Barça can take another step closer to their 25th Cup tonight. The Camp Nou was a decisive factor in eliminating current holders Sevilla but tonight’s visitors Villarreal, who together with Barça have played some of the most attractive football of the last few seasons, will be no easy nut to crack. The goalless draw from the first leg leaves Barça in a great position to remain the only team in the Spanish league to have options in the Champions League, the Cup and the league. However, they need to win or at least hold on for another 0-0 result as a score draw would qualify Villarreal.

Taking their chances

The last two away draws have left mixed feelings. The goalless draw in the first leg of the Cup tie a week ago saw a good performance from the Barça players spoilt by a failure to take their chances in the final metres while the draw at the weekend in Bilbao has left them nine points adrift of the top spot in the league. Once again they had their chances to win the match but failed to take them. Manager Frank Rijkaard has made it clear in his last two press conferences that his players have to improve on their goal scoring effectiveness.

Ronaldinho back

Barça’s attacking options have been boosted by the return of Ronaldinho to the squad after being sidelined by a knee injury for almost a month. Márquez, who missed the match against Bilbao, also returns. Eto’o and Touré Yaya are still away at the African Cup of Nations while Ezquerro and Jorquera are out injured. Gudjohnsen, Sylvinho, Edmílson and Oleguer have not been selected.

Villarreal looking for Cup first

Villarreal manager Manuel Pellegrini has brought a squad of 17 players to Barcelona. Matías Fernández is unavailable through injury while Angel and Gonzalo have been dropped. The “Yellow Submarine” followed their goalless draw against Barça with a 3-2 defeat in the Bernabéu against Real Madrid but now they have the incentive of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Cup for the first time in the club’s history.