An understrength Barcelona XI take to the field in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals this evening against Athletic Bilbao, who welcome back Aritz Aduriz.
Jordi Alba’s injury, coupled with a refusal to risk Lionel Messi’s fitness and the final game of Luis Suarez’s ban, which rules him out of the entire tie, sees Sergi Roberto in at right-back, with Dani Alves seemingly moving over to the left and Arda Turan and Munir El Haddadi flank Neymar up top.
Athletic, on the other hand, drop goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz for his early red card in the 6-0 defeat to Barca at the weekend, along with Mikel San Jose, while Inaki Williams moves out to the left in order to accommodate the returning Aduriz, best known for his hat-trick in August’s 4-0 Supercopa triumph.
Athletic Bilbao: Herrerin; De Marcos, Lekue, Etxeita, Laporte; Iturraspe, Benat; Susaeta, Eraso, Williams; Aduriz
Subs: Iraizoz, San Jose, Rico, Gurpegi, Muniain, Balenziaga, Sabin
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi, Pique, Mascherano, Alves; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Munir, Neymar, Arda
Subs: Masip, Douglas, Bartra, Sandro, Adriano, Vidal, Vermaelen
Referee: Gonzalez Gonzalez
