La Liga Lowdown - Copa del Rey recap

Well the break is officially over with games coming thick and fast. La Liga games were played Sunday and Monday, followed by cup fixtures on Wednesday and Thursday. A flat tire kept me away from the computer on Thursday, so I was slightly behind in keeping up.

Here were the Round of 16 first leg results:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2010

Almeria 4 - 3 Mallorca

Atlético Madrid 1 - 0 Espanyol

Real Betis 1 - 2 Getafe

Sevilla FC 5 - 3 Málaga

Real Madrid 8 - 0 Levante

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2010

Barcelona 0 - 0 Athletic Bilbao

Cordoba 1 - 1 Deportivo La Coruña

Valencia 0 - 0 Villarreal

The first legs were pretty competitive, except for Real’s thrashing of Levante. Here’s what happened in the return legs.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2011

Málaga 0 - 3 Sevilla FC

3 - 8 (Agg)

Deportivo La Coruña 3 - 1 Cordoba

4 - 2 (Agg)

Athletic Bilbao 1 - 1 Barcelona

1 – 1 (Agg- away goals)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2011

Getafe 1 - 3 Real Betis

3 - 4 (Agg)

Mallorca 3 - 4 Almeria

6 - 8 (Agg)

Villarreal 4 - 2 Valencia

4 - 2 (Agg)

Espanyol 1 - 1 Atlético Madrid

1 - 2 (Agg)

Levante 2 - 0 Real Madrid

2 - 8 (Agg)

So here’s the draw for the quarter finals:

Almeria v Deportivo

This is an interesting tie because Depor will look to keep their cup run going and give their fans something to get behind this season, as they have pulled themselves out of the relegation battle for the time being. As for Almeria, mired in the bottom table, where will they focus their energies? Points in the league or another possible slaughter at the hands of FCB?

FCB v Betis

FCB wanted games and that’s what they are going to get. I imagine this will be the proving ground for Afellay. He will probably play with Bojan and Messi, with Keita and maybe even Masch getting some serious time. Betis, currently on top of the Segunda Division, will be looking to knock out the all conquering Blaugrana. I give them a fighting chance if FCB is not at full strength.

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

This should be the tie of the round, but may not be. Atletico simply crap their pants against their neighbors. Although Real are without Higuain, Forlan has gone missing for Atletico. I can’t see anything but a win for Los Merengues.

Villarreal v Sevilla

Another tasty match, with Villarreal cementing their third place spot week by week, a domestic cup run could set them up nicely for a European run as well. Nilmar and Senna are out, but Rossi, Cazorla and Valero should have enough to see them through. Sevilla need to win this in order to have a shot at European football next year, but even if they win, they get Real next and that won’t end well for them.

Semifinals:

Villarreal v Sevilla vs. Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

FCB v Betis vs. Almeria v Deportivo

Match Dates:

Quarterfinals

12 January 2011

19 January 2011

Semifinals

26 January 2011

2 February 2011

Final

20 April 2011