JAKARTA - Armed with the spirit of victory in the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona will try to win again when they host Real Betis in the Copa del Rey match on Wednesday 15 January.
The Blaugrana eliminated Barbastro to reach the last 16, while Betis beat Huesca from the second division in their Copa del Rey last game.
Barcelona are in a state of celebration after they again beat Real Madrid for the second time this season to win the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The Blaugrana, who previously won 4-0 in El Clasico in October, managed to lead 5-2 in Sunday January 12 final against their tough rivals despite conceding first and playing more than half an hour with 10 players.
Lamine Yamal scored in Messi's style to equalize Kylian Mbappe's opener, before Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Alejandro Balde each scored to ensure Hansi Flick's first trophy before halftime.
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Raphinha scored the second goal and became Barcelona's fifth goal just three minutes after the second half began. Although Rodrygo had time to reduce the gap after Wojciech Szczesny was sent off, the Blaugrana remained able to keep their lead until the end of their 15th Spanish Super Cup.
After winning Flick's first trophy, the Catalan giants will return home to face Betis, which is predicted to be a tougher test than their 4-0 win over Barbastro.
Barcelona had to settle for a 2-2 draw in an away game against Betis in December, but they remained confident as they managed to record a big win in their last two home meetings, with a 4-0 win in April 2023 and a 5-0 win in September of the same year.
However, Barcelona have faced tough challenges in recent matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, where they have lost their last three home games since beating Brest 3-0 in the Champions League at the end of November.
Real Betis
While Barcelona are more favored to advance from Wednesday's match, Betis is determined to surprise the hosts to keep their hopes of winning the fourth Copa del Rey in their history.
Los Verdiblancos began their Copa del Rey journey with a win overGervora and Sant Andreu, before eliminating Huesca with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to Isco's goal in the third half earlier this month.
Unfortunately, Betis lost 0-1 in a league match against Real Valladolid which was in danger of relegation last Saturday. Kike Perez's goal in the 58th minute was enough to bring down Manuel Pellegrini's men, who have now won only one win from their last eight matches in La Liga.
The result was also their third defeat in four league away games, ensuring they ended the weekend in 10th, five points behind the top six.
Betis will now set aside a disappointing league campaign to focus on traveling to Catalonia, hoping to record its first win over Barcelona since December 2021.
Victory on Wednesday will bring Los Verdiblancos to the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2021-22 season, when they finally won the Copa del Rey on penalties over Valencia in the final.
In this match Barcelona still haven't been able to field goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and midfielder Marc Bernal, both of whom were sidelined due to long-term knee injuries.
Inigo Martinez joined the attendance list after he was withdrawn due to a hamstring injury in the first round of the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.
Ronald Araujo will replace Martinez in the heart of defense despite a potential move to Juventus this winter.
Flick was also forced to make changes to the goalkeeper's position, where Inaki Pena is ready to replace Szczesny, who will be suspended for one game after being sent out against Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Giovani Lo Celso will miss the midweek game after suffering a muscle injury in defeat to Real Valladolid.
Defender Hector Bellerin and striker Chimy Avila are currently also sidelined due to injury, while midfielder William Carvalho remains a long-term absent player.
Marc Roca and Pablo Fornals took part in training on Monday as they tried to prove their fitness to get into the squad.
Barcelona loan player, Vitor Roque, who started a December league meeting against his parent club, was able to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's game after being reserved last weekend.
Estimated Lineup Of Players
Barcelona: Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Real Betis:Vieites; Ruibal, Llorente, Bartra, Perraud; Altimira, Cardoso; Ruibal, Isco, Ezzalzouli; Roque
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