FCBARCELONA.CAT

02.02.2010 11:45

Plenty of games for next three opponents

Jesús Carrillo

Barca have got used to playing Cup or European games midweek and league games at the weekend, but the roles are reserved for their next games, with the treble winners resting midweek and their opponents having to deal with the pressure of cup ties.

Getafe take on Sevilla

This Wednesday, Getafe face Seville in the first leg of their Cup semi final at the Sanchez Pijuan and their boss Michel was unable to rest any of his players in last Sunday’s goalless draw against Racing. Although he may be tempted to rotate his squad for the Seville game, he knows that the knock-out competition is his team’s big chance for silverware and depending on the result on Wednesday may in fact rest some of his first choice players in the game against Barca ahead of the Semi Final second leg the following week.

Atletico face busy schedule

Barca’s next league game is against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon and Quique Sanchez Flores’ team will have come off their Cup semi final against Racing - curiously enough Barca’s next opponents at the Nou Camp. Atletico Madrid will also have one eye on their Europa League game against Frank Rijkaard’s Galatasaray the following week and depending on his team’s result in the cup, the Madrid boss may also decide to rest players for the game against Barca.

Racing focussed on Cup success

Although Racing will have had a week to recover from their Cup efforts by the time they arrive at the Nou Camp, Miguel Ángel Portugal’s team will have played four more games in the last month than Barca by the time they take on Barca.