Lucky draw for FCB: quarter-final spot just a matter of form?
Last week, FC Barcelona successfully prevailed in the mini tournament for the Spanish Super Cup and won the well-deserved title. This week, the Catalans will continue in the Copa del Rey 2023. As in the previous round, the FCB will face a manageable hurdle. After all, the Catalans will meet the underclass opponent from Ceuta.
Although FC Barcelona only managed to win one game against a team like CF Intercity in the previous round, the best bookmakers see the Catalan top club as the clear favourite this time as well. For Ceuta vs. Barcelona, odds of only 1.09 are currently offered for tip 2.
The Catalans will probably start the cup match with a B-team. This is not only due to the double burden, but also the travel stress caused by the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. It therefore remains to be seen how the FCB’s second team will present itself this time. In the previous round, the eighth-final ticket only came in extra time.
Tentatively, a similar scenario can be ruled out this time. Against an opponent like Ceuta, the FCB should bag their quarter-final ticket in regular time. In the case of Ceuta vs. Barcelona, it is even possible that the Catalans will score a goal in the quarter-finals.
Ceuta – Statistics & current form
Ceuta have reached the last 16 of the Copa del Rey for the first time in the club’s history. In previous years, the “Caballas” usually failed in the second round of the cup, so this year’s entry into the last 16 was all the more surprising. In the two previous rounds, Ceuta eliminated a second division team, Ibiza, and even a first division team, Elche, from the cup competition.
On the other hand, the “Caballas” are in free fall in the third division and are on course for relegation. After 19 match days in the third-tier Primera RFEF, Ceuta are in last place in the table with only eight points on their account. They are already 14 points behind the bottom of the table.
The Copa del Rey 2023 is therefore a consolation prize for the “Caballas”. The cup adventure will probably end against FC Barcelona this week. A quarter-final appearance would be more than surprising for the statistically worst third division team in Spain.
Will Ceuta at least manage to score against the FCB?
Ceuta have lost only one of their last five games at home. That defeat came against Deportivo La Coruna, and since then Ceuta have gone unbeaten on home soil three times in a row. In the last three home games, the “Caballas” even scored six goals.
Since none of the recent opponents were even close to the calibre of the FCB, it remains to be seen whether the goal quota will also be increased against the Catalans. The bookmakers are currently offering odds of more than 2.50 on “both goals”.
Head coach José Juan Romero will be able to draw on a full complement of players for the Cup match against the Catalans and will be spared any personnel worries. There are unlikely to be any major changes in the starting eleven for the last-placed team in the Primera Federación.
Predicted line-up of Ceuta:
Montagud; Garcia, Lafarge, Gutierrez, Macias; Reina, Lopez; Gonzalez, Cuevas, Redondo; Rios
Last matches played by Ceuta:
Primera Federacion – Group 1
15/01/2023 – AD Ceuta FC 2 – 2 Real Madrid Castilla
08/01/2023 – CF Talavera de la Reina 2 – 0 AD Ceuta FC
Copa del Rey
04/01/2023 – AD Ceuta FC 1 – 0 Elche
22/12/2022 – AD Ceuta FC 3 – 2 UD Ibiza
Primera Federacion – Group 1
18/12/2022 – AD Ceuta FC 1 – 2 Deportivo La Coruna
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
FC Barcelona ensured a clear balance of power in the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia and claimed a well-deserved title. After defeating Real Betis on penalties in the semi-finals, they were a clear 3-1 winner over Real Madrid in the El Clásico. The Catalans thus won the 14th Super Cup in the club’s history and extended their lead as record title holders.
This week, the FCB will continue with the Cup match in Ceuta. It is obvious that head coach Xavi will rotate and spare some key players. Already in the previous round, more players from the second team were used.
Against an underclass opponent like CF Intercity, FC Barcelona scored three goals but conceded three in return. It was only in extra time that FCB’s second string managed to beat Intercity to advance to the last 16. A high-scoring match is also likely against Ceuta.
Does Barca stumble again in the Copa del Rey?
Last season, FC Barcelona were eliminated by Athletic Bilbao in the last 16 of the 2022 Copa del Rey, missing out on a place in the quarter-finals of the Spanish cup competition for the first time since the 2009/10 season. With a total of 31 cup titles to their name, FC Barcelona nevertheless remain the record holders in the Copa del Rey.
It would therefore be all the more surprising if the FCB were to lose to the worst team in the third Spanish league. After all, the Catalans’ second team is also much stronger than Thursday’s opponents from Ceuta.
In the last cup match against CF Intercity, players like Dembele, Torres and Depay were used in the offensive. One or the other of this offensive trio will probably also get some time in the upcoming match.
Predicted line-up of Barcelona:
Pena; Bellerin, Garcia, Christensen, Alba; Roberto, Kessie, Torre; Raphinha, Torres, Fati
Last matches played by Barcelona:
Super Cup
16/01/2023 – Real Madrid 1 – 3 FC Barcelona
13/01/2023 – Real Betis (2)2 – 2(4) FC Barcelona
La Liga
09/01/2023 – Atletico Madrid 0 – 1 FC Barcelona
Copa del Rey
05/01/2023 – CF Intercity 3 – 4 FC Barcelona
La Liga
31/12/2022 – FC Barcelona 1 – 1 Espanyol
Ceuta – Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H balance
Barcelona meet Ceuta for the fourth time in club history. All three matches have taken place in the Copa del Rey. In the premiere duel in 2001, the FCB beat Ceuta 3-0. The two clubs also met in the cup in the 2010/11 season, when there was a first leg and a second leg. Barca prevailed with an aggregate score of 7:1.
Ceuta – Barcelona Tip
After an exhausting Super Cup 2023 in Saudi Arabia, FC Barcelona now face the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey this week. The Catalans are benefiting from the luck of the draw and have a feasible hurdle in front of them in Ceuta – even with a potential second string, mind you.
Even a B-team from Barcelona should not have too much trouble against the underclass opponents – currently bottom of the third division. So far, the Catalans have won each of their last three cup matches against Ceuta anyway.
In contrast to the last cup round, we expect a one-sided encounter in favour of FCB this time. The Catalans should already ensure a clear balance of power before the change of ends. With a stake of five units, we therefore place our bet on “Over 1.5 goals in the first half” for Ceuta vs. Barcelona.
