Ronald Koeman again opts for a 5-3-2 line-up in the reunion of Barcelona with Sevilla in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey. Four days after the convincing 0-2 victory over Julen Lopetegui’s team in LaLiga, Barcelona will play again on Wednesday evening with three central defenders, two attacking backs and Antoine Griezmann is the biggest victim.
Marc-André ter Stegen defends the goal and has three center-backs in front of him: Gerard Piqué, Clément Lenglet and Óscar Mingueza. Sergiño Dest and Jordi Alba are responsible for the wings. In midfield again a basic place for Pedri, who has recovered very quickly from his muscle complaints. The teenager dropped out in the second half last Saturday and appeared to be out of circulation for two to three weeks. Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets complete the diaphragm.
Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé are the attack; the starting place of the Argentinian is undisputed and the Frenchman must ensure the necessary speed in the game. This is at the expense of Griezmann, who did not take a minute of action last Saturday. Koeman does not have access to Miralem Pjanic and Ronald Araújo, both of whom have complaints to the ankle, and the long-injured Philippe Coutinho, Ansu Fati and Sergi Roberto.
Barcelona must make up a 2-0 deficit in the reunion with the South Spaniards. On February 10, goals scored by Jules Koundé and former Azulgrana Ivan Rakitic was the deciding factor in the first game in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan. The game in the Camp Nou starts at 9 p.m.
The winner of the battle between Barcelona and Seville will play in the final match of the Copa del Rey against Athletic Club of Levante, on April 17 at the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville. The first game ended in 1-1. Salient: Exactly two weeks earlier, Athletic plays the cup final of the past football season against regional rivals Real Sociedad. The Basque final battle was always postponed in the hope of being able to play the game with the public, but in the end, April 3 was chosen as the final date. Without fans.
Line-up Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dest, Mingueza, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, De Jong, Pedri; Dembélé and Messi.
Setup Sevilla: Vaclík; Aleix Vidal, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Acuña; Fernando, Jordán, Óliver Torres, Suso; En-Nesyri and De Jong.