member Since:
    May 17, 2001
    Location:
    NYC
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    Yeah, I don't think Villa will be ready or should be hurried into the Euros, but it's encouraging that he's doing ball work already. A full summer of training for him should be promising for the fall.

    Thanks, Gil! Steff's appears to be just a few blocks from the big conference hotel where I'll be, so I'll probably watch there. Too bad you'll be elsewhere. Like probably most folks here, I've always been curious to know what fellow BS'ers are like in person. (Well, not the LPB crowd.) :D
  14. FCBTEX Member

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    Why wasn't this game scheduled before the CL final? shouldn't the CL final be the last game of the club season for the big leagues anyway? This just hurts preparation for the Euros.
  15. Gilmango Member

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    What did the timing in was that they had 1 date picked if neither team had a conflicting final, and another date if either team had a conflicting final. We failed to make our final but Bilbao made their earlier Europa League final. There was no 3rd date scheduled if they but not us made their final.
  16. MavadoDribblez Member

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    I know someone thought I was complaining before when I brought it up, but whoever the idiot was that signed off on the Clasico going in between the two Champions League semi-finals should be fired. I know a computer might make the schedule, but my argument is that it hurt both Madrid and Barcelona. We didn't get to rest any players, 3 matches in 6 days or 8 days is really hard. No doubt fatigue played a factor.

    You didn't have to be a scholar to figure that at least one of Barcelona or Madrid would be in the semis. As it was, both were in the semis. Yes, now my crying is done. :)
  17. Viscaelbarca Moderator

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    I have added some stats to the 2nd post of this thread. It will be updated as we get closer to the match day.
  18. BocaFan Member+

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    Location:
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    I'd rather have a computer randomly develop the fixture calendar. Occasionally this bad luck will happen but Madrid and Barca shouldn't get even more favoritism over the other clubs around Europe. Chelsea had a tough match against Arsenal too between those semifinal legs. Of course they weren't involved in a title-race so they didn't go all-out to win that game, but you don't know that at the beginning of the season when the schedule is created.
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  19. unclesox BigSoccer Supporter

    Member Since:
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    Location:
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    The final was originally scheduled for Sunday May 20, the day after the CL final. But the RFEF let it be known from the start that if a club reached both the Copa final and the CL final then the Copa final would be pushed back to Friday May 25. Wednesday May 2nd (which was originally an open midweek) would have probably been an option but the players' strike at the start of the season forced May 1-3 to be used to make up for Jornada 1.
    After Barcelona were knocked out of the CL on April 24, Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque asked for the Copa final be brought forward to Wednesday May 16 but the RFEF declined the request. I never found out why they said no but I'm guessing they felt it may have caused an organizational mess (for the venue, clubs, supporters travel plans, etc) if the date was suddenly moved from the confirmed date of May 25.
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  20. Viscaelbarca Moderator

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    A short clip of today's training session.

  21. MavadoDribblez Member

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    You're right, they shouldn't get favouritism. There's no way to know how the season would go. I was wrong to say what I did.
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  22. Gilmango Member

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    Cool graphic of games played, minutes, and goals scored in Copa games for projected starters (I got from BarcaStuff but it is from Sport):
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  23. Gilmango Member

    Member Since:
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    FC Barcelona
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    Alexis and Pinto cleared to play. While I'm glad Pep stays classy and only plays his #2 keeper in Copa matches it would not have been the end of the world if Pinto was "unfit". ;)
    With these expected clearances I think that the Sport graphic lineup I posted just above looks very likely. The exceptions would be if a Cesc or Cuenca played in lieu of Pedro or Alexis but I gotta think Pep plays Pedro in this farewell game (and impressing here may be Pedro's last chance to make the Spanish squad for Euros).

    I have not read the whole thing as I'm a bit crazed at work right now - vacation next week - but this looks like a worthwhile read: http://www.totalbarca.com/2012/analysis/tactical-preview-fc-barcelona-vs-athletic-bilbao-2/

    Nothing yet posted from Zonal Marking but we can hope there's a before and an after as I know Pep and Bielsa provide lots of grist for the tactical analysis mill.
  24. Viscaelbarca Moderator

    Member Since:
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    Barca TV have compiled a short clip of some of the memorable matches between the two clubs including two goals from Maradona...

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  25. Leon12 Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 5, 2006
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    It's been a dissapointing season, lets end it on a high and win the Copa.

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