Barca coach Pep Guardiola has refused to undervalue his side’s opponents in the Barcelona vs Real Betis match at the Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey. Live Soccer TV also brings you additional info on the game.
During his usual pre-match press conference, Guardiola revealed that winning against so-called lowly side was not as easy as it seemed - explaining that Betis could make this evening’s game a much tougher one than expected. His statement on totalBarca.com read: “Betis has shown that they are an offensive team that scores a lot of goals.
“Their coach Pepe Mel prepares the games very well. It’s the team that we’re playing against.
“It’s better to play them than to not play them at all, because that would mean we’re no longer in the competition. They are playing really well and besides, (in) the games against Cultural and Ceuta (in previous rounds of the Copa del Rey), we haven’t won easily.”
Real Betis have strong intentions of repeating the achievement they obtained back in 1994, when they eliminated the Dream Team from the cup. Guardiola might however not put his strongest side against the Green and Whites—with Messi, Xavi and Iniesta likely to start on the bench.
“Xavi, Iniesta and Messi will present the trophy before the game start,” the Spanish manager affirmed. “But that doesn’t mean they have to start.”
Barcelona won their last Copa del Rey game against Athletic Bilbao on away goals in the Round of 16 of the competition. If ever they defeat Real Betis on aggregate in the quarterfinals, then they will be close to lifting what would be their 26 Spanish Cup trophy in football history.
BARCELONA VS BETIS: ADDITIONAL INFO
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Capacity: 99,354
Referee: Carlos Velasco Careallo
Assistant Referees: Roberto Alonso Fernandez, Enrique Andres Samper, Valentin Pizarro Gomez
“Their coach Pepe Mel prepares the games very well. It’s the team that we’re playing against.
“It’s better to play them than to not play them at all, because that would mean we’re no longer in the competition. They are playing really well and besides, (in) the games against Cultural and Ceuta (in previous rounds of the Copa del Rey), we haven’t won easily.”
Real Betis have strong intentions of repeating the achievement they obtained back in 1994, when they eliminated the Dream Team from the cup. Guardiola might however not put his strongest side against the Green and Whites—with Messi, Xavi and Iniesta likely to start on the bench.
“Xavi, Iniesta and Messi will present the trophy before the game start,” the Spanish manager affirmed. “But that doesn’t mean they have to start.”
Barcelona won their last Copa del Rey game against Athletic Bilbao on away goals in the Round of 16 of the competition. If ever they defeat Real Betis on aggregate in the quarterfinals, then they will be close to lifting what would be their 26 Spanish Cup trophy in football history.
BARCELONA VS BETIS: ADDITIONAL INFO
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Capacity: 99,354
Referee: Carlos Velasco Careallo
Assistant Referees: Roberto Alonso Fernandez, Enrique Andres Samper, Valentin Pizarro Gomez
