FCBARCELONA.CAT
Main menu
Content menu
Football
05.03.2009 13:45
The road to Mestalla
Anna Segura
Barça are into the final of the Copa del Rey thanks to an impeccable run in the tournament, in which they have won six and drawn two matches – the highlight being the 3-1 win at the Calderón.
Barça’s cup run began on October 28 against Benidorm. There was a long road ahead before they could celebrate their first final appearance in 11 years. Four months later, they had made it through four rounds and beaten three top flight teams, with some great performances like Messi’s at the Vicente Calderón. There can be no doubt that Josep Guardiola’s side fully deserves its place in the last two of the Copa del Rey.
Six wins and two draws
Benidorm, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol and Mallorca all fell by
the wayside as Barça made solid progress, with six wins and two draws.
Only one lower league opponent
Barça started well against Division 2B outfit Benidorm, winning both legs 1-0. Into the last 32, they were dealt a tough draw for the next round, the mighty Atlético Madrid.
Hectic January
January was heaviest cup month, with four games in two
rounds to get through. But FCB took it all in their stride, and started with a 3-1 win away to
Atlético, with Messi shining, and topped it off with a 2-1 win at home. The next round at least
didn’t mean having to travel, they met local rivals Espanyol, and after drawing at Montjuïc
(0-0) they won a gripping return match at the Camp Nou (3-2).
Mallorca, last hurdle
Just Mallorca stood in the way of a trip to Mestalla. The
first leg started well with a 2-0 win at the Camp Nou. Then the 1-1 draw at the Ono Estadi sealed
Barça’s passage into their first final for 11 years.
Messi and Bojan on target
With his equaliser against Mallorca, Leo Messi became the
highest scorer in the cup, with five goals. Bojan also made a major contribution to the cup, with
four goals, with his two against Espanyol being particularly decisive.
Pinto, most minutes
Pinto has been the first choice keeper for the cup. Along
with Bojan and Sergio Busquets, he is one of the only players to have featured in all eight
matches. The Andalusian keeper played 751 minutes in total. Behind him came Sergio Busquets, with
688, and Bojan, with 669.
23 players used
Josep Guardiola has used every single one of his outfield players in the competition, with the
exception of the injured Milito. And he also found room to give a run-out to reserve team players.
The team against Benidorm included Nolito and Abraham, with the latter coming on for the last five
minutes. Goalkeepers Valdés and Jorquera are the only players that have not played any direct part
in this season’s cup campaign.
