Thegoalmac can reveal that Barcelona will be pleased to return to the home comforts of Camp Nou when they host Huesca in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.
Luis Enrique's team lost ground to La Liga leaders Real Madrid on Saturday as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Getafe.
Lionel
Messi rattled the crossbar with a free kick and the visitors missed a
host of chances, although the combination of tenacious opponents,
persistent rain and a tricky playing surface meant Barca struggled for
their customary rhythm.
Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta told
reporters: "We didn't pass the ball quick enough, although we had
chances and failed to make the most of them.
"We played our classic game with a 4-3-3, but Getafe didn't give us much room.
"The ball bobbled for long spells, and the water made [the pitch] become unstable. We didn't find much help out there."
Neymar
missed the trip to Getafe due to a minor ankle injury and is unlikely
to be risked against Huesca, while the Brazil star's compatriot Dani
Alves is also sidelined with a thigh problem.
It is unlikely Luis
Enrique would have selected either man in any case, with a combination
of youngsters and squad players primed for a run-out against the Segunda
Division B team.
Barca hold a 4-0 advantage from the first leg,
as goals from Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Pedro and Rafinha a
fortnight ago made progression to the round of 16 something of a
formality.
Iniesta and Rafinha were named among the substitutes
at Getafe so could start in midweek alongside goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter
Stegen, who has played all Barcelona's cup games this term since signing
from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Following their moment in the Nou
Camp spotlight, Huesca will turn their attentions towards trying to
secure promotion from a fiercely competitive Segunda B, Group 2.
Heading
into this weekend's fixtures, a solitary point separated the top five,
with Huesca second behind leaders Athletic Bilbao B on goal difference.
And
Luis Tevenet's team moved to the top of the pile in emphatic fashion
with a 6-1 win over Trival Valderas, rediscovering their scoring touch
after goalless draws against Conquense and Fuenlabrada followed the
Barcelona reverse.
No comments:
Post a Comment