Copa del Rey: FC Barcelona vs Levante UD: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Arron Duckling

FC Barcelona are hoping to book their place in the semi finals of the Copa del Rey tomorrow when they host Levante UD at the Camp Nou in the second-leg of their quarter-finals clash with Joaquin Caparros' side. After a comfortable 4-1 win in the first-leg at the Ciutat de Valencia, the Blaugrana only need to show up to seal their place in the final four, but will be looking to build momentum after a difficult week.

A win tomorrow would be their third in the space of seven days; that's a huge morale booster for a club that has seen unexpected change at the boardroom level. And it's not just the results that are encouraging; Barça have been playing some of their best football of the season in recent matches. If they keep it up, who knows what we could still achieve this season.

TEAM NEWS

BARCELONA

After missing the weekend's win over Malaga CF through injury Alex Song, Martin Montoya, Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta all return to Gerardo Martino's squad. However, Xavi, Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets and Jean-Marie Dongou all drop out for various reasons. Also missing out is Isaac Cuenca, who is the only outfield player in the first team squad yet to make an appearance this season.

As this is the Copa del Rey, expect Martino to make a host of changes to his line-up. Jose Manuel Pinto will start in goal, Martin Montoya and Adriano Correct will deputise at full back while Puyol and Marc Bartra should start in the heart of defense

Alex Song will fill in at pivote while Sergi Roberto will also get the nod; perhaps with Andres Iniesta in support. In contrast, expect little change in attack. Lionel Messi will probably start even if he shouldn't, and at least one of Alexis Sanchez and Pedro will join him in attack. That is unless Martino decides to start Ibrahim Afellay after just three minutes of game time I'm twelve months.

LEVANTE

After a month and a half on the sidelines with an injury sustained against Elche, Levante hope to welcome back Baba Diawara from injury to tomorrow. The Senagalese forward has three goals to his name this season and will surely be hoping to announce his return in style tomorrow.

FORM GUIDE

Barcelona: WDWDWW

Levante: DWWDLW

LAST MEETING

Levante UD 1-4 FC Barcelona -- 21st January 2014 -- Copa del Rey

Cristian Tello's hat-trick stole the headlines and secured the win for the visiting Blaugrana.

LIKELY LINE-UPS

Barcelona (4-3-3): Pinto; Montoya, Puyol, Bartra, Adriano; Song, Roberto, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Tello

Levante (4-2-3-1): Jimenez; Nagore, Navarro, El Adoua, Juanfran; Camarasa, Pallardo; Xumetra, Ivanschitz, El Zhar; Non

MATCH PREDICTION

Source:- http://www.barcablaugranes.com/2014/1/28/5355022/copa-del-rey-fc-barcelona-vs-levante-ud-match-preview

Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Ocean

Atletico got a 1-0 win in the first leg and the Madrid side is the favorite to qualify, but Bilbao will count on its home record to overturn the first leg deficit.

Bilbao with a grea team this year, they are on the 4th place in the league and like always that is due to the excellent home record: 9-2-0 this year in Primera and nobody won at San Mames this year in any competition (or San Sebastian – first few rounds, till new San Mames was built). Bilbao’s form is great: 4 wins in last 5 matches, only lost the first leg with Atletico. Won 5-1 vs. Osasuna in last Primera round on the road. Bilbao is injury-free for this game. Just Toquero is missing, otherwise full team. No rotation in the lineup for Athletic – best team will start.

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz – Iraola, San Jose, Laporte, Balenziaga – Iturraspe, Mikel Rico – M. Susaeta, Ander Herrera, Iker Muniain – Aduriz

Bet with the best odds and highest limits at Pinnacle.
Atletico struggled a little bit in January, lost some form for sure. Atletico is tied for the first place in the league after their fantastic season but in January they won 4 games only by a narrow margin, and also recorded 3 draws: vs Valencia, Barcelona and a 1-1 draw vs. Sevilla when they had the chance to move in the lead of the league. Vs. Bilbao they were not so dominant in the first leg but got the 1-0 win in the end. In the weekend Atletico Madrid beat Valladolid 4-2 on the road but it was again not the most impressive performance. Guilavogui, Tiago and Suarez are question marks for Atletico for this game. Oliver is for sure unavailable. Simeone will not use too much rotation in the lineup and will field the best 11 with maybe just 2-3 changes (Villa will probably not start).

Atletico Madrid: Courtois – Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe – Gabi, C.Rodriguez – Koke, Raul Garcia, Arda Turan – Diego Costa

Pick the over 2,5 goals bet here. This match will probably have some caution at first – Bilbao can not afford to concede a goal. But Atletico will try to hit their opponents to get a huge away goal and sooner or later the match will open up. Surely the visitors won`t play for 0-0. Both teams are very offensive … Atletico Madrid after 4-2 win at Valladolid, Bilbao scored 17 (!!!) goals in their last 4 wins. With the qualification up for grabs eventually somebody will need goals here and when either team opens up, expect the opponents to take advantage. The last three games played by Bilbao at home vs. Atletico Madrid all ended with 3 or more goals and this can happen again in this one. I see the over 2,5 as the best bet, at great odds, between two attacking-minded teams and this will be my tip for this game. My prediction would be Athletic Bilbao – Atletico Madrid 2-2 with Atletico Madrid to qualify. I am confident that these two spectacular teams won`t be involved in a second consecutive low-scoring game.

Source:- http://www.betdistrict.com/athletic-bilbao-atletico-madrid-betting-preview

Real Madrid vs. Espanyol: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Richard Langford

Espanyol has their work cut out for them if they are to advance past Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.

Los Blancos secured a 1-0 win in the first leg of this matchup, and that came on the Estadi Cornella-El Prat pitch. Now Espanyol have to make up a goal disadvantage on Real Madrid's stomping grounds.

Along with a with an earlier matchup in La Liga play, this will be the third time these two clubs have met since Jan. 12. Espanyol hosted and lost both, 1-0.

Real Madrid enters this match on an absolute tear. They've won each of their past nine matches across all competitions.

Check out the vitals for this matchup and then we'll dig a little deeper into the preview.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT

Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain

TV: beIN Sport; Sky Sports 2

Live Stream: beIN Sport Play

Gareth Bale took a nasty shot to an unfortunate place this past Saturday, Jan. 25. He was forced off the pitch in the eighth minute as a result.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told the press, via ESPN, that Bale will not be able to participate in Tuesday's contest. Ancelotti did clear up, however, that the injury was not related to the specific area where Bale was struck:

Source:- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1938665-real-madrid-vs-espanyol-date-time-live-stream-tv-info-and-preview

Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by apsara

Atletico Madrid is currently playing in medium good form after their last five plays are two wins and three draws. In Primera Division, they are currently standing on 2nd place of the table with 51 points after 20 matches played. For Athletic Bilbao has also played as very good from last three wins in the row now. They are now standing on 4th place of Primera Division table with 39 points from their 20 games played. So for today game in Copa del Rey, I think Atletico Madrid is better by home side advantage when Bilbao has not played as good at away side. Atletico is strong at home and always score for most goal so I hope they will score at least two goals difference to win here.

Source:- http://www.bettingexpert.com/tip/453442-atletico-madrid-athletic-bilbao