It’s all change for Barcelona in midfield tonight as they line up with Rafinha, Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta against Villarreal in the Copa del Rey.
La Blaugrana kick off the tie with much of the same team which defeated Athletic Bilbao 5-2 last Sunday, although their trio of Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Xavi Hernandez in the middle of the park are sacrificed.
Elsewhere, usual cup goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen replaces Claudio Bravo between the sticks, while the MSN, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all retain their places up top.
Villarreal, meanwhile, make seven changes for the trip to Camp Nou, with big boys Denis Cheryshev, Luciano Vietto and Dos Santos brothers Giovani and Jonathan, both formerly of Barca, all back in the XI.
Both sides’ last meeting came less than a fortnight ago, when the Catalans emerged with a 3-2 victory in La Liga, but a cup semi-final first leg awaits them this time out.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Rafinha, Mascherano, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Subs: Masip, Bartra, Adriano, Busquets, Rakitic, Xavi, Pedro
Villarreal: Asenjo; Mario, Musacchio, Ruiz, Costa; Jonathan, Pina, Bruno, Cheryshev; Giovani, Vietto
Subs: Juan Carlos, Dorado, Rukavina, Moises, Trigueros, Campbell, Moreno
Referee: Hernandez Hernandez
