Copa Del Rey Preview: Barcelona - Atlético De Madrid

If Javier Aguirre really does only have two matches to stay in his job as head coach of Atlético de Madrid, then he will be hoping that the board in the league and do not include the visit to Barcelona.

Los Colchoneros' Mexican boss is under intense pressure to produce impressive displays as much as impressive results despite lifting the club firstly into the UEFA Cup and then the Champions League.

Defeat at home by Athletic Club at the weekend came on the back of the first leg reverse in this tie against Barça and the Atleti fans are becoming frustrated.

Whether they think that their team should suddenly be pushing for the title is unclear, but even in the Spanish game, Aguirre having to walk a tightrope after the success he has had is rare.

Lionel Messi netted a hat-trick in the opening encounter of this fixture to remind his compatriot of his ability following Sergio Agüero's omission of him from his team of the year.

Different Strokes

Agüero is set to feature in Camp Nou, but he did not play in the Vicente Calderón, which saw the fans who usually adore him give the Blaugrana's Argentinian star applause for his performance instead.

The build-up to this game could have been so different had Messi not produced a magical goal to give his team victory at the weekend after Barça had let Osasuna come from behind to lead with ten minutes remaining.

While the media gush over each performance from Pep Guardiola's team, they are equally ready to pounce if and when the Catalan giants have an off day and allow Real Madrid to move closer than the current 12-point gap.

That pressure not to slip up may see Guardiola again rest players as he did in the first leg and it will be a stern test for the shadow memebers of the squad who come in to keep up the team's impressive record.

The Copa del Rey does not always capture the supporters' imagination in Spanish football until the semi final at least and with the Blaugrana two goals ahead and a chilly evening in the Catalan capital in prospect, it will not be a full house either.

RECENT FORM

FC Barcelona

11/01 A 3-2 Osasuna
06/01 A 3-1 Atlético de Madrid
03/01 H 3-1 Real Mallorca
21/12 A 2-1 Villarreal
13/12 H 2-0 Real Madrid
09/12 H 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk

Atlético de Madrid

11/01 H 2-3 Athletic Club
06/01 H 1-3 FC Barcelona
03/01 A 1-3 Valencia
20/12 A 3-2 Espanyol
14/12 H 2-0 Real Betis
09/12 A 0-0 Marseille

TEAM NEWS

FC Barcelona

Once again, Guardiola will not name his squad until the morning of the game but it is widely expected that he will continue with his rotation policy and give a few players that have not appeared regularly another chance.

Probable Starting XI: Pinto; Alves, Márquez, Cáceres, Sylvinho; Touré Yayá, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta; Henry, Bojan.

Atlético de Madrid

Diego Forlán is set to be rested, but Agüero will start the match up front alongside Florent Sinama-Pongolle. John Heitinga and Maniche are both suspended while Maxi Rodríguez and Giourkas Seitaridis are out injured.

Probable Starting XI: Coupet; Antonio López, Pablo, Perea, Pernía; Camacho; Ever Banega, Raúl García, Simao; Sinama Pongolle, Agüero.

PREDICTION

A lot depends on which teams both coaches choose to name for the fixture with Aguirre may considering that the league is more important and Guardiola to risk certain starlets or second string players given his team's two-goal advantage.

FC Barcelona 2 - 0 Atlético de Madrid

Lucas Brown, Goal.com


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