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ekansekans's blog: "df"

created on 10/29/2012  |  http://fubar.com/df/b351055

BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona can cap four illustrious years under Pep Guardiola with a 14th trophy when it plays Athletic Bilbao in Fridays Copa del Rey final. The match at Atletico Madrids Vicente Calderon Stadium will be Guardiolas last in charge of the team, ending an unprecedented period of success for Barcelona since the former player took charge in 2008. The 41-year-old Guardiola will be looking to finish the way he started, as a 4-1 cup victory over Athletic three years ago provided the first prize for his trophy cabinet. Ready to hand over the coaching duties to his assistant and good friend Tito Vilanova, Guardiola will look at the game as an opportunity to cap a season that started well but finished poorly. Barcelona hasnt played a meaningful game in one month after it lost to eventual Champions League winner Chelsea in the semifinals, just days after losing to Real Madrid to surrender its three-year hold on the Spanish league. "Ive got the feeling we are very well prepared for this final," Guardiola said from the Camp Nou on Thursday. "A final is always there to be won." A record 26th domestic cup will at least send Guardiola out on a high and would deliver a fourth trophy in this campaign after winning the Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup. Barcelona remains without injured striker David Villa and its defence is also depleted as Carles Puyol, Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves are all missing. Striker Alexis Sanchez returns from injury while backup goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto -- who has started all cup games under Guardiola -- should get the nod after missing the last game of the season with an ankle injury. "The illnesses that befell players we love in this club were the worst thing, everything else turned out well," Guardiola said. He summarized his time in charge with a reference to Abidals long-running liver illness which forced the France defender to undergo a transplant in March. "His departure is going to be dramatic for me," defender Gerard Pique said. "Hell leave a void but Tito will continue on and well do well. Its normal for eras to end in football." Athletic coach Marcelo Bielsa could also be seeing his term coming to an end. Bielsa hasnt said whether he will continue next season, and the Argentine coach has refused to budge on the question until after the cup final. Like Barcelona, Bilbao risks closing the season on a low, having lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final. The Basque club will have welcomed a long layoff following the longest season of any Spanish club playing in Europe. "We dont dwell on favourites," Bielsa said on Thursday. "After coming so close to a title already this is a fantastic opportunity that motivates us, were fully optimistic on our chances." The teams have combined to win the competition 48 times, and the matchup promises to provide unrelenting, attacking football, although a quick replant of turf at the Calderon following a Coldplay concert may hinder the players some. "Athletic enjoys one advantage that we dont in that their team hasnt won any titles this season, so there is hunger there," Guardiola said. "Its going to be a nice final. They will attack and so will we." Ed Dickson Jersey . Being bounced in the East Division semifinal by Hamilton last fall after winning Grey Cups the previous two seasons prompted general manager Jim Popp to drop some veterans and bring new blood into the defence going into the 2012 campaign. Corey Graham Jersey . Also, Alexei Klimov of Russia underlined his world champion status in the 25-meter rapid fire pistol when he headed off Chinese shooters Ding Feng and Zhang Jian in the hit-or-miss final. http://www.ravens-jersey.com/ray-rice-jersey/ .C. United 1-0 Saturday to end a two-game skid. Birchall, in his sixth game after being signed in May following three seasons with Los Angeles, ran past the D. Arthur Jones Jersey . -- Joe Mauers first grand slam of the year helped the Minnesota Twins finish off a successful Saturday. Youth Elvis Dumervil Jersey . Nadal broke the Slovak twice in a first set that lasted 50 minutes, before finally overpowering Lacko to take the second in just over half an hour and wrap up the match. "In the second set I think I did everything better," said Nadal, who defeated top-ranked Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros on Monday for his 11th Gram Slam title. URAWA, Japan -- Host Japan coasted to a 4-1 thrashing of Mexico while Brazil salvaged a 1-1 draw with Italy on the opening day of the womens under-20 World Cup. Hanae Shibata scored in the first half and Hikaru Naomoto, Kumi Yokoyama and Yoko Tanaka added goals after the break as Japan got off to a winning start in Group A. Sofia Huerta struck a late consolation goal for Mexico. Japan is looking to emulate the 2011 World Cup-winning performance of its senior womens team. "We wanted to get off to a strong start and were able to do that tonight," Japan coach Hiroshi Yoshida said. In a Group B clash, Amanda scored a spectacular goal two minutes into injury time to give Brazil a share of the points. Elena Linari gave Italy a 1-0 lead with a superb free kick from 20 metres in the 38th minute. Brazil came out more aggressive after the break and increased the pressure when Italys Federica Di Criscio was sent off with 15 minutes left after two straight yellow cards.dddddddddddd Two minutes into injury time, Amanda burst into the penalty area on the left, kicked the ball over a defender, before firing a volley over the stranded goalkeeper to secure a point for Brazil. "This is my first World Cup so I was thrilled to score such an important goal," Amanda said. In Sundays other Group B match, Ngozi Okobi opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Desire Oparanozie extended the advantage midway through the second half as Nigeria beat South Korea 2-0. In Group A, goals from Evie Millynn and Rosie White in each half saw New Zealand see off Switzerland 2-1. The United States opens group play against Ghana on Monday in Hiroshima while defending champion Germany faces China. ' ' ' 

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