For all of the glamour of big-time European football, and accompanying complaints by many that the sport has lost sight of its roots these days, there remains something unabashedly romantic about the game that no other big-time sport can match — domestic Cup competitions.
In what other sport, we ask, can a lower level or even amateur side lace 'em up and give it a shot against some of the highest-profile sides in world? Imagine a semi-pro American football team giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a go, or an amateur basketball team taking a shot at the Miami Heat.
And herein, we believe, lies the allure of football, and something we hope the powers-that-be never decide to eliminate — the chance for the ultimate underdog to take a shot at the biggest and baddest the sport has to offer...and have a shot at winning! If the latter comes as a total shock, it shouldn't, because football is indeed an organic, not manufactured, sport. And though it is impossible to conceive of a hugely outmanned side surviving the rigors of a season-long domestic competition that high-level pro sides must endure, in a one-off situation, almost anything is possible. As we've seen countless times in the past.
Cup competitions, whatever criticisms they draw, remain the last outpost for the dreamers among us, who love the idea of the David vs. Goliath stories that we see almost every year in Cups. It's the only time the lower-level sides get their crack at the big boys, and for that alone, it's special.
And we reiterate that it's not impossible for the underdogs to make their mark in domestic Cups. We remember just a few years ago when a non-professional side from Calais reached the final of the French Cup. The history of the English FA Cup is littered with examples of underdogs knocking off the big boys. And though it's rare to see one of those true outsiders make a deep run in any of the Cup competitions these days, even the hint that one might pull the ultimate surprise is enough to keep the fans riveted to the action.
In England, at least, the first weekend after New Year's is thought to be the most-anticipated for the country's sports fans all year. That's when 3rd-round FA Cup games take place, when sides from the Premiership finally become involved vs. lower-division, and sometimes non-professional, sides that have clawed their way through early-round knockout play for the chance to possibly meet one of the "big boys" of the game.
It is this weekend that often defines the lower-level sides; a 3rd-round FA Cup success vs. a Premiership side can be treated like a European Cup triumph by a usually-obscure club. For many, success thereafter is just gravy — a 3rd-round win over a Premiership side is enough to fuel dreams for a decade.
But as long as there remains the 3rd-Round of the FA Cup, fans of even the lowliest football sides will always have their one day of the year to see if dreams really do come true.
This weekend's FA Cup card features several of those David vs. Goliath possibilities, though, in a quirk of scheduling, it also serves up a matchup between the top two sides in the Prem, the all-Manchester battle between City and United. Kickoff time will be 8:00 a.m. (ET) on Sunday at Etihad Stadium, home of City. European betting shops have priced a City win at 6/5, with the take-back on United at 9/4. Draw prices are at 23/10.
Of course, United should be in a vengeful mood after getting bombed 6-1 by the Blues at Old Trafford back on October 23. The result was a tad misleading as City added three goals in the final moments, but Roberto Mancini's men were well worth the three points. Adding insult, United were reduced to 10 men for the majority of the second half when defender Johnny Evans was shown the red on 47 minutes.
United had problems controlling City's active frontline, particularly livewire Mario Balotelli, who netted twice. The well-oiled City machine created numerous scoring opportunities as United were almost helpless with David Silva adoitly pulling the strings for City from midfield.
Man U remain within striking distance of City in the EPL table, just three points down and with a game in hand, although catching the Blues will be difficult with efforts like last Saturday's shock 3-2 loss at Old Trafford to bottom-of-the-table Blackburn. The EPL chase will wait until next week while United tries to advance in the FA Cup at City's expense on Sunday.
The Red Devils likely have Wayne Rooney available on Sunday after his mysterious absence from the Blackburn match. Officially, it was ruled that Rooney had failed a fitness test before the match and was a scratch, with no further elaboration. Others believe Rooney violated team curfew rules on a reported boozy night out with defender Evans, and the benching was more of the disciplinary variety.
But Rooney or not, unless the midfield equation adjusts, United could be in trouble once more. Hard to see Sir Alex Ferguson's troops finding an answer for Silva or keeping pace with the City frontline after that undressing in October.
Meanwhile, Liga action resumes this weekend after the winter break, and Barcelona looks to keep table-topping Real Madrid within touching distance when traveling to the new El Prat Stadium to face city rival Espanyol on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, with TV coverage in the states provided by ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.
European wagering shops are not giving the the Parakeets much of a chance, pricing an Espanyol win at a whopping 12/1. Meanwhile, Barca is a prohibitive 2/9 to win. Whatever value lies in the pricing might be with the draw, quoted at 5/2.
Matchups from last season do not seem to give Espanyol much hope, losing 5-1 and 2-0 to a lIga and Champs League-winning Barca side. Although recent form charts seem to give the home side a chance after back-to-back impressive wins, including a 4-2 success over Atletico Madrid and 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon before the winter break.
Espanyol is holding its own in the Liga table, clear of relegation worries for the moment and instead making a bid for a European spot, sitting at seventh place in the Liga table, but just one point out of sixth and a Europa League berth. Striker Sergio Garcia, formerly a goal-scoring force at both Real Betis and Real Zaragoza, has provided some bite and culture on the frontline.
Heroic work will be needed from goalie Cristian Alvarez (who has allowed only 20 goals in 16 Liga matches), however, to give Espanyol hope of slowing down the Barca machine that has been carpet-bombing all opposition (inclduing Real Madrid) since a late November loss to Getafe. In the seven matches since, comprising Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League and World Club Cup action, Barca has outscored the opposition 33-1, and winning that World Club Cup over Santos of Brazil (Pele's old club) in Yokohama by a 4-0 count.
The usual culprits – Messi, Xavi and Iniesta – have been in top form, although Barca will be minus striker David Villa for a while after breaking his shinbone in the World Club Cup semifinal vs. Al-Sadd But with all of the options in attack, Barca has not lost a step.