The Camp Nou will host the first leg of the 1/16 round of the Copa del Rey
Leo Messi was named the to team while Dani Alves, Bartra and Xavi will be rested
Gerardo Martino said on Saturday that Leo Messi “has the eye of an assassin” since he returned from Argentina. The FC Barcelona forward, who missed the match against Elche, was given the medical all-clear to play on Tuesday and he could make an appearance this evening in the match between Barça and Getafe in the first leg of the 1/16 round of the Copa del Rey (22.00, TV3 and Antena 3).
Unpredictable starting team
Leo Messi was named to the 18-man team by Martino, while Dani Alves, Bartra and Xavi will be rested. The absence of the latter two (they both started against Elche) means that we’ll have a new starting team this evening. Pinto will be in goal despite Valdés’ recovery and it’s probable that Puyol, Adriano, Sergi Roberto and Neymar, all of whom were on the bench on Sunday, will be named to the starting team. Messi is expected to get some playing time, but it’s not known if he’ll start the match on the pitch or on the bench.
Rematch after 17 days
Getafe come into the match at the Camp Nou with the same team that pinned Barça back in the opening minutes of the last match of 2013. In that match, Barça fought back from a two-goal deficit to win 2-5. Only 17 days have passed since then.