Barcelona passed smoothly by Alaves in the previous stage of the Spanish Cup. In this evening, the team coached by Tito Vilanova will come across Cordoba, the 11th place in the second league in Spain.
Tito Vilanova is convinced that Barcelona will not have an easy match in the first round and would have preferred to meet a team from Primera Division.
“It will be the match of the year for Cordoba. They will give all their best and surprises can occur all the time,” said Vilanova.
But Cordoba does not pass through a good period in the championship before the duel with Barcelona. Catalans’ opponents have not won for four stages, the last victory being achieved on November 11, with Ponferradina, score of 5-3.
Dani Alves, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa and Andres Iniesta will not play in the knockout match in the Copa del Rey, the last two players being rested by Tito Vilanova for the weekend game, when the Blaugrana players will meet Atletico.
But from the starting XI will not miss Barcelona’s Argentine Leo Messi, who promised a few more goals by the end of this year, in the desire to extend the record of goals scored in a calendar year.
Probable Line-ups:
Cordoba: Alberto – Garcia, Gaspar, Kiko, Fernandez – Silva, Gomez, Garai, Dubarbier – Vico, Patino. Coach: Rafa Berges
Barcelona: Valdes – Montoya, Song, Puyol, Planas – Thiago, Busquets, Roberto – Sanchez, Villa, Tello. Coach: Tito Vilanova