The Camp Nou will host the League Classic tonight between two of the three teams that have never gone down to Second and also the classic of the season. Barça and Athletic will meet for the third time in just over three weeks (21 hours, with refereeing by Mateu lahoz). First, on January 6, they faced each other in the regularity tournament in the postponed match of the second day, then they did so in the final of the Super Cup and today they will do so in the appointment corresponding to the 21st.
And the three with Marcelino coach. It is not strange, therefore, that the Asturian showed on Thursday his wish that the team of Koeman in the quarterfinals of the Cup. His efforts were fulfilled because Betis will be the rival in this round that will be played once again, in this case at Benito Villamarín.
Few secrets will exist between culés and rojiblancos, although logically all the parties are different. What does seem clear is that the Catalans will have a desire for revenge after losing the match for the Super Cup title. Villalibre forced the extension and Williams he scored the most important goal of his career shortly after overtime to give the trophy to Bilbao.
Today is another story. Opposite is the team of Messi, who was expelled in La Cartuja for a slap on Villalibre. The Catalans are not having an excellent season, but they have not lost in the regularity tournament since December 5, when they did it against Cádiz at Ramón de Carranza (2-1). Since then, they have accumulated seven victories -Levante (1-0), Real Sociedad (2-1), Valladolid (0-3), Huesca (0-1), the aforementioned against the lions (2-3), Granada (0 -4) and Elche (0-2) – and two draws at home against Valencia (2-2) and Eibar (1-1). In this period they have only lost two games counting all the competitions, that of Seville and against Juventus in the Champions League (0-3). In addition, they have won the two appointments of the KO tournament against Cornellà (0-2) and Rayo Vallecano (1-2, with a comeback included) and tied in the semis of the Super Cup against Real to achieve the ticket to the final in the penalty shootout.
The set led by Koeman has a balance of five victories, three draws and one defeat (against Real Madrid) on his pitch. They have therefore missed 9 of the 27 points at stake at the Camp Nou and it has been difficult for them to win the championship, with 10 points away from the leader, Atlético del Cholo Simeone. What they have not lost is their ability to achieve, with 39 goals scored in the 19 games played (they still have to play the postponed against Elche).
Athletic arrives at a good moment, after adding five consecutive wins since it arrived Marcelino and thrashing Getafe in San Mamés last Monday (5-1), although the culé fiefdom is jinx in the League, with 3 draws and 15 defeats in the last 18 visits.
The logical thing is that the Asturian pull his starting team after aligning the less usual on Thursday against Alcoyano. The eleven could be formed by Unai Simon in goal, Ander Capa, Yeray, Iñigo Martinez, with the alternative of Nuñez in the bedroom, and Yuri berchiche in defence, From Marcos (rested in Copa), Dani Garcia, Victor Y Muniain in the center of the field with Williams Y Raul Garcia as more advanced men. It is about taking advantage of the great moment that these last three players go through to give the bell in the culé coliseum.