'Leave Pepe alone,'

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola tells fans to leave Real Madrid's Pepe alone in Copa del Rey Clasico The 41-year-old has advised the Catalan faithful against giving the Portuguese defender a hostile reception, while stressing he is aiming for victory in Wednesday's encounter Ahead of the Copa del Rey's return-leg Clasico, the Barcelona boss asked Catalan fans to avoid jeering the Portuguese, who appeared to stamp on Lionel Messi's hand in the first encounter The Portugal international is under the spotlight following his stamp on Lionel Messi in the first leg, but Guardiola does not want the Camp Nou crowd to vocalise their unhappiness with the defender's action. "Let us leave Pepe alone," Guardiola told a news conference. "If his coach wants him to play, then let him play and I hope this will be the best possible possible for everyone. "I hope that what happened with [Luis] Figo will not be repeated because the club's fans regret what happened. "If it happens again, it means we have not learned anything and that we are not the club we have to be. It would hurt more than to be eliminated." Pepe, who did not make the squad for Sunday's 4-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao, will know whether he is to face punishment for his action after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) convenes on Wednesday. On Monday, Barca president Sandro Rosell called on RFEF to follow the example of England's Football Association (FA) and punish Pepe after Manchester City's Mario Balotelli was charged with violent conduct following a stamp on Tottenham's Scott Parker. Questioned about Barca's approach to Wednesday's contest, Guardiola stressed he is only targeting a victory, despite his side's 2-1 advantage in the tie. "I do not want anyone to think that we have won because the match will be very close and the two teams will have a chance to go through until the last minute. "If we try to hold out for the result of the [first-leg], they will eliminate us." The second-leg of the Copa del Rey Clasico kicks off at 20.00CET. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has told the club's fans not to give Real Madrid's Pepe a heated reception in the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter final on Wednesday. goal.com