Barcelona plays  Athletic Bilbao  In Spanish cup finals today-   A glimpes into How Barca will handle a smaller finals b4 the Bigger finals (UCL)   A win here will Boost Barcelona players'  Morale and seal Two tiltles B4   27th May UCL finals.   Now who carries the day here?



Copa del Rey Final Preview: Athletic Bilbao - Barcelona
The two most successful clubs in Copa del Rey history will collide to determine who will become the 'kings' of the competition. But for both sides, there will be more important things at stake than simply going into the record books.
Back Where They Belong

Wednesday’s encounter will mark the first time Athletic Bilbao have played in a major cup final since 1985. That was the year they lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, a year after beating Barcelona 1-0 to win this tournament for the 24th time.

There’s still dispute over exactly how many Copas they have actually won. The LFP (Liga de Futbol Profesional) and the Spanish Football Federation only officially recognise 23 wins, as they won the inaugural 1902 trophy under a different name, Club Vizcaya. But the cup is on display in their trophy cabinet - and besides, it’s not a topic of debate you would want to bring up when in Basque territory.

First Step To The Treble

Barcelona also have 24 Copa titles to their name but their 25th could be one of the most significant and memorable in the club’s history.

If they triumph at the Mestalla, it will be their first piece of silverware in the much talked-about treble quest this season, after they failed to secure the Primera Division crown at the weekend following a 3-3 draw at home with Villarreal. That stumble, however, was seen as a blessing in disguise by coach Pep Guardiola and president Joan Laporta, as they both believed that the title celebrations would have taken the squad’s focus away from Wednesday’s final.

But there’s no doubt that many cules would have loved to see their heroes wrap up La Liga at the very backyard of the Camp Nou and get at least one competition out of the way. Fatigue and injury woes are finally setting in for Guardiola and his charges, and his worst fears could yet come true. He has preached countless times to the press that no matter how much praise and plaudits they’ve earned, his side have yet to win any trophies.

They have won only three times in their last eight outings, although over the past four weeks or so they have had to go through one of the toughest sequence of games any footballing team could possibly experience, including trips to Bayern Munich, Valencia, Real Madrid and, of course, Chelsea.

The psychological importance of Wednesday’s final cannot be overlooked. If they falter against a fiery Athletic side, self-doubt could start to creep in to the minds of the players, not to mention the heightened pressure and criticism from the press in particular. Even though all that may not affect their Liga run-in, thanks to their sizeable cushion atop the standings, the excess baggage is not something they need to bring to the Champions League final showdown with Manchester United in two weeks’ time.

Barca will win the first of 3 trophies tonight, the second this weekend, and the 3rd on may 27 (a perfect children's day present for catalan children)

@switch!U have spoken well.the outcome of today's game would make the entire europe to reckon with pep guardiola and all the good job he has been doing since he took over.im waiting patiently to see what the starting line up would looks like,barca are going into this game with alot of injuries and fatigue and the same cannot be said of their opponent that are well prepared for this final,rested most of their key players in their last game,they are comfortable with their position on the table at the moment,many had speculated that they  needed the trophy more than we do,they are really desperate to shock barca in this game and they threatening to be very physical on barca like chelsea.we have defeated them both home and away this season,the final could be a different ball game though,but i know we are winning.we will be missing iniesta and henry but im expecting hleb to make up for them on the left flank.i hope he will be able to prove his worth  in this big game.ath.bilboa cant jeopardize our chances of winning treble this season,we are winning two trophy this week and claim CL from MAN in rome.
with barca all things are possible, forza barssa

@ switch

How u doin?

tayoccu:

Barca will win the first of 3 trophies tonight, the second this weekend, and the 3rd on may 27 (a perfect children's day present for catalan children)

Na so Tayo, A prefect gift for kids all around the world
Forza Barcelona!!!!

