Feb 1, 2018 at 8.30pm UK at ​Camp Nou
Attendance: 50,959
Barcelona
1-0
Valencia
Suarez (67')
Roberto (35')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Pereira (40'), Vietto (51'), Soler (53')

Team News: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez lead Barcelona line against Valencia

Team News: Messi, Suarez lead Barca line
© Offside
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde picks a strong starting XI for Thursday night's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Valencia at Camp Nou.

Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde has picked a strong starting XI for Thursday night's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Valencia at Camp Nou.

The Blaugrana have no fresh injury and suspension worries and boast a sizeable lead at the top of La Liga, which enables them to make use of their big guns in the cup.

Jasper Cillessen has been utilised in cup competitions and is thus named in goal, but the outfield players are largely the first-choice options, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez leading the line.

New signing Philippe Coutinho and in-form Paulinho are named on the bench, while Aleix Vidal makes a surprise return to the side.

Barca have now reached the semi-final stages of this tournament for a record eighth time in a row and are bidding to claim their 30th Copa crown.

Valencia, meanwhile, have several injury issues as Jeisson Murillo, Ezekiel Garay and Goncalo Guedes are all sidelined.

However, Carlos Soler comes back into the side on the back of an injury while Gabriel Paulista returns from suspension.

Barcelona: Cillessen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Vidal, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez
Subs: Ter Stegen, Suarez, Coutinho, Paulinho, Alcacer, Digne, Mina

Valencia: Jaume; Montoya, Vezo, Gabriel, Gaya; Soler, Parejo, Coquelin, Pereira; Vietto, Rodrigo
Subs: Maksimovic, Zaza, Neto, Latorre, Torres, Mina, Vidal

Follow all the action from Camp Nou with Sports Mole's live match commentary.

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Philippe Coutinho in action for Barcelona on January 28, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona22184060114958
2Atletico MadridAtletico2214713392449
3Valencia22124642261640
4Real Madrid21116445212439
5Villarreal2211473326737
6Sevilla2210392834-633
7EibarEibar229583134-332
8Celta Vigo229493932731
9GironaGirona228773129231
10Real Betis2293103745-830
11Getafe227872621529
12Leganes218582021-129
13Athletic Bilbao226972425-127
14Real Sociedad2275104140126
15Espanyol226791929-1025
16AlavesAlaves2271141932-1322
17Levante2231182032-1220
18Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo2245132451-2717
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2252151750-3317
20Malaga2234151435-2113
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