FC Barcelona vs Alavés: The Blaugrana set sights on the Spanish Cup Round of 16 berth
Barça host Alavés in the Round of 32 return leg of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday (21:30 CET). Barça claimed a 0-3 victory in the away leg. Tito Vilanova, who will rest five key first team players, has named five Barça B men to the side.
Barcelona (FCB).- Barça’s last match of the Copa del Rey Round of 32 will take place at the Camp Nou this Wednesday evening (21:30 CET). The Blaugrana come into the match with a generous advantage from the away leg at the Mendizorroza Stadium (0-3), but they will have approach the match against a demanding Segunda Divisón B Alavés side with caution. Traditionally, the Blaugrana have always taken these matches with utmost seriousness.
FC Barcelona has organised the second Club Member Solidarity Day to coincide with Wednesday’s match. Therefore, the seats freed-up by the Seient Lliure programme will be allocated to communal social organisations. Last year’s first iteration of the initiative, during the Spanish Cup match against L’Hospitalet, was extremely successful.
Villa set to return
After recovering from niggling pain in his ankle, David Villa was named to Barça’s 16-man squad for tomorrow’s match. Tito Vilanova has dropped Valdés, Iniesta, Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Jordi Alba and Messi from the squad, five of whom are the players that have featured the most for the team this season. Dani Alves will also miss the match due to the injury he picked up against Levante.
Five Barça B players have also been named to the team: Oier, Tello, Sergi Roberto, Deulofeu and Planas. This is the first time that Carles Planas has been called up for a match with the senior side.
Alavés to debut a new keeper
Alavés, on the other hand, come into the match with a few absences. Both goalkeepers, Miguel and Urtzi, will not suit up. Therefore, the goal will be defended by the Alavés’ reserve side keeper, Sergio Herrera. The team managed by Natxo González currently lead their Segunda Divisón B group and despite the 0-3 from the away leg, they showed themselves to be a well-organised and ambitious team.