Guadalajara, a city of some 93,000 just to the east of Madrid, is raring up for a very big night indeed, especially for the lucky few who have tickets to watch this evening's Copa del Rey encounter against none other than FC Barcelona. The game kicks off at 9pm CET in the 6,000 capacity Estadio Pedro Escartín.

The home side had to beat Cacereño of Extremadura 2-1 and then second division Ceuta 1-0 to make it into the last 32, while the Catalans received a direct bye along with the other three teams that will be contesting next month's Spanish Super Cup.

all about the game in our match center

On paper, this game has FC Barcelona written all over it. While Barça have won this trophy a record 32 times, Guadalajara are through to this round for the first time ever. And while Barça are currently flying high at the top La Liga after stringing together seven wins in a row, 'Depor Guada' are languishing near the bottom of the third-tier Primera Federación Group 1, having won just four of the 16 games played so far.

But the cup has a habit of throwing up surprises, and although Barça usually negotiate their opening fixtures against lower league opposition with relative ease, there have been some close calls in recent years. Hansi Flick would be wise not to under-estimate them, especially when the game is being played over a single leg, with extra time and penalties if required. For los morados (the purples'), this is one of the biggest games in their 78-year history.

First meeting

Barça have met Guadalajara's namesakes from Mexico on several occasions (and apparently the draw sparked confusion in the country when several media mistakenly reported that Barça were playing the Mexican giants!). But this is the first time they have ever faced the Spanish side. Surprisingly, it's also the very first time they have ever played a team from Castilla-La Mancha in the competition.

DID YOU KNOW?

Managed by Pere Martí, whose many clubs in his playing days included Villarreal, with whom he was involved in a victory over Barça, Guadalajara's squad is far from packed with household names. But for one Barça player, there's a familiar face in Raúl Tavares, who once played alongside Gerard Martin at Cornellà.

And although Guadalajara have never met the Barça seniors, they did play Barça Atlètic four times when they spent two seasons in the second division from 2011-13, the highest level the club has ever reached.

Team news

Speaking the day before the game, Hansi Flick warned that the tie will demand total focus. “We are favourites, that’s clear, but I want to see it on the pitch" he said. "We have to show our quality on the pitch. It’s about how we approach the game and how we start. For me, that’s the foundation of the tie. We have to prove our status as favourites with the right attitude, because otherwise it will be difficult.”

Although he did not go into detail, the German coach left the door open to possible changes in the starting XI. He did, however, confirm that goalkeeper Joan Garcia will definitely be rested.

Barça will certainly be without Araujo, Gavi and Olmo, but Wojciech Szczesny is over his bout of gastroenteritis that meant he was not included against Osasuna at the weekend.

 

Força Barça