Spanish fourth-tier side Barbastro are all set to host La Liga champions Barcelona in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona will hit the road to square up against Barbastro as they look to book their place in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. The home team will look to cause an upset while the visitors will look to secure an easy win.
Barbastro are preparing for probably the biggest game in the history of their club. The fourth-tier club are all set to square up against the defending Spanish champions, and they will look to cause an upset as they seek a place in the Round of 16.
The home team got the better of first division outfit Almeria in the second round of the Copa del Rey to make it to the Round of 32 and they will be confident of getting a positive result. But it won’t be easy as they will square up against one of the best teams in world football.
Barcelona have not been able to reach the levels they did last time out. The Catalan giants have not been consistent enough and are currently third in the league. They will look to put together a run of positive results to ensure they are in the race for major titles.
The visitors are heading into this fixture on the back of a 2-1 win over Las Palmas. It was not their best performance, but they managed to get the desired result. They look to put together a better performance against Barbastro and ensure they make it to the next round. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics the two teams could use.
Team News & Tactics
Barbastro
The hosts are expected to go ahead with the same XI that started in their win over Almeria. They managed to put in a complete performance in the second round and will hope for something similar this time out.
In a 4-3-3, Arnau Fabrega Manas will be in goal for the fourth-tier club. Jose Val Rincon and Franc Carbonell Tarifa will feature on the flanks as the full-backs. Eduardo Mingotes Pelegrín will pair up with Jaime Ara Sauco in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Enrique Rausell Garcia will feature in a holding role, while Javito and Israel Garcia Moreno will look to provide him with much-needed support. Oscar Gonzalez Piera and Hugo Bautista Jimenez will provide the width to their attack. They will feature as wingers and will look to stretch the opposition’s defence as well as cut inside at any given opportunity. Adria de Mesa Garrido will be leading the line for the home team.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Fabrega; Val, Mingotes, Jaime, Carbonell; Javito, Rausell, I Garcia; Bautista, De Mesa, Gonpi
Barcelona
Joao Cancelo picked up an injury in their last outing and will join Pedri, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marcos Alonso, and Gavi on the sidelines. While Inigo Martinez is back fit, he is unlikely to be involved in this fixture.
Xavi is expected to make wholesale changes to the XI and hand out opportunities to a few of their young stars. He will stick with the 4-3-3 formation, where Inaki Pena will continue in goal in the absence of Ter Stegen.
Hector Fort could make his first-team debut as the right-back, while Alejandro Balde will feature on the left flank. Andreas Christensen will pair up with Jules Kounde in the heart of the defence. Oriol Romeu will be the defensive midfielder, and he will have the support of Fermin Lopez and Sergi Roberto. The trio will look to ensure the Catalan giants dominate the proceedings.
Lamine Yamal will start on the right flank, while Joao Felix will continue on the left flank. The duo will look to provide the width to their attack and also create chances for Vitor Roque, who will make his first start for his new club.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pena; Fort, Christensen, Kounde, Balde; F Lopez, Romeu, Roberto; Yamal, Roque, Felix
Key Stats
- Barcelona are record winners of the Copa del Rey having won it 31 times.
- Barbastro have made it to the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey for the first time in their 90-year-long history.
- The home team have been unbeaten in their last five fixtures, they have won four of those matches.
- The Catalan giants have not won the competition since the 2020/21 season.
- Barcelona’s last fixture in the Copa del Rey resulted in a defeat at the hands of Real Madrid back in April 2023.
Player to Watch
Vitor Roque
After completing his winter move to Barcelona, Vitor Roque came on as a substitute in the 78th minute against Las Palmas to make his debut for the club. The teenager had an impressive La Liga debut and is expected to start in this fixture.
He might have failed to find the back of the net last time out, but Roque did manage to impress one and all with his movement and ability on the ball. The teenager will get multiple chances to get his name on the score sheet when Barcelona square up against Barbastro and expect him to deliver.
Prediction
Barbastro 0-3 Barcelona
Barbastro might have managed to defeat first division club Almeria in the second round of the Copa del Rey. But they are unlikely to find it easy against Barcelona. The Catalan giants have one of the strongest squads in Spain and are expected to ease past the fourth-division club.
Despite having the advantage of playing at home, they are unlikely to stand a chance against Xavi’s team. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 3-0 win for the visitors.
