Barcelona 4 - 1 Cultural Leonesa (agg. 5-1): Copa del Rey 2018/19
After a postive start from the visitors, goals from Munir, Malcom, and a brace from Denis Suárez made relatively light work of reaching the last 16.
Barcelona vs Cultural Leonesa live: how it happened
Barcelona vs Cultural Leonesa live: preview
In what should have been a complete reshuffle for an almost dead-rubber of a game at the Camp Nou, Ernesto Valverde will no doubt have had a lot more thinking to do ahead of the Copa del Rey second-leg. Still massive favourites, of course, and still an opportunity to use the fringe players, but a single-goal lead does not allow complacency, even against a much weaker opponent.
Barça's interesting choices
Between the completely injured (Umtiti, Rafinha, Arthur, Suárez, Samper), the ones with a knock (Cillessen, Vermaelen), and those regulars just crying out for a break (Piqué, Alba, Busquets and Messi), Valverde will do well to squeeze out an XI without involving some of his first team stars. Rakitic, Vidal, Coutinho and Dembélé could be seen on the pitch at some point.
Puig in the spotlight
Clement Lenglet's goal in the 90th minute is the only thing that separates these too sides (oh, apart from the hundreds of millions of euros backing each side!), but home advantage means that few expect an upset. Riqui Puig, a bit of a sensation from the pre-season match against Milan in San Jose, could well make his official debut for Barça, at just 19 years old. His physical build and style of play has the name of a certain legend in these parts, Iniesta, being used in comparison. It's early days for him...but a great chance for him to impress the home fans who have such hope.
So, the focus from most is on the kids on display...but an opening goal from the lowly visitors will change all that.