FCBARCELONA.CAT

27.01.2009 11:06

History supports Barça

Edgar Fornós

Goalless draws in Copa del Rey first legs have usually seen FC Barcelona go on to qualify for the following round.

In any home and away tie, a goalless draw leaves everything to be decided in the return match. But it has rarely presented a problem for Barça. In thirteen games that have ended 0-0 after the first 90 minutes of a Copa del Rey encounter, it has been the Blaugrana that have ultimately progressed. The only team to knock FCB out of the cup after a goalless start was Betis in the 1993/1994 season. It all ended 0-0 at what was then the Benito Villamarín, and then the Andalusians stunned the Camp Nou with an unexpected 1-0 win.

Recent similarity

Last season, Barça met Villarreal in the quarter finals, and there were no goals in the first leg played at the Madrigal. Frenchman Thierry Henry sorted things out in Barcelona though, FCB winning 1-0 and marching on to the semi finals.

Goals in the return

After drawing 0-0 away, FC Barcelona have often made it all look easy in the second leg. Prime examples were the games with Sporting Gijón who were beaten 4-0 and 6-0 in the 35/36 and 58/59 seasons. There were also two 4-1 routings of Constancia de Inca way back in 43/44 and of Hércules of Alicante in the final cup campaign under Johan Cruyff in 1995/96.