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Attendance: 17,614
Levante logo
Copa del Rey | Round of 16
Jan 10, 2019 at 8.30pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

2-1

Cabaco (4'), Mayoral (18')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Coutinho (85' pen.)

How Barcelona could line up against Levante

Sports Mole takes a look at how Barcelona could line up in Thursday's Copa del Rey clash with Levante.

Barcelona will be looking to secure an advantage when they travel to Levante for the first leg of their last-16 Copa del Rey tie on Thursday night.

Barcelona won their 30th Copa del Rey title last season and will fancy their chances of overcoming a Levante team that has not progressed past this stage of the competition since 2014.

The Spanish giants have been utterly dominant in the Copa del Rey in recent years. Indeed, they have lifted the trophy in each of the last four campaigns and have been present in all but one of the last eight finals.

Ernesto Valverde's side, who overcame Cultural Leonesa in the last-32 stage of the competition, will enter Thursday's match off the back of a 2-1 win over Getafe, which moved them five points clear at the top of La Liga.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Barcelona could line up against Levante.


POSS BAR XI vs. LEV

Out: Rafinha (knee), Sergi Samper (calf), Samuel Umtiti (knee), Thomas Vermaelen (torn muscle)

Valverde will shuffle his pack following the clash with Getafe on Sunday night. Jasper Cillessen will start between the sticks, while Nelson Semedo, Juan Miranda and Chumi Brandariz should come into the back four.

There might also be a debut for Jeison Murillo, with the loan arrival from Valencia now available to feature.

Further forward, Oriol Busquets and Carles Alena should be handed spots in the XI, although one from Arthur and Ivan Rakitic are expected to provide experience in the middle of the park.

Philippe Coutinho is also in line to start, with the Brazilian in need of minutes as he is currently being kept out of Valverde's first XI by the in-form Ousmane Dembele.

Malcom should also start in the final third, while Luis Suarez could lead the attack with Munir El Haddadi reportedly being told that he will not play for the club again having turned down a new contract at Camp Nou.

Rafinha, Sergi Samper, Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen remain on the sidelines for the Catalan giants.

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Denis Suarez in action for Barcelona in April 2018
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