We have a three peat, can we get a four peat? The quest starts today for us here: It's a coastal city, just down the coast, south of Valencia, north of Andalusia Game is TODAY at 12:30 Pacific, 3:30 Eastern time in most of North America. On our last visit to Murcia, Gio dos Santos scored a hat trick and we won 3-5 in the 2007-08 campaign: Here's what I posted on the season thread: During training this Sunday, Valverde had seven players from the reserve side under his control: Jose Arnaiz, Carles Alena, Marc Cucurella, Oriol Busquets, Vitinho, Carles Perez and Adrian Ortola. All ready for the start of their Copa del Rey campaign in Murcia at 9.30pm CET on Tuesday. The reigning champions visit the Nueva Condomina Stadium nine years after their last match in the 2007/08 season. The blaugranas head into the first leg of the round of 32 looking to win the Copa del Rey for the fourth year in a row. For this match, Ernesto Valverde won’t be able to call on the injured Aleix Vidal and Arda. Moreover, Jordi Alba, Rafinha and Dembélé continue their recovery from their injuries. It is also worth noting the blaugrana coach has decided to rest seven first team players: Ter Stegen, Umtiti, Sergio, Iniesta, Paulinho, Messi and Luis Suárez. As Múrcia are in Division 2B they are not able to take more than 16 players as there are only five substitutes. Therefore, the list of 16 players called up for Tuesday’s match is: Cillessen, A. Ortolá (31), N. Semedo, Piqué, I. Rakitic, Denis Suárez, Mascherano, Deulofeu, Paco Alcácer, Digne, S. Roberto, André Gomes, Vermaelen, Aleñá (26), Cucurella (36), Jose Arnaiz (37). Final session before Copa del Rey debut The available first team players trained on the Tito Vilanova pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in their final session before the trip to Múrcia. Jordi Alba worked out with the rest of the group for the first time since his injury in training last Tuesday. Barça B players Ortolá, Cucurella, Oriol Busquets, Aleñá, Vitinho, Carles Pérez and Arnáiz also took part. The blaugranas will travel on Tuesday morning to Nueva Condomina, where they will face a motivated team in a tough away match for Ernesto Valverde’s men. Prediction: Jasper Semedo-Verm-Masch-Digne Denis-Roberto-Alena Deulofeu-Paco-Arnaiz Sub on Cucurella for Digne and two Barca B players will get their official debuts (Alena has already played with the big squad). EDIT - who am I kidding, of course Gomes will get to start, moving Denis up, and meaning Arnaiz comes on as a sub only. Unclesox pointed out that Messi and Umtiti are not only rested but are also suspended from last year for Yellow accumulation. Here are the kids: Alena, Cucurella, Ortola, and Arnaiz, hope to see all 3 outfield players in action:
Can a moderator give this a sticky? Here's a fun fact I did not know: Spain's third tier has a 16-player limit for games—11 starters plus a maximum of 5 sitting on the bench—thus limiting Barça's squad to 16 as well. Hence, the match at third-tier (2nd Division B) Real Murcia appears to be a perfect chance to rest some key players for the grind ahead while giving valuable minutes to others who have yet to see much action, if any, this season. (Shame about Vidal's and Turan's injured ankles). Form guide Murcia (5th in 2nd Div. B, Gr. 4): D D L W L Barça (1st in La Liga): W W D W W Quotable coaches "For Murcia, this is their biggest game of the season." —Barça's Ernesto Valverde "This game is fantastic for the city [of Murcia]. We're going to try and compete with the maximum excitement and intensity." —Murcia's José María Salmerón History Did you know this is the seventh time Barça and Murcia are facing off in the Copa del Rey? Murcia has never knocked Barça out of the competition. Their last Copa clash was in the last 32 of the 1987 edition, when Barça went through to the last 16, 5–0 on aggregate, en route to a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in that year's final. The two sides have met more recently in La Liga, however, with Barça beating Murcia in both games in the 2007/08 Spanish First Division.
Nice to see Arnaiz and Alena both start. I think I nailed everyone but I had Roberto starting at DM, by resting him (he has played a good deal) we get to start Arnaiz and everyone's favorite whipping boy, Gomes too. Jasper Semedo-Masch-Verm-Digne Denis-Gomes-Alena Deulofeu-Paco-Arnaiz BENCH: Cucurella (sub on for Digne), Rakitic, Roberto, Pique, and Ortola. Jasper Cillessen plays so infrequently it is hard to see Ortola getting in. Raki, Roberto, and Pique only needed in case someone is injured or tired, or we are chasing a result late.
Not a pretty game, Deu cross headed on goal by Paco, goalie punches it out and it lands bouncing at Denis's feet and he skies the shot from inside the box.
Nice, Paco took a free kick from 30 feet after Alena was roughly tackled, drew a corner. Then a couple minutes later a cross from distance by Deulofeu again found Paco who headed it well to goal for the all important first score (and away goal). Really nice cross to find Paco who got off a great header despite having a defender right behind him. Good boost for Paco, and assist for Deulofeu.
Gerard takes a few defenders off the dribble, uses his speed, nutmegs the goalie. Very nice effort. 0-2.
Arnaiz now! Gets the ball in open space with nice speed he cuts in from the left to his right foot between two defenders and rips a shot from just outside the box. Very nice. 0-3
Masch gets a shot but skies it after Arnaiz dribbled three players in the box, got fouled (no call) and nearly slid it under the keeper.
Like to see Cucurella get a debut with the first team. EDIT - and he is warming up along with Rakitic and Roberto! Hopefully spelling Digne, Gomes, and Denis.
Nice triple save by Jasper, he extended wide to block a speculative shot/cross, then saved the follow up with his feet, then finally grabbed it.
Semedo is very solid. Like to see him play all the time and not rotated with Sergio Roberto and or Vidal every other game. And Shitmes is still shit... missed a simple stop inside the area to set himself up for a good goal opportunity.
Cucurella debut, on for Digne. Rakitic and Roberto already on, for Alena and Deulofeu. Raki playing DM, so Gomes up to left Attacking mid (where Denis was). Denis over the the Deulofeu right wing, so Roberto also playing attacking mid on the right side.