4-3-3 with Alves in midfield: Possible Barcelona lineup for Copa del Rey Round of 32

Barcelona shift their focus towards the Copa del Rey, where they will travel to the Andalusian province of Jaen, Spain, to take on Linares Deportivo in the Round of 32. Linares play in the third division of Spanish football, and saw off Deportivo Alaves in the Round of 64.

Choosing the lineup for this game will be tough for Xavi, who did not give any hints about his selection. He will, in fact, have one eye on the game against Granada on the weekend and the one vs Real Madrid in a week’s time in the Spanish Super Cup.

Barça have faced the challenges of multiple injuries and COVID in the last two weeks, and turned up with a depleted side against Mallorca. While a goal was enough to pull them through, they will need players fresh for the league. Consequently, there will be several rotations tomorrow.

Neto will start in goal in place of Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The Brazilian has been fairly reliant whenever called upon and will continue starting in Copa del Rey as the second-choice keeper does.

He’d be guarded by a back-four, headlined by Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti. The French duo’s time on the pitch has been severely depleted, with Eric Garcia, Gerard Pique, and Ronald Araujo taking centre stage. An impressive outing tomorrow could change things for the better, though.

Oscar Mingueza put in an impressive shift at right-back on the weekend and will likely retain his spot in the absence of Sergino Dest. Meanwhile, with both Jordi Alba and Alejandro Balde out with COVID, Barcelona B ace Mike Marmol will take up responsibility on the left. The Spaniard is traditionally a centre-back but can pull a shift on the wing when necessary.

Up in midfield, we’d get the return of fan-favourite Dani Alves. The Brazilian played in the centre of the park in Brazil and is technically gifted enough to play as a central midfielder.

Alvaro Sanz of Barcelona B will be the anchor on the night. An interior by trade, Sanz will start in a make-shift role. He’ll be accompanied by Riqui Puig, who started his first game of the season against Mallorca, putting in a solid performance.

Finally, we expect Estanis Pedrola to get his debut in the attack, likely at left-wing. He did not get enough minutes to show his potential on Sunday, and the Copa del Rey could be his competition.

Ferran Jutgla and Ilias Akhomach will get the nod to round off the attack. With no natural strikers present in the side, Luuk de Jong will probably start from the bench and get called on into the starting XI vs Granada.

Predicted XI: Neto; Mingueza, Lenglet, Umtiti, Marmol; Alves, Sanz, Puig; Ilias, Jutgla, Estanis