Barcelona are set to rest several first team players for their Copa del Rey clash with Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday.
After a resounding 5-1 El Clasico win over Real Madrid, Ernesto Valverde will turn to fringe players for the cup encounter while incorporating a few academy products as well.
According to Marca, Lana Carevic, Inaki Pena, Chumi, Jorge Cuenca, Juan Miranda and Riqui Puig all trained with the first team on Monday and are being considered for playing time in midweek.
Here’s a brief look at each of the young candidates.
LANA CAREVIC
Jasper Cillessen missed Monday’s training through illness and with Marc-Andre ter Stegen to be rested, there’s an opportunity for a young keeper to start. Lana Carevic is one who will be considered..
The young goalkeeper is known to be reliable for his age and can be trusted with the ball at his feet. In addition to his excellent distribution, Carevic’s towering frame helps him dominate the penalty area, confidently dealing with aerial attacks.
INAKI PENA
The 19-year-old shot-stopper will challenge Carevic for a start. Also comfortable with the ball at his feet, Pena is more in tune with Barca’s possession-based philosophy.
Know to be a well-rounded goalkeeper, where he excels in his agility when making saves. He’s also forging a reputation as a penalty-saving specialist as well.
JORGE CUENCA
The defender has already earned first-team experience with Alcoron, making five appearances during the 2016/17 season in the Segunda division before joining Barcelona.
Cuenca is a left-footed centre-back and is good at sweeping up and covering spaces. He’s vocal and marshals the back-line well while being an accomplished passer.
JUAN MIRANDA
Jordi Alba is due a rest and that paves the way for Juan Miranda to get some playing time. The left-back, like his first-choice team-mate, boasts great energy and is capable of shuttling up and down that left side.
Unlike the 29-year-old though, he also has an advantage in the air. At 185cm, Miranda is effective in aerial duels whether it’s attacking or defending set-pieces.
Juan Miranda
CHUMI
Juan Brandariz or ‘Chumi’ is a prominent member of Barcelona B’s back-line. The centre-back enjoys stepping out of defence in possession, carrying the ball forward and getting involved in the team’s build-up play.
Chumi is strong in the air but his chief defensive attribute is his intelligence, enabling him to read danger early while staying touch-tight when marking an attacker.
RIQUI PUIG
Tipped as the next exciting midfield talent who could set up from La Masia to the first team, Riqui Puig has proved to have great vision and technical ability.
The playmaker excels in quick passing, intricate play in midfield. He rarely gives the ball away and has an eye to pick out forward runners with defence-splitting passes.
Riqui Puig
