The Kings of Cups meet again

FCB entertain Athletic Club Bilbao in a repeat of the Cup Final of 2008/09. A final in which although Toquero put the Basques 1-0 ahead Barça ended up winning 4-1.

FCB will put out a fairly strong team with just Pinto and Bojan in for Valdes and Villa for cup matches. That shouldn't affect their chances of another big win. Indeed Pinto and Boyan are the two players who have played most minutes in this competition for Pep Guardiola with Pinto the penalty stopping hero in the semis last time they won the cup and Boyan, who has just sgined a new contract till 2015, has 8 goals in the Cup.

Athletic Club Bilbao, who have won the Cup 23 times in comparison to the Catalan club's 25 times, would have out out their strongest team, but they are without starting centre-half Amorebieta and international forward Fernando Llorente. Their manager, Joaquin Caparros, has set a target of taking a small deficit back up North for the return leg in the first week of January.

Difficult to see FCB not getting through this round in the current run of excellent play and results. Even the huffing and puffing of Espanyol's 40,000 budgies didn't put them off as they recorded an easy 5-1 win at Cornella-El Prat. Indeed it is difficult to imagine Barça being seriously challenged in any domestic competition over the next 2 years.

Elsewhere in the last 16 of the cup the two most attractive ties are the Valencian derby between Valencia and Villareal (currently 3rd and 4th in the league) and Atletico Madrid v Espanyol. Espanyol won 3-2 at the Vicente Calderon a couple of weeks ago in a match where the Atletico manager, Quique Flores went on to the pitch after the final whistle shouting "I'll see you outside" to Espanyol's Luis Garcia. Tut tut tut. Real Madrid will beat Levante 0,5-0 over two legs in what should be the least inspiring tie of the round.

Prediction:

FCB 3-1 Atheltic

p.s. Photo shows kit and balls to be used in return leg in Bilbao.

Big Barcelona derby - can't wait!

5 things that won't happen and 5 things that might in tonight's Barcelona derby:

1. The match WON'T be snowed off. It's a lovely Winter's day in Barcelona where once again our friend Mr. Mediterranean is keeping Mr. Snowman away.

2. The Barça fans WON'T outsing the Pericos simply because a) Espanyol have only sold tickets to Espanyol members and travel agents and b) they have one of the best footballing choirs in Spanish football.

3. My friends Mike Roberts and Simmo WON'T forget the atmosphere at what is fast becoming one of the best grounds to see live football. Similar to my favourite PL stadium White Hart Lane much as it hurts to admit it.

4. The Espanyol fans WON'T forget to applaud Andres Iniesta because of the homage paid to the late great Dani Jarque after scoring the World Cup winning goal. Andres and the former Espanyol captain and possible future partner for Gerard Pique in the Spain team, Dani Jarque, were close friends after playing for Spain at U15, U19, U19 and U21 levels.

5. The Barça players WON'T lack motivation in what has once again become a real derby. Espanyol are now more an irritating younger brother than some pesty distant cousin.

6. Espanyol MIGHT get a result. They have won 7 out of 7 at home in the league this season conceding just 2 goals, albeit to Getafe, Almeria, Osasuna, Levante, Malaga, Hercules and Sporting Gijon. The players know this is their cup final and if anything the manager Pochettino may have to calm them down before they go onto the pitch.

7. FC Barcelona MIGHT just thrash Espanyol. Their record in their last 6 games is 26 goals for and zero against with Valdes just 56 minutes from a personal best of 570 minutes without letting a goal. Many would say that over the last month we have seen the very best FCB of the Peppy Guardiola era. The precision passing and pressure we sometimes take for granted has been speeded up and they are probably the sexiest team in the world.

8. We MIGHT get to see one of the games of the season and certainly I would advise everyone to grab a seat, open a San Miguel and at least watch the first 20 minutes or so.

9. We MIGHT, well lets's face it we will almost certainly, see a Messi determined to not let up in his personal race with CR7 for the pichichi.

10. We MIGHT all have a Happy Christmas!

Prediction:

Espanyol 1-3 FC Barcelona

p.s. The banner says to Barça "you are not a rival, you are the enemy!"

Think Real Think Romario

When I think of FCB v Real Sociedad I think of Romario's Barça debut against the team from San Sebastian. Not only did he score a memorable hat-trick with 3 highly original goals in the 3-0 victory (worth googling), but he stamped his feet, puffed out his chest and said I am here and you are going to enjoy this. There was one moment in the second half when as the ball flew towards him he just got down on one knee and received the ball on his chest torero style. He went on to be top scorer in that 93/94 season as he helped FCB win the league and helped himself to the World player of the year award.

