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Post by lesd on Jan 29, 2015 20:21:00 GMT 1
First up tonight....it's Barca's opponent in the semis! But will it be Getafe or Villarreal? Villarreal leading 1-0 from the first leg.
And we're off to a slow start.
Best part so far is watching the big animated advertising banners around the Getafe ground ......
"Paramount Theme Park and Life Style Center ... soon in Alhama de Murcia" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Possibly equalled by the Spanish Specsavers - Alain Afflelou - offering a second pair for 1€! Are you watching Señor Arbi?
Also, to relieve the boredom, I've just Wiki'd Joel Campbell of Arsenal who's in the Villarreal side. 4 games for Arsenal and nearly 100 out on loan! France, Spain, Greece and back to Spain. He's (almost) been everywhere!
Well, waddya know....someone scored!
Final score Getafe 0-1 Villarreal (Agg 0-2)
So it's Barca vs Villarreal in the semis. And on this showing it'll be a one-horse race.
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Post by lesd on Jan 29, 2015 22:05:55 GMT 1
Next Up it's Athletic Bilbao (0) vs Malaga (0) and Sevilla (1) vs Espanyol (3).
Zzzz first halves.
But 5 mins into the 2nd half, Bilbao go ahead. 1-0
And 5 mins before the end of the 2nd half, Sevilla score. But it's too little, too late.
So the other semi will be Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol.
Games to be played 11 Feb/4 March.
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Post by lesd on Jan 31, 2015 20:28:08 GMT 1
And to see a dress rehearsal of the Barca vs Villarreal game, tune-in or log-on on Sunday night at 9 o'clock (Spanish).
Barcelona versus Villarreal from the Camp Nou - La Liga action.
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Post by lesd on Mar 4, 2015 20:07:33 GMT 1
Catch-up time.....
1st legs
Barca 3-1 Villarreal
Bilbao 1-1 Espanyol
....and the second legs tonight:
3 mins....Suarez to Messi to Neymar.....0-1.
38 mins...Dos Santos evens it up for Villarreal
Doesn't look good for Sergio Busquets....carried off with a likely leg fracture
72 mins..all over...Mascherano to Suarez....1-2. (Agg 2-5)
87 mins....it is now...Xavi to Neymar...1-3 (2-6)
The good news is ... Busquets is back in the dugout.
Now to Barcelona.....Espanyol!
13 mins gone and Aduriz beats FOUR defenders on the turn and it's 0-1 to Bilbao.
41 mins... perfect headed goal from a corner 0-2. Looks all over for Espanyol. No Barcelona Derby for the final.
And that's it. The Copa final will be between the two leading title holders....Barcelona (26 wins) versus Athletic Bilbao (23) on 30 May (Estadio tbc).
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Post by lesd on Mar 5, 2015 17:36:29 GMT 1
Every year, the same debate! Where to hold the final of La Copa! If Real are in it, it shouldn't be their 'home' game! If Barca are in it it shouldn't be at their main rival's stadium! But, without a Spanish Wembley, the Bernabeu holds the greatest number of fans and is always the first thought.
So, where this year with Barca versus Athletic? Both seem to want the Bernabeu. Athletic as it's easy to get to for their fans and Barca so they can again put Real's noses out of joint. Will it be? If not, the choices seem to be Atlético's ground at Vicente Calderón or Valencia's Mestalla. Whatever the decision, it will be on 30th May.
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Post by lesd on May 30, 2015 19:53:32 GMT 1
Well, the day is here.....and it's off to the Camp Nou we go! Just over half hour to kick-off.
With so many Athletic fans wanting tickets, it was the obvious decision.
BUT....looks like Athletic will be the official 'home' team. So will Barca run out in their second strip?
AND...possibly for the first time ever, Barca may have fewer fans in their ground than their opponents!
Athletic are also looking to repeat the success of their 1958 team when they went to the Bernabeu and beat Real Madrid 2-0!
But recent Copa final results between the two teams suggests they will struggle:
2012...Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
2009...Barcelona 4-1 Athletic Bilbao
And Barca won both games in the regular league season.
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Post by lesd on May 30, 2015 20:30:02 GMT 1
Here we go....two sets of supporters united in opposition to the Spanish nation. Basques versus Catalans!!!
Now I realise why they didn't want to play in Madrid!
10 mins...and it's back of the net from Neymar.........offside....by inches!
20 mins...Messi...Messi...Messi...Messi...beats 4 players and it's 0-1 to Barca!
36 mins...Alves, Messi, Rakitic, Suarez, Neymar.....2-0.
73 mins...Alves to MESSIIIIIIIII....3-0.
79 mins...Iñaki Williams (great Basque name!) gets one back....3-1.
And so it came to pass....Barca win the second of their three big end-of-season trophies.
Bring on Juve next weekend.
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