Barcelona’s Copa del Rey journey begins on Sunday with a trip to face fourth-division side Barbastro.
Barbastro have already knocked one La Liga team out of the Copa del Rey this season, with strugglers Almeria losing to them in the previous round.
Barcelona come into this one off the back of a narrow win over Las Palmas and the general mood around the team is low. After this, they will head to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Supercopa de Espana where they face Osasuna.
With that game in mind and a new striker at his disposal, here is the starting lineup that Xavi Hernandez may choose against Barbastro.
GK: Inaki Pena – He would expect to start in the Copa del Rey anyway but with Marc-Andre ter Stegen being out at the moment, Pena is the de facto number one.
RB: Hector Fort – This could be a very special day for the 17-year-old Fort as he is expected to start for the Barcelona first team in a proper game, having only featured so far in the Champions League dead rubber against Royal Antwerp.
CB: Andreas Christensen – Ronald Araujo is expected to get a rest here which means that Christensen comes in as the natural replacement, with Inigo Martinez not likely to be risked.
CB: Jules Kounde – The Frenchman is expected to keep his place from the Las Palmas match, given Xavi has few other options at centre-back right now.
LB: Alejandro Balde – Balde is also going to hold his place in the team as there is little real competition there with Marcos Alonso and Joao Cancelo out injured.
CM: Fermin Lopez – Having only come off the bench last time out, it is inevitable that Fermin will get a starting spot for this clash as he seeks to show Xavi why he should start more often.
CM: Oriol Romeu – Little more than a rotational option at Barcelona when everyone is fit, Romeu would likely be angry to not start this game.
CM: Sergi Roberto – He is being heavily linked with a move away from the club so perhaps Xavi wants Roberto to impress potential suitors. In truth, there are few other options for Xavi in midfield with Pedri and Gavi out.
RW: Lamine Yamal – Much like Fermin, it makes sense to start youngsters who are in and out of the first team in this match. Yamal could have a very fun evening if he’s on it.
ST: Vitor Roque – Having come off the bench against Las Palmas, new signing Roque could start here to help get that first goal and give Robert Lewandowski a rest.
LW: Joao Felix – He has been solid for Barcelona this season but will want to start adding a few more goals, and this is a good opportunity where he will be the senior attacker.
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