Copa del Rey: FC Barcelona - Osasuna 4-0

[Flavia]

Copa del Rey - 1/8 1st leg
FC Barcelona - Osasuna

At Camp Nou, Jan 4th 2012, 22:00h

First game of the year. Maybe Messi won't play again, since he only comes back from holidays on Jan 2nd. Everyone else should be available, except Villa, Afellay and Iniesta.

[mitkoa7x]

Manita!

[ViscaBarca914]

Looking forward to this game. Hope we run up the score so we can secure our place in the next round. And I hope Madrid does the same....I smell revenge.

Smells like chicken.

[JDaniels]

Yearn

[PhilS]

Glad to hear Messi gets extended time off. Hope he does not play Jan 4, and that the team wins big enough that the second leg can be a chance for the bench and Barca B to play.

[Richard.H]

So if we beat Osasuna, we face RM?

[xaviniesta]

So if we beat Osasuna, we face RM?

nope, malaga.

[Myrmecophile]

[mitkoa7x]

nope, malaga.

i hope we meet malaga too

[impeh]

well this is tomorrow night, and looking at the training pictures from this morning, it seems like everyone was there.

i guess we may see some Messi tomorrow

[Anidubey]

All this time without Barca has made me sad, lets hope we see some footballing sex tmw

[Flavia]

Messi back training with squad

www.fcbarcelona.cat

01-03-2012 11:54

The Argentinian arrived back in Barcelona on Monday and joined his team mates for training this morning, along with seven members of Barça B

Leo Messi's life is back to normal. On Tuesday morning he trained with the rest of the squad for the first time this year, after working out on his own the day before, just after arriving back from Barcelona. So Josep Guardiola, who spoke at length with Messi before the session, now has all of his fit players back together.

Seven from B team

That made for a total of 25 players today, 18 from the first team and 7 from Barça B (Montoya, Cuenca, Soriano, Dos Santos, Rafinha, Sergi Roberto and Tello). Éric Abidal, who stayed in the gum on Monday, joined in with most of the session today, so the only absentees are now the two who are out with long-term injuries, Afellay and Villa.

José Manuel Pinto was applauded at the start of the session after it was announced on Monday that the reserve goalkeeper will be staying at FC Barcelona until June 30, 2013.

The team goes back to training on Wednesday morning, the final session before hosting Osasuna in the Copa del Rey (22.00, TV3, Tele5 and Radio Barça).


Guardiola: “Osasuna is a demanding team, they come at you”

VANESSA FORNS

01-03-2012 15:27

The Barça manager is concerned about Osasuna’s daring approach and feels that their cup rivals will be coming to the Camp Nou looking to win the tie

He also explained that Iniesta has made much improvement but does not believe he is ready to play for the full 90 minutes

Tito Vilanova present

Guardiola confirmed that Tito Vilanova could be back on the bench on Wednesday night against Osasuna, but everybody has to remember that he has only just undergone a serious operation. "It is very important for the team for him to be there. We aren't the same without him. In principle, he'll be there tomorrow, but the future will depend on his condition. We mustn't forget that he's only just had an operation. He'll come depending on how things develop. The most important thing is that he is getting better."
"Mendilíbar is ambitious, and that's why his daring team are fifth with 25 points. They'll clearly be coming here looking to win the tie
"I haven't asked Messi if he wants to play because I know what his answer will be. But it's me who will decide"

Josep Guardiola does not think it will be easy to beat Osasuna in the Copa del Rey round of 16, saying that they "are a demanding side. They come at you. We have to play well and quick or the tie will be a difficult one." Neither does he think that the game at the Camp Nou will have anything to do with the 8-0 drubbing Barça dished out earlier this season in the league. "That was a long time ago, and a result like that will be added motivation for them. The situation has changed. This is an 180 minute match and we have to try to get a good result."

The Barcelona manager notes that Jose Luis Medilíbar's side is fifth in the league and almost unbeatable at El Sadar, their home ground. "Mendilíbar is ambitious, and that's why his daring team are fifth with 25 points. They'll clearly be coming here looking to win the tie, and by doing that Osasuna will help us get back into competitive football ... we are going to have to attack well and create lots of goalscoring chances".

He was also asked to talk about Messi's condition, considering he only got back to Barcelona on Monday after his holiday in Argentina. Is he ready to take part in Barça's first game of 2012? "He has come back in fine spirits, so we'll decide tomorrow. I haven't asked him if he wants to play because I know what his answer will be. But it's me who will decide ... He is gaining in experience with every year, he understands the game better ... and the sooner he is back playing the better".

Iniesta improving

Guardiola also had good news regarding Andrés Iniesta, who trained on Monday for the first time since getting injured against l'Hospitalet: "He did the whole session today, and finished all the exercises. He's fine. He has done two sessions so far. It's a bit early for him to play the whole 90 minutes, but perhaps he can go on for a little while."

It has been mooted of late that Jonathan Soriano could be a good replacement for the injured David Villa. "That is one of the possibilities we're looking at" said Pep. "But the downside is that if we promote him to first team, there's no going back for him. He has shown that he can play in the first division, and he deserves a chance after all he's done in the reserves, he has a lot of potential, he fits into the team well. We have three weeks to decide. We'll see how this month goes, and how he adjusts to things."

[FCBarca]

Yeah, I remember discussing this Soriano issue elsewhere...I doubt they promote him...Tello sounds like a good bet platooning with Cuenca & even Adriano I guess

[PhilS]

Pep will be looking to crush Osasuna in this game, so he can rest players in the return match next week. Iniesta will come on as a sub at most, and maybe Abidal will get this game off since he has been a bit hurt.

I'd expect 3-4-3, with Cesc and Thiago starting in midfield. Even with the current injuries, for the 10 outfield spots I count 14 players who deserve to start, hard to go wrong making the picks. With the 8 games in January, everyone on the first team plus Cuenca should play quite a bit.

[Corb]

And it is broadcast by TV3. Great!