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Match
Marcador del partit
- Date: Tuesday, 28 Oct
- Competition: ???label.competicio2???
- Stadium: Foietes, Benidorm
Resultat:
- Benidorm: 0
- FC Barcelona: 1
Match report
Match Report
Ten out of ten (0-1)
Jordi Clos
FC Barcelona secured their tenth consecutive victory with a win over Benidorm thanks to a solitary goal from Bojan Krkic. The scoreline belied the impressive display from the visitors in the Copa del Rey last 32, first leg encounter.
The Blaugrana may have been expected to do well in this match, but securing victory was what was
vital and they did that by securing a single-goal triumph thanks to a goal soon after the interval.
Barça had to be focussed against a determined Benidorm side, who had gone into the game on a run of
six games without loss in the third group of la Segunda B. A clean sheet was also important for the
Catalan outfit against a team that could have netted and the continuation of sequence in the league
and Europe will bolster the players that seized their chance to impress in the cup.
Taking their chance
Coach Pep Guardiola chose to name several first team players that have not had many chances
so far this season, among them goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto and Sylvinho. None of the players on
show were content with going through the motions though and worked very hard to help the team
record a victory that has set them up for the return leg. Bojan was on form as he registered three
shots at goal in the opening 20 minutes and there were several other chances created before the
interval that could have seen the Blaugrana go in ahead.
Caballero shines
After half an hour, the busiest player on the pitch was Benidorm's goalkeeper Caballero as he
had been called into action to make several stops. It was thanks to the hosts custodian that the
scoreline remained goalless in the opening 45 minutes despite the best efforts of Bojan and
company. The Linyola-born forward was well supported by the midfield with Touré Yaya, Víctor
Sánchez and Sergio Busquets all performing well. Benidorm sat back and looked to contain their
visitors, but did push forward on occasion.
Bojan scores
The hosts' luck ran out in the second half though when Bojan finally found a way through in
the 54th minute when he sent a low shot goal from 25 yards out that flew in off the post. After
taking the lead, Barça relaxed and did not push forward with such pressure and looked to control
the ball across the midfield. Despite the domination, Barça's defence remained ready to repel
anything that came their way.
Piqué goes forward
Going forward, Barça began to focus more on set pieces when going forward and that saw
Benidorm able to keep them out. Gerard Piqué was involved in many of the moves as he ventured
forward for each free-kick and had several chances to double to the Blaugrana's advantage but it
was not to be.
Preview
Second leg in a fortnight
Starting with the last 32 the Cup becomes a two-leg affair, so Barça will be hosting Benidorm at Camp Nou on either 11 or 12 November.
Cup campaign kicks off
Jordi Clos
Barça make their Cup debut in Benidorm and are determined to give it their best shot. The side is looking for its tenth win in a row.
Barcelona kicks off this season’s King’s Cup campaign tonight away at Benidorm (9 pm)
with all thoughts on the game. It is the first leg of their last 32 tie and their opponents are
from the Second Division B, but the team is determined to retain its goal scoring touch and get its
tenth win on the bounce.
Goals and results
The run began at Sporting Gijon in the third
League game of the season (1-6). It continued in the League against Betis (3-2), Espanyol (1-2),
Atlético de Madrid (6-1), Athletic Club (0-1) and Almeria (5-0) to garner 18 points and 23 goals in
six games. Meanwhile in the Champions League Barça has also been on a roll with wins against
Sporting Lisbon (3-1), Shakhtar (1-2) and Basel (0-5).
Squad rotations
Valdés, Márquez, Henry, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi will be
sitting out tonight’s game, with reserve teamers Abraham and Nolito called up into the 16-man
squad. Despite the rotations, Pep Guardiola has reminded his players that this is an important
competition which Barça hasn’t won for ten years.
Rematch ten years later
The first step is in Benidorm, against a team lying in ninth spot in the Second Division B
and which has just beaten Nova Creu Alta away by 0-1. Francisco López’s men have reached the
last 32 after knocking out Lemona (4-2) and Granada 74 (0-2). Benidorm will be looking to spring a
surprise on Barça, at least in the home leg of the tie.
This is the second time that Barça and Benidorm have gone head-to-head in the King’s
Cup. Last time round in the last 16 in the 1998/99 season, the Catalans won the first leg 0-1 and
the second 3-0.
