20.01.2011 12:35

First cup meeting with Almeria

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona and Almeria meet in the Copa del Rey semi finals next week in what will be their first ever encounter in the competition. A place in the final is at stake.

Guardiola’s side are just one step away from a return to the Copa del Rey final. But the challenge won’t be easy against Almeria who despite being bottom of the league table have been stunning in the cup, and have already left Real Sociedad, Mallorca and Deportivo la Coruña by the wayside. And last weekend, José Luis Oltra’s side held the mighty Reial Madrid to a draw.

First encounter

Almeria are enjoying their finest hour, and this is the first time that they have ever made it so far in the cup. Barça meanwhile, are well used to being this position, and have won the title more times than any other team. But the clubs have never met each before at any stage of the competition.

11 past meetings

But it is not long since Barça and Almeria last met on the pitch. That was in La Liga last November, when FCB equalled their all time biggest away win, 8-0. But despite that one-sided affair, games between the two sides have traditionally been much tighter. Recent games at the Juegos del Mediterráneo have seen Barça held to two draws (2-2 and 2-2) and they have won just ones (2-0). In the games played at the Camp Nou since Almeria were promoted to the top flight (in 2007/08) Barça have always won and have never conceded a goal (2-0 in 2007/08; 5-0 in 2008/09 and 1-0 in 2009/10).