Spain: Barcelona star striker Lionel Messi, along with his team, trained despite the ongoing weather concerns caused by Storm Gloria that claimed at least four lives since Sunday.
Much of eastern Spain has been battered with strong winds, tidal waves and heavy snowfall.
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Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night... pic.twitter.com/T7aXvG9676
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 22, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night... pic.twitter.com/T7aXvG9676
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 22, 2020Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night... pic.twitter.com/T7aXvG9676
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 22, 2020
Still, the Catalan club finalised their preparations ahead of Wednesday's trip to Ibiza in the Copa del Rey last 32.
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Meanwhile, new head coach Quique Setien has made changes from the side that beat Granada 1-0 in the league to stay top of the table - on goal difference, ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
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Barça's win keeps them top of #LaLigaSantander. 🔝
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) January 19, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
The competition between @FCBarcelona and @realmadriden could not be stronger. 👊 pic.twitter.com/YOur3Ggy0k
">Barça's win keeps them top of #LaLigaSantander. 🔝
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) January 19, 2020
The competition between @FCBarcelona and @realmadriden could not be stronger. 👊 pic.twitter.com/YOur3Ggy0kBarça's win keeps them top of #LaLigaSantander. 🔝
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) January 19, 2020
The competition between @FCBarcelona and @realmadriden could not be stronger. 👊 pic.twitter.com/YOur3Ggy0k
Messi, who scored the winner against Granada on Sunday, has been left out of Barcelona's squad for the Wednesday's game.
Interestingly, the 32-year-old striker has been rested for just the second time this season. Messi was last given rest for December's Champions League dead rubber against Inter Milan.
Other than Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique will also be rested for the tie away at the third division club, while Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez are both absent through injury.
Also, youngsters Ansu Fati and Carles Perez, both regulars this season, are joined in the squad by Riqui Puig (following his impressive cameo on Sunday), Abel Ruiz and Chumi.
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The 1️⃣8️⃣ for the trip to face @ibizaud_en in the Copa del Rey! pic.twitter.com/ehJfrAAS93
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 21, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">The 1️⃣8️⃣ for the trip to face @ibizaud_en in the Copa del Rey! pic.twitter.com/ehJfrAAS93
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 21, 2020The 1️⃣8️⃣ for the trip to face @ibizaud_en in the Copa del Rey! pic.twitter.com/ehJfrAAS93
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 21, 2020
The new Copa del Rey format this year means ties will be played over one game and not two legs as in previous editions.
Noticeably, the game against Ibiza will be the second for Setien as Barcelona manager. The 61-year-old was only appointed manager a week ago.
Barcelona have been the most successful side in Copa as they have won the title 30 times, more than any other side, and have qualified for the final in each of the last six seasons. The Blaugranas clinched four consecutive Copa titles from 2015 to 2018 before losing the summit clash against Valencia in 2019.