Week 15 sees FCB entertain Real Sociedad who returned to the top tier this season after a 3 year absence. I think everyone is surprised to see them in 8th place and along with Espanyol, who are Barça's next opponents, it will be interesting to see how long they stay in the higher reaches of La Liga. They are a team who know each other well having retained many of the players who were relegated and many of the players who earned them promotion. Always good to see so many one club players as at least of the 6 starters at the Camp Nou will have played all their career so far in the Basque club. Remember the old days when players stayed at the same club? They may have been good, may have been bad, but they were your players and it was easier to stand by them when times were hard.

It is certainly not a hard time to be a Culé. The team stand top of the table having handed out a 5-0 hammering to the Men in White, have just signed the biggest shirt deal in history and have all 3 players in the top 3 of the World Player of the Year award to be handed out on the 10th January. Not everyone is happy with the shirt deal as although they can't express themselves as eloquently as the deal's defenders they just feel it isn't right. They feel it makes FCB just another club as opposed to more than a club. On the field though Barça are possibly playing their best football ever with the last 5 games yielding 5 wins and a goal difference of 21 for and ZERO against. Their passing is not only more precise than ever, but they are playing in top gear so every game is worth watching.

Piqué may be rested tonight as he is one card away from suspension and next week FCB travel across town to that revitalized derby match with the budgies. For Real Sociedad watch out for the silky skills from one club hero Xabi Prieto and listen out for the "warm" welcome Raul Tamudo will receive if he comes off the bench.

Prediction:

FCB 3-1 Real Sociedad

Would be FCB's third 3-1 of the season.

The Unbeatable come to town

FC Barcelona, group D winners, will look to beat Rubin Kazan at the fourth time of asking. No other team can come close to Rubin's record run of 1 victory and 2 draws against Barça. FCB may be able to rest some of their starting 11 even though Pep could be tempted to go for starting the same players for a third match in a row after doing so against Real Madrid and Osasuna. Surely some of his boys will need a rest after running for the train at the weekend?

Kurban Berdyev should set up a consultancy for managers about to face FCB as he has tactically matched Pep Guardiola in the 3 previous meetings. Watch out for the goal threat of the Equadorian Christian Noboa who is particularly dangerous from the penalty spot, having scored both of Rubin's group stage goals from there. The real interest will come from seeing if FCB can carry on with this magnificient run of form that has seen them score 19 goals without Valdes conceding 1 in the last 4 games. That is if you take no notice of the Catalan Cup which is what most people do anyway. Barça are back to passing with precision and pace and quite simply nobody does it better.

We could also get to see Pinto after his ban for whistling and some of the younger players trying to break through like the wonderfully named Jonathan Dos Santos (the new Xavi?) or Bartra or Fontas at the back. Although Barça are already through any excuse to watch the sexiest team on the planet will do.

Prediction:

FCB 3-1 Rubin Kazan

By the way the picture is of the Círculo Equestre where the Club directors of both clubs will be having a bite to eat on the day of the game. It is on the corner of Balmes Street and Avenida Diagonal and is yet anothe example of the beautiful architecture of Barcelona.

Raging Bull

Given the will they won't they play scenario of this morning this promises to be a fiery encounter. What otherwise might have seemed like a match where FCB did just have to get off the bus to pick up a 7th straight league win may have just been complicated by some grumpy Spanish air controllers.

What is happening? Who knows. This afternoon the match was announced as having been postponed till tomorrow. Thing is that noone seems to have told Osasuna who were a wee bit miffed. So the match is on. We think.

On paper FCB travel with their best possible squad with the exception of pooor Milito, once again out with injury. An FCB still smiling after the 5-0 win over Real Madrid (certainly the most comprehensive beating I have ever seen them give the Men in White) will have to be aware of complacency. This shouldn't be a problem with Pep in charge (seen in the photo celebrating with then today's opponent, Jose Antonio Camacho, then his national manager), but there are other things to worry about.

Osasuna's main goal threat comes from Lekic (10 league games, 0 goals) and Pandiani (joint top scorer this season with 2 goals), but Barça will also have to watch out for the weather (around 0ºC and snow on the ground), the fans (some of the best in the land and especially fired up after the game almost being called off), the ground (the Reyno de Navarra is one of the tightest grounds in the league) and travel fatigue (as I write they are on the train to Pamplona).

Jose Antonio Camacho famous for proclaiming his love for Andres "Happy Feet" Iniesta in the World Cup will be hoping FCB are shaken, but not stirred because you don't want to see FC Barcelona when they are angry!

Prediction:

Osasuna 1-3 FCB