FCBARCELONA.CAT

17.02.2009 12:23

Third time without a midweek game

Jesús Carrillo

Josep Guardiola’s have the unusual situation this season of not having any midweek football, only the third time that this has happened during this fixture-laden campaign.

Since the league got under way in August, FC Barcelona have only had three weeks this season when there have been no midweek matches in any of the league, cup or Champions League, or internationals.

Tough schedule

The side has played no fewer than 36 official matches this season, 23 in the league, 7 in the cup, and 6 in the Champions League, which has meant there have only been three weeks so far when the players and squad have a had a full week to prepare for their next match.

The same thing happened in the first week of December, when after beating Sevilla 3-0 on November 29, Barça had no game until they entertained Valencia at the Camp Nou a week later.

Always winning

They also a week to rest between the game with Real Madrid and the trip to Villarreal for the last game of 2008. As before, Barça took the three points, winning 2-1 at El Madrigal.

Once again

Now they have a full week between the game with Betis and Espanyol on Saturday. But they had better make the most of the rest, because there is a very tough league, cup and Champions League schedule around the corner.