Barcelona vs. Elche: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Copa Del Rey Game

Barcelona host Elche for the first time in three occasions during January.

A first-leg Copa Del Rey tie at Camp Nou represents the perfect opportunity for Luis Enrique's men to make the second match a foregone conclusion.

It would also set the Catalans up nicely for an epic quarter-final tie against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

Let's take a look at what could settle the outcome of this one...

Elche Can't Score Against Barca

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Will Elche break their duck in 2015?

Elche have to hold one of the poorest records against the Catalans.

We have to go all the way back to April 1978 for the last time that Elche even scored a goal against Barcelona.

Since then, Barca have plundered 16 goals without reply per Football ZZ.

It gets worse for the visitors.

A goal during the previous campaign is the only other one they've managed at Camp Nou since 1969!

Rotation, Rotation, Rotation

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Luis Enrique continues to rotate.

It's a veritable Blaugrana merry-go-round.

One in, one out and nobody understanding whether they've a regular tenure in Luis Enrique's starting XI or not.

Not once since he took over the hot-seat at Barca has Lucho started with the same side.

Whilst rotations are a necessary part of today's game, there is great stock to be held in having a settled side.

With an eye on a league date with Atletico Madrid during the forthcoming weekend, could this potentially be one rotation too many?

Current Form

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Elche are rock-bottom of La Liga.

To add insult to injury, Elche are also the worst performing team in La Liga presently.

Per WhoScored.com, the bottom club in the league have won just three times in all competitions, and only twice in the last 15 fixtures including the second leg of the last round.

Barcelona have won 10 of their last 12 in all competitions by way of contrast.

Only the most fervent of Elche supporters would give their team a chance of causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.

Complacency

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Celta Vigo have shown Elche the way.

Major shocks in football can, and do happen.

Not too often it must be said but history is peppered with mind-boggling reverses. Think Alcorcon's 4-0 win in 2009 against an almost full-strength Real Madrid that included Raul and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

Ashley Gray of the Daily Mail called it "the worst result in Real Madrid's history."

Celta Vigo, despite having not won at the Camp Nou since 1977, recorded only their third-ever win against Barcelona earlier this season.

It's shown the way for other clubs if the Catalans take their foot off of the pedal and in Elche's case, take their opponents for granted.

Never say never. 

League Status the Priority for Fran Escriba

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Elche prioritising league status may affect Fran Escriba's team selection.

League status has always remained a priority for Fran Escriba whilst at Elche.

Football Espana noted his words to reporters before the tie against Villarreal in last season's edition of the Copa Del Rey:

"

What is more important between the League and Cup? We all know that the League is more important for the future of the club than progressing through the Cup.

If given the choice, we will always pick the League. However, we have demonstrated that we do not give up the result in any game.

"

The same mindset definitely applies at this point, and may well affect his team selection on the day.