Barcelona’s 2010 comes to a conclusion on Tuesday evening, when they meet Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey. While la Blaugrana could reflect on another record-breaking season, Pep Guardiola will have his troops fully focussed on the task at hand, ready to take another step towards yet more silverware to fill the Camp Nou’s overflowing cabinet.
Quite simply, Barca are unstoppable at the moment. The superb Clasico victory over Real Madrid will be the result that lives longest in the memory of fans, but the Catalans have reeled off a superb sequence of successes. Saturday’s breathtaking 5-1 triumph over an Espanyol side previously perfect at home this season is certainly a result that should not be overshadowed.
Having set a club record from consecutive away wins – 10 – with the weekend Primera Division success, the players are already looking to the future. Dani Alves won’t even rule out a repeat of Barca’s stunning six-trophy haul in 2009. “There’s no harm in dreaming and with this team anything is possible,” he told the media. “We are on the right track to being able to compete and nothing is going to distract us. With Barca, nothing is impossible.
“We have to keep up our habits of hard work and humility.”
The reaction that Barcelona have made following their historic win over los Blancos suggests that little will distract them in their hunt for titles, and if anything they’re looking stronger than ever at present.
Important Win
Athletic Bilbao have stationed themselves in their traditional mid-table status in La Primera Division, moving towards the heart of the European race with a fine 2-1 victory against Levante at the weekend. Head coach Joaquin Caparros would love for his side to compete in the Europa League next term, and the Copa del Rey offers a fallback should their league campaign go awry.
Goals from Igor Gabilondo and Javi Martinez were enough for the Basque side to pick up a relatively rare away victory, though their level will have to be raised further still if they are to threaten Barcelona.
“After our poor streak away from home, victory was very important in a game where we have suffered setbacks, like the injury to Fernando Llorente,” coach Caparros told the media. “In other matches, we have been the better team and got nothing, but today was the opposite.”
Los Leones will be well aware of the magnitude of task presented to them on Tuesday evening. They’ve already hosts la Blaugrana this season, going down 3-1 at San Mames when the visitors were allegedly not at their best. With Barca now bursting with confidence, this encounter promises to be a treacherous affair.
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Gabriel Milito and Jeffren Suarez are back training tentatively with the first team squad, but neither will be fit in time for the midweek clash.
Athletic
Fernando Llorente picked up a weekend injury and won’t be able to play. Los Leones’ star man picked up a hip injury and is unavailable.
Additionally, centre-back Fernando Amorebieta hasn’t been included in the squad due to a sprained ankle. Aurtenetxe and Ibai Gomez are missing too.
Prediction
Barcelona have scored at least five goals in five of their last six domestic matches, which is a record that is quite simply astounding. Matching such a tally against a combative Athletic Bilbao will be tough, especially if some younger players are blooded, by Barca will want to finish this tie in the first leg if at all possible.
Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao 
