Arda Turan finally makes his debut but Aleix Vidal is only named a substitute as Barcelona and Espanyol rematch in the Copa del Rey last 16 this evening.
The Turkish midfielder will play his first game for La Blaugrana, exactly six months since arriving from Atletico Madrid, while the right-back must settle for a place on the bench in Dani Alves’ presence. Marc-Andre ter Stegen also replaces Claudio Bravo between the sticks.
Constantin Galca, on the other hand, somewhat surprisingly makes three changes of his own, bringing in Antonio Raillo, Abraham Gonzalez and Gerard Moreno, despite Espanyol holding the hosts to a goalless draw at Cornella-El Prat over the weekend.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Arda, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Subs: Rakitic, Bartra, Munir, Vidal, Vermaelen, Mathieu, Masip
Espanyol: Pau; Lopez, Raillo, Roco, Alvarez; Diop, Abraham; Hernan, Asensio, Gerard; Caicedo
Subs: Bardi, Duarte, Sevilla, Burgui, Ciani, Jordan, Mamadou
Referee: Martinez Munuera
