Barça plotting Copa del Rey semi-final assault on Atleti's patch
Flick's men head to the Metropolitano for Thursday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg in red-hot form, despite missing several key players through injury.
Barcelona travel to the Spanish capital with their tails up, looking to take a giant step towards the Copa del Rey final when they face Atlético Madrid on Thursday night.
Form horses
The Catalan giants are absolutely flying at the moment. Their recent record is enough to make your eyes water - 17 wins from their last 18 matches. That’s championship form in anyone’s book, and they’re clearly not content with just the Spanish Super Cup trophy they’ve already bagged this season.
Hansi Flick’s boys are on a proper mission to defend their Copa del Rey crown and add a 33rd cup triumph to their already bulging trophy cabinet. They’re just two matches away from another final appearance, and you’d be a brave punter to bet against them right now.
Team news
Despite being in top nick, Barça aren’t without their problems. The treatment room at their training ground is busier than Piccadilly Circus at rush hour with some proper talent watching from the sidelines:
- Gavi (long-term knee injury)
- Andreas Christensen
- Pedri
- Raphinha
- Marcus Rashford
This has forced Flick to shuffle his pack for the trip to the Metropolitano, with several changes expected from the side that dispatched Mallorca in their last Liga outing.
Likely lineup
The German gaffer is expected to hand starts to Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong and Gerard Martín as he looks to outfox Diego Simeone’s Atleti.
Barça’s probable XI:
- GK: Joan García
- DEF: Koundé, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Balde
- MID: De Jong, Eric García
- ATT: Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Fermín
- ST: Ferran Torres
With this much quality still at their disposal despite the injury list, Barça will fancy their chances of getting a result to make the return leg at the Spotify Camp Nou a bit more cushty.