Barcelona will start their Copa Del Rey defence with a virtual reserve team in their last 32 first leg trip to third-tier Villanovense on Wednesday (23:30 start).
Last season’s cup winners are kicking off their campaign earlier than other clubs because the ties are scheduled to take place in December, clashing with Barca’s trip to Japan for the Club World Cup.
But manager Luis Enrique has rested the majority of his first team regulars, with Luis Suarez, Neymar, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Claudio Bravo among those missing out.
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In fact, the Barca boss was only prevented from fielding a complete second string by competition rules, which state that at least seven members of the first team squad must be included, forcing him to select the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Dani Alves and Jordi Alba.
Showing his disdain for the format of the competition and the additional burden it places upon his injury-hit team, Enrique complained: “I wish every round of the Copa was decided over one leg.
“There always have to be seven first-team squad members on the pitch. I would have liked to leave more of them at home, but that’s the rule.”
Meanwhile, Enrique has claimed that he will not protest the length of the ban handed out to key man Javier Mascherano, which is likely to be announced today.
The versatile Argentine was dismissed for dissent in the latter stages of Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Eibar, having mouthed an obscenity as he walked past referee Carlos del Cerro Grande.
Luis Enrique: “I’m taking Kaptoum, Samper, Aitor and Gumbau to use them and give some of the others a rest.” #FCBlive
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 27, 2015
Bizarrely, the length of the ban could hinge upon whether Mascherano insulted the referee’s mother or his sister, with Barca hoping that television replays prove the latter – which is likely to carry a lesser penalty.
The incident has been hot news in Spain ever since Sunday night, but Enrique is hoping to draw a line under the controversy once the punishment is confirmed.
“The ban will be whatever they decide it to be, irrespective of what I think,” the Barca boss said. “I’ll just accept it. I won’t comment bef-ore or after and I won’t dwell on it anymore.”
