Interviews with Dani Alves and Pepe and detailed analysis on tomorrow’s Cup showdown from the Catalan and Spanish pressThe FC Barcelona full back declared that Barça will try to defeat Real Madrid in tomorrow’s Cup Clásico at the Camp Nou. The Brazilian, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, expects Madrid “will come with everything because they are playing for their lives in the Cup and the Champions League. The difference in the Liga is important and in the Cup, we’re going to give it our all.”
Alves admitted that tomorrow’s match “will be difficult, just like all Clásicos are, but if we’re on our game we’ll make it to the final.” In addition, the defender rubbished the idea that Madrid “has Barça’s number at the Camp Nou. The two times they won points in the Liga against us [at the Camp Nou] was because we didn’t play well, not because they know how to beat us at home.”
He added: “The fans know how important this mach is. Getting to the final depends on all of us.”
“Not very classic” full backs
Sport highlights that Barça need to “use non-conventional wide full backs to kill Madrid.” The Catalan daily added that “Barça have four wide full backs that give the team additional firepower down the wings who are not afraid to take risks.” Alves, Adriano, Alba and Montoya are “incisive, surprising and their presence will be a key factor in Barça’s attack against Madrid in the Cup.”
The key to winning, according to Pepe
In Madrid, Pepe declares that he has the formula to defeat Barça. The Portuguese full back said, “the key is playing as a team, like we always try to do. If we play as a team, I’m sure we’ll have a lot of chances to get to the final.”
Di María or Kaká
In the pre-match press conference, the José Mourinho said that he doesn’t know who he’ll line-up against Barça in tomorrow's Cup match. With that said, after Madrid’s match at Riazor, the Brazilian Kaká is hopeful that he’ll feature against Barcelona, according to the daily As. According to Marca, Mourinho’s biggest choice ahead of tomorrow's showdown will be choosing between the Brazilian and Di María.
For El País, “Barça and Madrid are facing two challenges in a week that, depending on what happens in the Champions League, could mark the rest of the season for both teams, for good or for bad.” “If Villa gets his resurrection at Barça, the same thing goes for Kaká at Madrid,” says José Sámano.