Barcelona vs Levante: team news & preview

If Ernesto Valverde's side are to successfully defend their Copa del Rey crown, they will have to come from behind at Camp Nou

Barcelona return to Camp Nou for the second leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie with Levante, facing a 2-1 deficit.

Goals from Erick Cabaco and Borja Mayoral gave the Valencia side a flying start in this two-legged affair, though a late penalty from Philippe Coutinho allowed Barca to keep in touch.

However, the Catalans will have to produce a much-improved display at home if they are to move into the quarter-finals of a competition they have won a record 30 times in the past.

Squads & Team News

Barcelona have a string of familiar injury concerns heading into this encounter, with Samuel Umtiti leading the list. Thomas Vermaelen, Rafinha and Sergi Samper are also absent.

Despite the precarious position of the tie, rotation will take place, yet it remains to be seen if Ernesto Valverde keeps faith with either centre-back Miranda or Chumi, both of whom were replaced in the first leg.

January signing Jeison Murillo is liable to start, while there will be a temptation to select at least one of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack.

Possible Barcelona starting XI: Cillessen; Semedo, Murillo, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Alena, Coutinho; Malcom, Suarez, Dembele

Levante are set to take a strong squad to Barcelona for this fixture, although they are without defenders Antonio Luno and Chema Rodriguez due to injuries.

Paco Lopez has rotated his panel in the competition this season and remain likely to do so once more.

Possible Levante starting XI: Aitor; Cabaco, Postigo, Rober; Coke, Prcic, Campana, Bardhi, Tono; Morales, Roger

Betting & Match Odds

Barcelona are hot favourites to win, with odds of 1/8 at bet365 . Levante are priced at 18/1, while a draw can be backed at 7/1.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more .

Match Preview

Barcelona turned in a sub-par performance last week as they slipped to a 2-1 first-leg loss against Levante in Valencia but will be hopeful of turning that deficit around.

Ernesto Valverde rotated his side heavily for that first encounter and after some failed experiments in that match – most notably in defence – he will be confident that he and his players have learned from the experience.

Certainly, there was no hangover in La Liga, where Barca swept past Eibar 3-0 at the weekend. Luis Suarez might have scored twice in that encounter, but it was Lionel Messi who caught the headlines as he chalked up his 400th strike in the league.

“Messi's numbers are stratospheric,” Valverde enthused after the match. “They are incredible.

“Not only the goals, but also what he creates. He's from another galaxy.”

Messi, though, is liable to be left out of Thursday’s encounter, showing just where the Copa del Rey currently ranks in the hierarchy of the Camp Nou side’s objectives this season.

Valverde’s side have opened up a healthy five-point advantage in La Liga over second-placed Atletico Madrid, scoring an astonishing 53 goals in the process – 22 more than any other club has managed.

Nevertheless, the focus lies on Sunday’s fixture with Leganes and then, more distant, their Champions League campaign.

Levante, meanwhile, are 12th, but have proven an exciting attacking team this season. Indeed, with 30 goals only Barca, Sevilla and Celta have more in La Liga.

They showed their potential as they scored twice in the first 20 minutes of this tie and if Barca are not on their mettle then there is every chance the side from Valencia could find themselves in the quarter-finals.