The Copa del Rey quarterfinals kick off this week with just eight teams remaining in the Spanish cup competition.
Last season’s runners-up, FC Barcelona, head to the Basque Country to face off with Athletic Club at San Mames. Barcelona came through the previous round a week ago with a thrashing of fellow La Liga side Leganes, 5-0.
Athletic Club didn’t have quite as easy of a time in the previous round. The Basque club needed penalties to knock out Segunda team Tenerife.
League form could have plenty of influence on the match between the two league rivals. Barcelona are winless in three of their last six matches. The team’s defence has been suspect of late conceding an average of 1.0 goals per league fixture.
Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Leganes in the previous round was mostly an anomaly with the latter focusing more on La Liga than the cup. The Blaugrana will have a more difficult time versus Athletic Club than they did versus Leganes.
Athletic Club manager Gaizka Garitano has seen his team winless in its last seven matches in all competitions. The team is struggling for wins and Barcelona should take advantage of the Basques’ poor goalscoring. Athletic Club have scored just six goals in their last seven matches in all competitions.
The good news for Garitano is his side are unbeaten in its last three matches versus Barcelona. Athletic Club won earlier this season at San Mames versus Barcelona, 1-0, thanks to a late goal from Aritz Aduriz.
Barcelona’s biggest news this week comes off the pitch with Lionel Messi criticising sports director Eric Abidal. Rumours persist that Messi could leave Camp Nou in the offseason although it is doubtful many teams could pay or want to pay the player’s salary.
New Blaugrana manager Quique Setien is without forward Ousmane Dembele who is now ruled out for the rest of the season. The club failed to add a replacement for Luis Suarez in January, who is also ruled out until the end of the season.
It is claimed Barcelona are looking at free agents to sign to fill in for Dembele. The team’s transfer signings and poor player recruitment has led to the current squad problems and shortages in players.
Despite the issues the squad has and losing earlier this season at San Mames, Barcelona should get a win to move into the semifinals. Athletic Club are in such poor form that the Blaugrana should have no issue earning progression with Messi scoring. Expect over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring as Barcelona win.
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