06.01.2010 14:51
Cup history invites optimism
Pau Ramírez
Recent Cup history favours a Barça comeback in the return leg in Sevilla. Three years ago, Barça went through to the semi-finals after losing the first leg against Zaragoza in the Camp Nou.
On 31st January 2007, Zaragoza (featuring Gabriel Milito and Gerard Piqué from the current Barça
squad) took the lead in the quarterfinal tie thanks to a goal from Uruguayan star Diogo, who
out-jumped the Barça defence to a corner kick in the 78th minute.
Cold and wet
Just like this Tuesday, the day of the first leg in Barcelona was cold and wet, which
explains the sparse crowd of 31,000 spectators. Eto'o missed the game through injury and Barça were
unable to find a way past César in the Zaragoza goal.
Barça attack in Zaragoza
The return leg was a different story. Manager Frank Rijkaard surprised everyone with an
attacking 3-4-3 line-up that had the right effect almost immediately.
Xavi and Iniesta seal the comeback
In the
19th minute, Xavi combined with Márquez to fire past César and equalize. Just seven minutes later,
Andrés Iniesta finished off the comeback after pouncing on a rebound in the goal area.
Piqué almost scores
However, Zaragoza continued to press hard and with 20 minutes to go, Gerard Piqué almost
scored from a free kick taken by Aimar. The final 15 minutes were hotly contested by both sides and
there could easily have been more goals. Finally, Barça won the tie – the only Cup tie the
Club has won on aggregate after losing the first leg in the Camp Nou.
Four defeats in three years
Before Tuesday’s match, Barça had only lost three Cup matches over the past three years.
After Zaragoza, Barça played Getafe in the semi-finals, winning 5-2 in the first leg but then
losing 4-0 in the return leg. A year later, Barça reached the semi-finals once again but lost out
to Valencia 4-3 on aggregate. The teams drew 1-1 in the first leg in Barcelona and then Valencia
won the return leg 3-2 in the Mestalla.