Barcelona vs. Villarreal: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream and TV Info
Barcelona host Villarreal at the Camp Nou for the second time in 10 days and this time a place in the Copa del Rey final is at stake.
The Catalans are veterans of the competition having won it on a record 26 occasions but this is the first time that the Yellow Submarine have reached this stage of the competition.
While the league game won't necessarily have a bearing on the outcome of this one, Marcelino will have noted the ease with which his players managed to play a high standard of counter-attacking football.
They scored two, and it could've been more. An away goal here and then a typically defensive performance at el Madrigal will see the visitors through.
There were certainly some aggrieved faces that trudged off the Camp Nou pitch after Lionel Messi's timely intervention had handed the three points to Barca.
No doubting Messi will be to the fore again but Barca will need to step things up significantly if they want to make the second leg a formality.
Date: Wednesday, February 11
Time: 7 p.m. GMT/2 p.m ET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona
TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK only)/beIN Sports 1 (US only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only)
Form Lines
| Barcelona | Villarreal |
| W 5-2 Athletic Bilbao | W 2-0 Granada |
| W 3-2 Villarreal | L 2-3 Barcelona |
| W 3-2 Atletico Madrid | W 1-0 Getafe |
| W 6-0 Elche | W 1-0 Levante |
| W 1-0 Atletico Madrid | W 1-0 Getafe |
WhoScored.com
Predicted Formations
It's a reasonable bet that both sides will keep the same shape that they use in the recent league game.
Marcelino's side enjoyed a large amount of possession at Camp Nou via a lightning-quick counter-attacking game.
It asked plenty of questions of their own midfield, yet Villarreal remained comfortable at the same time.
The returning Giovani Dos Santos was a constant thorn in Barca's side and, along with Luciano Vietto, provided the outlets from which the visitors could build.
The spine of the side, including both Bruno and Mateo Musacchio, will be given another rigorous examination over the 90 minutes.
As long as there is a full squad to pick from, barring any last-minute injuries, Marcelino will most likely stick with the XI that took the Catalans all the way.
There can be no excuses from Barcelona if they don't finish the job in the first leg.
El Madrigal is one of the toughest grounds to visit at the best of times and the Blaugrana would surely love to be heading there in a healthy position.
The 4-3-3 that Barca play so well is highly unlikely to be deviated from, even though it was undone time and again by Denis Cheryshev and others in the last home game.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will come in for Claudio Bravo in the Barca goal and given the magnitude of the tie, that's likely to be the only change that Luis Enrique makes.
Lucho will know that, at present, winning the cup remains a realistic ambition for his players. Given the tumultuous last six weeks or so, some silverware might go some way to pacifying an impatient bunch of supporters.
Players To Watch
Cheryshev continues to play himself into Carlo Ancelotti's thoughts at Real Madrid.
The Russian's loan deal expires at the end of the season and the Italian will be keen to repatriate the exciting youngster as soon as practicable.
Although his goal in the last game between the sides was extremely fortuitous, his all-round performance had deserved some reward.
Clearly Barca will need to keep an eye on him again because he has the ability to be the match-winner here.
It will also be interesting to note how Ter Stegen fares in what will be his biggest assignment to date.
TV3 (h/t Stefan Coerts of Goal.com) noted the goalkeeper's unhappiness at having to play second fiddle to Claudio Bravo, however, the German does have a chance to stake a real claim with any performance of note in this game.
Stopping an away goal is likely to dominate Luis Enrique's game plan and to that end Ter Stegen could find himself centre stage.
Key Battle
Dos Santos showed Barca exactly what they've been missing with a superb all-round performance at the club where it all started for him.
On a pitch he knows so well, the Mexican was industrious, skillful and slippery. His work deserved a goal, and he'll surely go hunting for one this time.
Jordi Alba was caught out on a few occasions in that game and Dos Santos is intelligent enough to know when to take advantage of the left-back's wanderlust.
Cheryshev can keep the other members of the Blaugrana back line occupied allowing the Mexican free reign on occasion.
Odds
The following pre-match odds are available via Oddschecker.
Home Win: 1/4
Away Win: 12/1
Draw: 13/2
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