La Liga leaders Barcelona will be looking to clinch a spot in the semifinals of this season's Cop del Rey tonight as they prepare to take on Levante for the third time in 11 days.
Overview
The Catalans had won the first leg 4-1 at the Ciutat de Valencia last week, thanks to a Cristian Tello hat-trick. The victory followed a La Liga game between the two sides at the same venue earlier in the week, which ended in a 1-1 draw that reduced Barca's lead over rivals Real Madrid to just one point.
Tata Martino's men are unbeaten in their last 12 matches, winning 10. And though the five-point lead over Real the Blaugrana carried into the New Year has been cut short to just one, after the draws at Atletico Madrid and Levante, they still continue to top the table and are the favourites for the league title.
Barca have been highly impressive in the Copa as well, scoring 17 goals and conceding just 2 so far. And boasting a 3-goal lead from the first leg, tonight's game at home might just be an academic one for the Catalans.
Levante, on the other hand, have lost only once in their last five matches in all competitions, winning three. Les Granotes are currently 8th in the league, nine points below the European places. However, Joaquin Caparros's side are now facing an impossible task and will need to produce something special, if they are to overturn a 3-goal deficit at Camp Nou and qualify for the semifinals.
Team News
Barcelona: Neymar (ankle) remains sidelined for Martino, who has decided to rest Xavi, Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets for this game. Jean-Marie Dongou and Isaac Cuenca are also missing from the Catalans' matchday squad.
Levante: Joaquin Caparros has no injury or suspension issues as forward Baba Diawara returns from the treatment table.
Expected lineups: Barcelona: Pinto; Montoya, Puyol, Bartra, Adriano; Song, Roberto, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Tello
Levante: Jimenez; Nagore, Navarro, El Adoua, Juanfran; Camarasa, Pallardo; Xumetra, Ivanschitz, El Zhar; Non
Prediction: 3-0 to Barca
Where to Watch Live
The match is scheduled for a 9pm GMT (2.30am IST) start, with Ten Action and Ten HD providing live coverage in India. US viewers can live stream the game HERE, while viewers in the UK can watch the match HERE. North Africa and Middle East viewers can catch all the action live HERE.
