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Copa del Rey | Third Round
Jan 21, 2021 at 8pm UK
Campo Nuevo Municipal de Cornella
Barcelona logo

Cornella
0 - 2
Barcelona


Estelles (38'), Presa (57'), Medina (96')
Estelles (118')
FT
(aet)
Dembele (92'), Braithwaite (120+1')
Puig (7'), Pjanic (106')

How Barcelona could line up against Cornella

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up for their Copa del Rey showdown with Cornella on Thursday evening.

Barcelona begin their Copa del Rey campaign on Thursday when they travel to third-tier side Cornella in the third round.

Ronald Koeman's men missed the chance to claim the season's first piece of silverware at the weekend as they lost 3-2 to Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup final, with Lionel Messi being sent off for the first time in his Blaugrana career in that defeat.

A much-changed Barca will certainly be expected to come up trumps in this fixture with Cornella, although the minnows reached the third round courtesy of a 1-0 victory over La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Koeman could line his side up for the contest.



POSS BAR XI vs. COR 2© Reuters

Out: Sergi Roberto (muscle), Ansu Fati (knee), Philippe Coutinho (knee), Gerard Pique (knee), Sergino Dest (muscle)
Doubtful:

> Click here for Barcelona's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

The suspended Lionel Messi was never expected to feature from the first whistle in this contest, and he could supposedly be facing a 12-game ban depending on the outcome of the disciplinary committee's review.

Messi's absence gives Martin Braithwaite the chance to prove himself up top, and Antoine Griezmann - who is in undroppable form with four goals and three assists in his last four matches - could be one of the few survivors from Sunday's defeat.

The up-and-coming Pedri is in contention for another start in the number 10 role, while a well-deserved rest for Ousmane Dembele could see Trincao given a run-out on the right flank.

Miralem Pjanic has struggled in his maiden campaign at Camp Nou but is expected to be handed a rare start this week, potentially alongside Riqui Puig in what would be the 21-year-old's first start of the season.

Sergino Dest was forced off at half time against Athletic with muscular discomfort and is not fit for this one, so Koeman is without a recognised right-back with Sergi Roberto and Moussa Wague both injured too.

Oscar Mingueza should therefore deputise at full-back as Ronald Araujo lines up in the heart of defence, with out-of-favour duo Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo completing Koeman's rearguard reshuffle.

The Blaugrana boss has also revealed that the club have blocked second-choice goalkeeper Neto from leaving, so it would be a surprise not to see the Brazilian feature from the first whistle as he pines for more game time.

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