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Copa del Rey | Quarter-Finals

Jan 24, 2024 at 8.30pm UK

San Mames Barria

Athletic Bilbao
4 - 2
Barcelona

Guruzeta (1'), Sancet (49'), Williams (105+2'), Williams (120+1')
Sancet (36'), Prados (82'), Herrera (109'), Williams (120+2')

FT
(aet)

Lewandowski (26'), Yamal (32')
Xavi (17'), Christensen (17'), Torres (82'), Fort (84'), Yamal (95'), de Jong (115'), Roberto (117')

Barcelona missing five players for Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Bilbao

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 23 January 2024

Barcelona will be missing five players for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final with Athletic Bilbao, but Joao Cancelo and Andreas Christensen are back in the squad.

Barcelona will be without the services of five first-team players for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final with Athletic Bilbao, but the team have received a double fitness boost ahead of the contest.

Raphinha, Inigo Martinez, Marcos Alonso, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen remain unavailable for selection through injury, but Joao Cancelo and Andreas Christensen are both back in the squad.

Cancelo has not featured for the La Liga champions since the clash with Las Palmas on January 4, having picked up a knee problem in the early stages of that contest.

The Portugal international, who is on loan at the club from Manchester City, returned to training ahead of this match, though, and he has been included in the squad.

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo on September 23, 2023 © Reuters

Christensen has also returned, with the Denmark international recovering from the muscular issue which he picked up against Unionistas in the last round of the Copa del Rey.

The defensive absentees meant that there was a start for Pau Cubarsi against Real Betis on Sunday, with the 17-year-old playing 81 minutes of what proved to be a 4-2 success for Barcelona.

Cubarsi is again in the squad alongside Hector Fort, while Marc Guiu is also in the selection, with the youngster hoping to be given a chance to impress in the final third of the field.

Aron Yaakobishvili is a surprise name in the squad, with the 17-year-old Hungarian set to be Barcelona's number three goalkeeper for the clash at San Mames.

Barcelona's Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring their second goal with Frenkie de Jong and teammates on January 3, 2024 © Reuters

Barcelona did not pick up any fresh problems in their clash with Real Betis at the weekend, and head coach Xavi is set to name a strong side for the last-eight clash with Athletic.

The Catalan outfit have not been at their best in this season's Copa del Rey, only narrowly beating fourth-tier outfit Barbastro 3-2 before recording a 3-1 victory over Unionistas last time out.

Barcelona lost to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final earlier this month, but they are still chasing success in three competitions this season, including the Champions League.

Blaugrana are the most successful side in the history of this competition, meanwhile, lifting the trophy on 31 occasions, with their last victory coming in 2020-21.

Barcelona squad vs. Athletic Bilbao:

Pena, Astralaga, Aron; Cancelo, Balde, Araujo, Christensen, Kounde, Cubarsi, Fort; Pedri, Romeu, Roberto, F de Jong, Gundogan, F Lopez; Guiu, F Torres, Lewandowski, Felix, Roque, Yamal