Barça vs UCAM Murcia: Copa del Rey Semi Preview – Can the Underdogs Do It Again?
Barcelona face UCAM Murcia in the Copa del Rey basketball semis. Injury doubts, brilliant form, and a spicy recent record make this one unmissable.
Forget the football for a minute — Spanish basketball’s Copa del Rey is serving up a proper cracker this Friday, and this semi-final has all the ingredients for a genuine upset.
The Setup
Barça and UCAM Murcia close out the last of the semi-finals at the Roig Arena in Valencia on Friday 20 February, 21:00 CET. On paper, the Catalans are favourites. In practice? It’s a lot more complicated than that.
Murcia Are Flying
Sito Alonso’s side have had a February to remember. Five wins on the spin across ACB and European competition — that’s the kind of form that gives any big club a headache. Several of their key players are hitting top gear at exactly the right moment, and they’re clearly not travelling to Valencia just to make up the numbers.
More to the point, UCAM have already beaten Barça twice this season — once at the Palau Blaugrana and once at their own Palacio de los Deportes, both decided in the dying moments. That’s the sort of recent head-to-head record that makes you sit up and take notice.
Barça’s Injury Headache
Xavi Pascual’s men come into this one with a bit of a mixed bag:
- Positive: A convincing ACB win over Baxi Manresa has lifted the mood after a rough European loss to Paris.
- Negative: Late fitness doubts over Vesely, Satoransky, and Punter mean Barça are carrying more uncertainty than usual into a knockout tie.
Those three are serious players at this level, and if any of them miss out or are less than 100%, it shifts the balance noticeably. Barça are still favourites, but they’re not the runaway bet they might’ve been in previous years.
History Says… It’s Complicated
- In Copa del Rey head-to-heads, Barça have the edge — they knocked Murcia out in the semi-finals of the Copa de Granada back in 2022.
- But this season’s league meetings tell a completely different story, with Murcia winning both.
- This is shaping up to be one of those ties decided by the finest of margins.
Where to Watch
If you’re in Spain and want to catch it live:
- DAZN Baloncesto (streaming)
- Movistar Plus (Dial 87)
- Live updates and stats on MARCA.com and Radio MARCA
This one’s got late drama written all over it. Whether Barça’s quality tells in the end or Murcia pull off what would be a brilliant Copa run — either way, it’s well worth your Friday night.