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Copa Del Rey Preview: Real Mallorca - Barcelona
Barcelona will be looking to seal their place in the final, taking a two-goal lead from the first leg in to their encounter with Real Mallorca.
Mar 3, 2009 4:54:33 PM
Wednesday 4 March, ONO Estadi, Mallorca
The Copa Del Rey reaches its final stages this week, with Barcelona traveling to the ONO Estadi to face Real Mallorca with a two-goal lead from the first leg proving a healthy cushion, and one which means Mallorca will require a special performance to make it to the final. Either Athletic Bilbao or Sevilla await the victor, with Sevilla currently holding a 2-1 advantage in that tie.
However it is questionable whether Mallorca have a genuine interest in giving their all for a win that may prove to be meaningless. They made their statement of intent for this semi-final by playing their weakest, defensive-minded side imaginable in the first leg, and coach Gergorio Manzano seemingly content to accept a 2-0 defeat at the Camp Nou in favour of saving his key players for the clubs relegation battle.
Manzano was criticized for devaluing the Copa Del Rey, and of being disrespectful by putting out a side that didn’t seem too unnerved in defeat. In fairness to Mallorca though, they have picked up some vital wins that has given them a fighting chance of avoiding the drop, but it will still be intriguing to see what level of importance they place on facing a Barcelona side, while already two goals down.
Barcelona themselves could just do with steadying the ship as their season threatens to unravel in front of them. The neutrals among us can view Sunday’s spectacular 4-3 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid as an absolutely classic encounter. For Blaugrana purists though, it was a defensive horror show that portrayed a worrying relinquishing of control by the once invincible Catalonians.
They should get past Lyon in the Champions League, barring disaster, but there is no denying that Real Madrid have them on edge in the Primera Division. Coach Pep Guardiola has a decision to make in his team selection; he needs, and his side desperately needs, a convincing victory to instil the faith in their ability again, but has crucial La Liga fixtures to bear in mind and cant risk losing another key player in the manner he has lost Andres Iniesta and Eric Abidal in the last few fixtures.
Mallorca most definitely have players that on a given day can produce a piece of magic to change the outcome of a match. Juan Arango’s fantastic free kick versus Sporting Gijon at the weekend simply underlines what he is capable of, while top scorer Aritz Aduriz too is capable of brilliance as his wonder goal at the Camp Nou in La Liga proved. Although they have not scored many, there is potential for goals in the Mallorca team, something which Pep Guardiola will be aware of.
Manzano will know it is all too clear that Barcelona can score at will, and they could well be hurting after the loss to Atletico. A wounded Blaugrana is a dangerous animal indeed.
BARCELONA
LAST 5 RESULTS
Mar 01 Atletico 4-3 Barcelona (LA LIGA)
Feb 24 Lyon 1-1 Barcelona (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Feb 21 Barcelona 1-2 Espanyol (LA LIGA)
Feb 14 Real Betis 2-2 Barcelona (LA LIGA)
Feb 08 Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Gijon (LA LIGA)
TEAM NEWS:
Andres Iniesta may return to action for this match, after missing the majority of Barcelona's slump, and how Xavi in particular has missed his creative influence. Eric Abidal is expected to be out for two months following his ankle injury sustained versus Espanyol, and Gabreil Milito remains out after suffering ligament damage at the start of the campaign.
Probable XI: Jorquera, Puyol, Pique, Marquez, Sylvinho, Hleb, Busquets, Toure, Bojan, Gudjohnsen, Henry/Eto’o/Messi
MAN TO WATCH:
Bojan has been a regular in the Copa Del Rey this season, and scored a stunning header at the Camp Nou against Atletico in January. The Serbian-born Spaniard doesn’t produce often enough however, and although he is still very young, if he is to have a future in Catalonia he needs to start to showcase his talent more regularly.
REAL MALLORCA
LAST 5 RESULTS:
Mar 01 Sporting Gijon 0-1 Real Mallorca (LA LIGA)
Feb 22 Real Mallorca 1-0 Racing Santander (LA LIGA)
Feb 15 Numancia 0-1 Real Mallorca (LA LIGA)
Feb 08 Real Mallorca 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna (LA LIGA)
Feb 01 Osasuna 1-0 Real Mallorca (LA LIGA)
TEAM NEWS:
Goalkeeper Miguel Moya is out for another month through injury, but other than that there are no fresh injury concerns for Gregorio Manzano.
Probable XI: Aouate ,Scaloni, Nunes, Navarro, Marti, Varela, Santana, Suarez, Jurado, Arango, Aduriz
MAN TO WATCH:
Flamboyant on-loan Atletico Madrid man Jose Jurado has on occasion turned on the style for Mallorca this season and offered glimpses of his potential. He tore Valencia apart earlier in the year, and grabbed a vital late winner two weeks ago to see off Racing Santander. If the islanders are to turn this tie around, they will need moments of magic from the diminutive winger.
