Quarter-finals – Clasico de Copa
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
Less glamorous but still a classic. The Spanish derby will nonetheless be followed by millions of people worldwide despite being just a quarter-final first leg match. If you can ever really refer to this fixture as ‘just’ another game. It never has been and the players will make sure they go for the kill. Will the managers take this chance to rest a few of their big names though?
Real Madrid – Barcelona
Mourinho is not giving up any hints to whom he will be playing against Barcelona. At least he did mark present his time at the pre-match press conference, although he was mysterious and vague in answering many of the questions posed by journalists.
The general idea is that he will be making quite a turn over but I do not trust those sensations. It is true that there will be no drama in being beaten again by Barcelona and getting kicked out of the cup they are currently the holders of. However, disappointment would be greater if they give up points and help Barcelona recover in the league. They hold a precious five-point advantage and with four games out of the next five scheduled at the Bernabeu they ought to at least keep it that way by mid-February.
Within that span of matches Barcelona have three away games. They visit Malaga, Villareal and Osasuna, and with their current form on the road nobody will be blamed for doubting the mighty Barca, champions of Europe and the World after their exploits in Tokyo.
In any case it is a Clasico and losing against Barcelona is never easy to digest. Going all out for it will most probably not be an option pondered upon by Mourinho but he will definitely want to avoid another ‘manita’ as happened at the Nou Camp just over a year ago.
I would expect the Portuguese manager to retry his old experiment with Pepe in midfield looking to choke Messi’s game before he starts his ball distribution close to the centre circle. Ronaldo has not been in splendid form lately and his poor track record in games against Barcelona further raises doubts about his performance on Wednesday night. He has scored just two goals in contrast to Messi’s thirteen over the Clasico matches each has participated in.
Guardiola may give this match, just because it is a quarter-final encounter, less importance than usual as well but only in the sense that he will be making a few changes himself. All in all I don’t expect that many changes by the two managers as they get into the right mindset of the game with each passing hour. The players who take to the field will not be downplaying anything about the game. That’s sure. All players dream of being heroes in such games and the commitment will be enormous.
Khedira and Di Maria are injured for the home team. Arbeloa is suspended. All absentees should not go unnoticed. With Kaka still not in Mourinho’s plans and often not delivering as expected there will be quite a few selection problems for Les Merengues. Barcelona have got less injury worries apart from David Villa and Pedro. Guardiola should also play dangerously and place his faith in goalkeeper Pinto, one of the worst goalkeepers I have ever seen if not actually the worst. He helped Real Madrid to their only win in the last thirteen encounters with the Blaugrana.
Verdict: X
It still is a big match but the Copa del Rey quarter-final tag does give a new, less appealing dimension. The players will be giving it their all but the managers may force it upon themselves to rest one or two usual starters. I expect Mourinho to do this more as he maybe fiddles around again with that idea of his to defend and hold Barcelona out. Although the fans may not like it that is his nature after all and it would be a testing ground for the league meeting they will be having with five matches to go from the end of the Liga.
Valencia – Levante
Soldado was suspended for the match against Real Sociedad. Coupling that with Emery’s player rotation for that match will show not only why a team which won just four games in all managed to beat Los Che at the Mestalla but also the emphasis they place on the derby of Valencia, notwithstanding the fact that they meet in a cup quarter-final.
Apparently Unai Emery does not want to disappoint the fans again after the draw in another derby against Villareal les than two weeks ago. They had to fight back from two goals down to save a point from the Madrigal. This time the plan is to struggle much less and secure a good first leg score at home.
Levante will not be lying down dead as Valencia trample all over them. Their luck in the derby is not much. They lost their only home match from eight this season against Los Che. In addition they have been travelling very poorly lately. After three victories and two draws on the road they have lost all five of their away games.
Verdict: 1
Levante’s track record against their neighbours is not encouraging. With Soldado and a few other big shots having been rested over the weekend, their return will be with a bang. Odds are not impressive but 1.50 for Valencia to win this one are quite high in my opinion.
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18.01.2012, 15:28 CET
Kaka was in good form in the final minutes away to Mallorca. Being a cup game he should be playing a bigger part here and I would be glad to have a few on him scoring anytime at odds of 4.70.