FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.01.2009 12:37

The only team in three competitions

Jordi Clos

FC Barcelona’s qualification for the semi finals of the Copa del Rey means that they are now the only team in the league to still be in every competition that they were i at the start of the season after Valencia were knocked out by Sevilla.

The Blaurgana’s impeccable campaign continued on Thursday evening as they beat Espanyol to reach the semi final of the cup, while also being 12 points clear at the top of la Primera and in the first knockout round of the Champions League, where they will take o Olympique Lyonnais.

Valencia eliminated

On Thursday evening, Barça shared the honour with Valencia as los ches are fourth in the league and still in the UEFA Cup. But the defeat by Sevilla meant that they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey, while the Blaugrana progressed to the semi finals, where they will meet Real Mallorca, after defeating Espanyol. Neither Mallorca and Sevilla are in Europe.

Changing teams

Throughout the season Pep Guardila’s team have played very well in all competitions despite the fact that changes are made to the team in almost every encounter. The starting line-up against Espanyol saw only five of the same players that participated in the league encounter Numancia at the weekend remain in the starting eleven, as Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Xavi and Lionel Messi all kept their places.