PREDICTION:
Barcelona should have more than enough to see off the Islanders, with or without their two-goal lead in the tie. They will win comfortably to put an end to their recent horror run.
Real Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona
Paul Macdonald, Goal.com
The Copa Del Rey reaches its final stages this week, with Barcelona traveling to the ONO Estadi to face Real Mallorca with a two-goal lead from the first leg proving a healthy cushion, and one which means Mallorca will require a special performance to make it to the final. Either Athletic Bilbao or Sevilla await the victor, with Sevilla currently holding a 2-1 advantage in that tie.
However it is questionable whether Mallorca have a genuine interest in giving their all for a win that may prove to be meaningless. They made their statement of intent for this semi-final by playing their weakest, defensive-minded side imaginable in the first leg, and coach Gergorio Manzano seemingly content to accept a 2-0 defeat at the Camp Nou in favour of saving his key players for the clubs relegation battle.
Manzano was criticized for devaluing the Copa Del Rey, and of being disrespectful by putting out a side that didn’t seem too unnerved in defeat. In fairness to Mallorca though, they have picked up some vital wins that has given them a fighting chance of avoiding the drop, but it will still be intriguing to see what level of importance they place on facing a Barcelona side, while already two goals down.
Barcelona themselves could just do with steadying the ship as their season threatens to unravel in front of them. The neutrals among us can view Sunday’s spectacular 4-3 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid as an absolutely classic encounter. For Blaugrana purists though, it was a defensive horror show that portrayed a worrying relinquishing of control by the once invincible Catalonians.
They should get past Lyon in the Champions League, barring disaster, but there is no denying that Real Madrid have them on edge in the Primera Division. Coach Pep Guardiola has a decision to make in his team selection; he needs, and his side desperately needs, a convincing victory to instil the faith in their ability again, but has crucial La Liga fixtures to bear in mind and cant risk losing another key player in the manner he has lost Andres Iniesta and Eric Abidal in the last few fixtures.
Mallorca most definitely have players that on a given day can produce a piece of magic to change the outcome of a match. Juan Arango’s fantastic free kick versus Sporting Gijon at the weekend simply underlines what he is capable of, while top scorer Aritz Aduriz too is capable of brilliance as his wonder goal at the Camp Nou in La Liga proved. Although they have not scored many, there is potential for goals in the Mallorca team, something which Pep Guardiola will be aware of.
Manzano will know it is all too clear that Barcelona can score at will, and they could well be hurting after the loss to Atletico. A wounded Blaugrana is a dangerous animal indeed.
BARCELONA
LAST 5 RESULTS
Mar 01 Atletico 4-3 Barcelona (LA LIGA)
Feb 24 Lyon 1-1 Barcelona (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE)
Feb 21 Barcelona 1-2 Espanyol (LA LIGA)
Feb 14 Real Betis 2-2 Barcelona (LA LIGA)
Feb 08 Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Gijon (LA LIGA)
TEAM NEWS:
Andres Iniesta may return to action for this match, after missing the majority of Barcelona's slump, and how Xavi in particular has missed his creative influence. Eric Abidal is expected to be out for two months following his ankle injury sustained versus Espanyol, and Gabreil Milito remains out after suffering ligament damage at the start of the campaign.
Probable XI: Jorquera, Puyol, Pique, Marquez, Sylvinho, Hleb, Busquets, Toure, Bojan, Gudjohnsen, Henry/Eto’o/Messi
MAN TO WATCH:
Bojan has been a regular in the Copa Del Rey this season, and scored a stunning header at the Camp Nou against Atletico in January. The Serbian-born Spaniard doesn’t produce often enough however, and although he is still very young, if he is to have a future in Catalonia he needs to start to showcase his talent more regularly.
REAL MALLORCA
LAST 5 RESULTS:
Mar 01 Sporting Gijon 0-1 Real Mallorca (LA LIGA)
Feb 22 Real Mallorca 1-0 Racing Santander (LA LIGA)
Feb 15 Numancia 0-1 Real Mallorca (LA LIGA)
Feb 08 Real Mallorca 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna (LA LIGA)
Feb 01 Osasuna 1-0 Real Mallorca (LA LIGA)
TEAM NEWS:
Goalkeeper Miguel Moya is out for another month through injury, but other than that there are no fresh injury concerns for Gregorio Manzano.
Probable XI: Aouate ,Scaloni, Nunes, Navarro, Marti, Varela, Santana, Suarez, Jurado, Arango, Aduriz
MAN TO WATCH:
Flamboyant on-loan Atletico Madrid man Jose Jurado has on occasion turned on the style for Mallorca this season and offered glimpses of his potential. He tore Valencia apart earlier in the year, and grabbed a vital late winner two weeks ago to see off Racing Santander. If the islanders are to turn this tie around, they will need moments of magic from the diminutive winger.
PREDICTION:
Barcelona should have more than enough to see off the Islanders, with or without their two-goal lead in the tie. They will win comfortably to put an end to their recent horror run.
Real Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona
Paul Macdonald, Goal.com
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