The most successful team in Copa del Rey history, 31-time winners Barcelona will get their 2024-25 campaign underway with a clash against Segunda Federacion side UD Barbastro on Saturday, 4th January.
The Blaugrana are the overwhelming favourites to get the win in the Copa del Rey Round-of-32 clash at Estadio Municipal, but Barbastro are likely to make them work for it.
Copa del Rey: Barbastro vs Barcelona – Preview
Barbastro
Based in the autonomous community of Aragon, Barbastro are a proud club. They are rapid on the break, defend as their life depends on it, and play like there is no tomorrow. Barbastro are especially a handful in Copa del Rey matches, with them developing a taste for troubling higher-ranked teams.
This season, they began their Copa del Rey campaign with a Round 1 clash with Amorebieta. The fourth-division side ran circles around the third-tier Amorebieta, coming away with a thumping 4-0 victory. In the second round, La Liga outfit Espanyol stood in their way, and against all odds, Barbastro found a way to beat them. Sito Barrera scored a majestic brace as Barbastro secured a 2-0 win over the Catalans.
Their league form, however, has not been up to the mark. Having claimed just five wins from 17 outings, Barbastro are third from bottom in the fourth-division table.
Barcelona
Barcelona started the 2024-25 season on a high, winning 11 of their first 12 La Liga matches under new manager Hansi Flick. Unfortunately for the Catalan giants, their purple patch expired in November. In their last seven matches in La Liga, the Blaugrana have lost four times, drawn two, and won just one.
In their previous outing, Barcelona suffered a 2-1 defeat to La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid. Following their defeat and Real Madrid’s win over Sevilla, Barca have dropped to third place in the Spanish top-flight rankings.
Barbastro vs Barcelona – Team News, Potential XI, and Head-to-Head
Barbastro
The home side have a clean bill of health heading into the mouth-watering clash against Barcelona.
Potential XI: Manas; Moreno, Funes, Arroyo; Jimenez, Sauco, Javito, Baigorri; Arrillaga, Gomez; Serrano
Barcelona
Barcelona, meanwhile, will be without Lamine Yamal, Marc Bernal, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Andreas Christensen. Dani Olmo, who has not yet been registered, is also likely to sit this one out.
Potential XI: Pena; Kounde, Inigo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, Casado; Raphinha, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski;
Head-to-Head
Barbastro and Barcelona crossed paths in the Copa del Rey last year as well. The underdogs put on a valiant show but ultimately succumbed to a 3-2 defeat. Robert Lewandowski decided the game for the Catalans.
Barbastro vs Barcelona – Prediction
Barcelona have been all over the place in La Liga in recent weeks, but we do not believe it will trickle down to the Copa del Rey.
Our Prediction: Barbastro 1-3 Barcelona
