Barcelona vs. Elche: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Barcelona have endured a turbulent start to 2015 and will look to the Copa del Rey tie with Elche as a way to start making positive headlines.

The year began with a 1-0 defeat by Real Sociedad on Sunday, which was followed by the sacking of Andoni Zubizarreta as director of football 24 hours later. Carles Puyol then resigned from his role as Zubizarreta’s assistant.

Throw into the mix the rumours about Lionel Messi’s future at the club, per Rajvir Rai of the Daily Mail, and Barcelona will be hoping the home game against Elche will get them back on track.

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As for Elche, they are bottom of La Liga and will be hoping to take advantage of the rocky patch being experienced by Barcelona.

Here’s all the information you need on where to catch the game and a closer look at the first leg of the Copa del Rey round-of-16 game.

Date: Thursday, Jan. 8

Time: 9 p.m. (GMT), 4 p.m. (ET)

Live Stream: Sky Go App (UK)

TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK)

Luis Enrique Feeling the Heat 

Journalist Graham Hunter reported on Sky Sports’ Revista de la Liga that Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is under pressure and has had a falling out with Messi.

The Argentinian was left out of the starting line-up against Sociedad, along with Neymar and Dani Alves, and he also missed an open training session on Monday, per Barcelona's official Twitter:

Barcelona play title rivals Atletico Madrid at home on Sunday, so it is unlikely any risks will be taken with Messi’s fitness. Still, Enrique can ill afford another shock defeat after Jordi Alba's early own goal saw Barcelona lose at Sociedad.

Fitness permitting, Messi should replace Munir El Haddadi in the starting line-up against Elche. Messi came on for Munir at half-time against Sociedad. It would also be no surprise to see Neymar come in for Pedro after the Brazilian's second-half substitute appearance on Sunday.

Enrique will want Barcelona to attack with a verve and fluidity that has been missing for much of the season. Playing with tempo is what Barcelona need to do to lift the gloom currently surrounding the club.

Meanwhile, Elche’s 2-2 draw at home to Villarreal on Saturday left them bottom and four points from safety.

With no away goals scored since October, it is hard to see Fran Escriba setting his side up to attack Barcelona. But the longer his team can keep Barcelona out, the more frustration and nerves could creep in for Elche to capitalise on.

Elche lost 3-0 at Camp Nou on the opening weekend of the season, with Messi scoring twice. A similar result can be expected again, but there may be a different scorer.

Prediction: Barcelona 3-0 Elche