Barca 3 - Athletic Bilbao 1

@ []Doster

The Kick off time is 9pm not 8

j

                                                                       
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                           
                                                                   
                                                                                                            
                                                                                                             
                                                                                            


for life y'all. 

khanye:

Barca 3 - Athletic Bilbao 1

@ []Doster

The Kick off time is 9pm not 8

  Am cool as ice but twice as nice man,   i have changed the kick off time  but am sure it starts exactly same time as the man united game. ihope you are right .   Barcelona defence is fragile at the moment but lets hope they outscore dem athletico

wow nich nice one there, switch how did u know its 9pm, as i can see online its 10pm, and do u know which station might be showing it?

@switch47

What is the name of ur club

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Barcelona

will they?

can they ?

nope they cant

its 1-1 now

now
ATL 1 - 4 BAR

4-1. Great game. We were all over them in the 2nd half. One down, two to go.

AThletic Bilbao put up a good fight in the 1st half. props to them.

Yaya scored!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7EcFd6Dz3Q&hl=en&fs=1[/flash]

Yaya's goal

Congratulations, as it is being said, one down, 2 to go, my luv to all u Barca fanz, yayaz goal was inspirational.

Muki, it is advisable that u decamp in order to fully tie the knot with ya lovely yaya= FC barcelona,

SWITCH47 SAYS

  The Switch philosophy is----- Soccer is a Game, and games are primarily to entertain, especially the soccer loving Fans, Wacthing a beautiful game of soccer without the Nagative soccer mind set is next to nothing!! i saw this last Barcelona game and it made me HIGH!! E sweet my spirit. Pure entertainment like in  the yoruba  home video blockburster(Jenifa)!!!OUSHH!!     and then when then,there fore, BARCELONA KAN  Ayetoro FUTBOLU KAN!!     It was a victory for good football.




Total football (1-4)
Three years after Paris, Barça have once again won a major trophy. They came from behind to beat Athletic 4-1 and in doing so, gave a lesson in creative football. Total football is back!

On Wednesday night, Mestalla witnessed FC Barcelona win the first trophy in a potential treble. The first is in the bag, the second is almost won, and the third will be decided in Rome. Nobody said it would be easy, but despite the missing players and the tiredness, Guardiola’s side has stayed faithful to their philosophy, and if they play like this on the night of May 27, then Manchester United will have a very difficult job indeed.


Touré becomes Messi     Oh my God!!  Muki   see stori Na 4 better 4 worse now o!!

Barça’s pressure was causing more and more concern to Athletic, whose lines were pushed further and further back. Barça were evidently more composed, and got their reward on the half hour. The unexpected protagonist was Touré, playing today at centre back. In an individual move displaying both skill and strength the Ivorian advanced from midfield and slalomed around three defenders before sending a low, powerful drive straight into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, just beyond the reach of Bilbao stopper Gorka.

The two goals were a reflection of the respective styles of the two teams, Bilbao scoring from a corner and showing their superiority in the air, while Barça’s was a display of sheer skill and flair. The sides went in at the break in very different moods. Barça’s goal had knocked the wind out of the Basques, while Barça could even have gone in as leaders if Alves’ well-taken long range free kick had hit the target. -----------------------------------------NO LONG THING     READ THE REST ON--------

www.switch47..com

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_08-09/arxiu_partits/copa_rei/final/jornada01/Athletic_Barcelona/partit.html

What more statement do unbelievers need?


We Rule,They Ruse. . .Barca All The Way!!!

BAAAAARCAAAAAA!!! 4-1. Didn't get to watch the match and I'm just seeing the scores. How did the boys play?

THEY PLAYED FANTASTIC!! SOCCER!! Beautiful football!!

The treble. The treble. The treble. How many times did I say that? My mind is already in Rome. Who'll give me money for my body to follow?

Barca for life!its only u that can put smiles on people faces,u bring us joy and send our sorrows to an early grave.
Thank u barca,u are such a darling.we are winning another one on sunday,and Rome here we come, we shall attack attack and attack, lol
dem go see soccer dat day,dem don dey fear already.
barca for treble

BARCELONA plays a beautiful brand of soccer, wonderful to behold. this was a victory for GOOD FOOTBALL!!

correct!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gz26dtJ4G0&hl=en&fs=1"[/flash]

1 down, 2 to go!