Heads and tails at Barça with Iñigo Martínez and Alejandro Balde

Published:7/01/2024 - 10:45h

Updated:7/01/2024 - 10:45h

FC Barcelona confirmed the list of those called up by Xavi Hernández for the Copa del Rey debut against Barbastro. As planned, the culés recover Iñigo Martínez, but lose Alejandro Balde at the last minute

The FC Barcelona will debut the Sunday in the Glass of the King in front of the Barbastro with a high very expected in the announcement, but also with an important drop of last hour. On the one hand, the ones of Xavi Hernández will recover to Iñigo Martínez after the muscular injury in the biceps femoral right suffered in the previous warming to the crash in front of the Athletic of Madrid that left to the Basque went during the last month.

Iñigo came showing a good level so much in League as in Champions after losing all the pre-season by his problems in the right foot, by which his drop was more than inopportune for a Barça that fit 11 so many in the five parties that the one of Ondarroa was was. Except surprise, Xavi will include him in the eleven for the debut copero, waiting for avoiding another fright in a phase in which the culés have happened a lot of difficulties in the last polish.

Balde, went by caution in front of the Barbastro

With Balde, his absence is more preventive that forced for the trip to Huesca. The left side suffered some annoyances in the previous of the training of the Saturday and the technical body preferred to give him rest, considering that the defender came to play the 90 minutes the Thursday in the visit to The Palms (1-2). For Álex, this will be his first drop by physical problems in a season in which his level has been underneath of the expectations.

In spite of this, the canterano adds 1.617 minutes of action delivered in 23 parties (17 of League and 6 of Champions), with an assistance in the local competition like only offensive contribution up to now. Balde Was acting against Athletic and Girona, but played complete the last three parties of the year for a Barça that follows without finding to his ideal defence in the 23/24. This Sunday, Xavi will experience with a saga in which there will be, of safe, juvenile presence in front of the drops.