Unionistas - Barcelona live online: score, stats and updates, Copa del Rey round of 16
The crowd react to the last few minutes by adding even more noise of support for their boys. It's jumping here!
Pressure building on the home goal and another chance slips past Guiu who can't get on the end of a very tasty Balde cross.
WHAT A SAVE! Barbero reacts instinctively to stick out his right arm and knock the poked effort, a stretched out leg from a corner, from Marc Guiu.
Most of the Barça team were thinking the breakthrough had come.
Barça try again to build through the midfield but they're struggling to break a hard-working opponent. Clearly the longer this goes on, the top flight fitness levels are likely to make a difference.
...then again, the expectations may play in the opposite direction!
Talking of flying, Rastrojo has just given us a taste of his pace, nearly sprinting away from Christensen but just running it out of play. He's annoyed at himself with that but will fancy giving it another go soon.
Although no clear cut chances since that one in the first minute, there are signs that opportunities could definitely be there for the home players. Serrano the latest player to almost set his teammates flying but the green(ish) kitted opponents closed things off.
Xavi is on the sidelines deep in conversation with his staff about how these opening stages have played out. Well, I can't actually make out what he's saying so he may be asking what the plan is for dinner after the Game.
Some very confident play between Barbero in goal and his Unionista defenders, and quick thinking Barça attackers almost made them pay.
First shot at goal for the visitors arrives on the 5th minute. A deep cross left to right is volleyed back first time to Félix in the area and he swings a boot. The defender was all over him and the block was effective.
After that early scare Barça, as you'd imagine have gathered themselves and are aiming to take the sting out of the occasion.
The crowd is keeping the tempo high for their team though and likely will until there's nothing left to go for.
CLOSE!!! Oh my! What a start to the game.
After some solid play to regain control of the ball, a speedy break by the hosts hands Losada the first chance, and a good one at that. He strikes hard enough but it glides just wide of Peña's post. What a shame!
Peeep! And we're off!
In case you were wondering, we do have VAR for this game. That means there could be a few 'goal... maybe... no goal...' moments in my chat. Apologies in advance!
OK, the players are out and we have a game to enjoy...
Grass issues resolved... at a cost
Did you know that Unionistas' continuation in Spanish football in 2022 depended on replacing the artificial turf of their football field with natural grass, a requirement set by the federation? It cost €300,000 ($326k) plus an annual maintenance fee of €30,000.
The hefty sum dismayed the managers and, consequently, the co-owning members of the club until they opened fundraising to social financing. The success of the crowdfunding campaign defied the dark predictions, exceeded the targeted amount, and provided Unionistas with the grass that allows them to face Barcelona tonight.
Meet the Unionistas - Barcelona referee
Born in 1988, Francisco José Hernández Maeso is a referee from the Extremadura association making his top flight debut this season. He previously officiated in the Spanish second division for three seasons.
Hernández Maeso has overseen nine LaLiga matches, showing 45 yellow cards, issuing one direct red card, and awarding three penalties.
Pedri takes his pen
The benefit of not having to get your Game face on from the first whistle is that you can mingle more with the crowd and that is exactly what Pedri did as the stadium began to fill.
Here he is signing bits and bobs and sending people even younger than him away with a smile on their faces.
Unionistas dreaming big
The player names of this Unionistas team may not be readily on the tongue for household conversation but we should remember that they did manage to dispose of LaLiga’s Villarreal on penalties in the last round, just over a week ago.
Further hope for their fans can be taken from a few years ago when they hosted Real Madrid in January 2020, also in this competition. ultimately losing 3-1 having been level after an hour.
COPA DEL REY
What happens in case of a tie in the Copa del Rey round of 16?
Another question posed to me is over how this game will be decided if the score is tied come the whistle at the end of 90 or so minutes.
Our Roddy has a detailed description of this but, in summary, and barring postponement, we'll definitely have a winner confirmed tonight. Extra time and penalties if required.
Copa del Rey excitement building
With just over half an hour until kick off you can see the stands filling up here at the Estadio Reina Sofía. Unionistas play in the third tier of Spanish football and the stadium's 4,750-capacity is a far cry from the near 100,000 of the Camp Nou.
Let's see how the home fans compare noise wise...
Teamsheet old school
I've had a few requests to see the official teamsheet for the game and so a quick call to my colleague Paul down by the pitch and your wish is my command.
Any more demands, pop them into the comments section and we'll see what we can do. No, not that. Or that!
Where's Vitor Roque?
Brazilian forward Vitor Roque has yet to secure a starting position for Barça, despite making a couple of appearances as a substitute where he showed plenty of energy but failed to take some of the opportunities that fell his way.
Since his arrival in Spain, some have said he has faced unnecessary pressure to score, but he has given suggestions of what he can do by influencing games even without finding the back of the net, and he offers a different dynamic to Robert Lewandowski.
As we've seen, Xavi's left both of them on the bench tonight and opted instead for Spanish youngster, Marc Guiu. Despite limited minutes with the first team, Guiu has left a positive impression and previously netted the decisive goal against Athletic Club earlier in the season.
He turned 18 on 4 January and will be sniffing a chance or two to make another impression...
Starting XI: Barcelona
And here's Xavi's choice. A few expected changes from the team that began against Madrid at the weekend, and given the erratic form of late, a chance to make a push towards a regular place.
Barça XI: Peña, Baldé. Chistensen, Koundé, Roberto, López, Romeu, De Jong, Félix, Guiu, Torres
Starting XI: Unionistas
What a night for these players as they get the chance to go up against one of the most iconic clubs in the world. And some say they could be there for the taking...
Unionistas XI: Barbero, Jiménez, Giménez, Mayor, Ruiz, Serrano, Gómez, Tur, Martín, Losada, Rastrojo
Team news incoming...
Forget El Clásico
That has surely got to be rather a strong message from manager Xavi Hernández going into this potential banana skin. In case you missed it, his Barça players were left for dust in Saudi Arabia by their biggest rivals from the capital, soundly beaten 4-1 in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Some are already questioning the longevity of the Barça (playing) legend's tenure at the helm - maybe forgetting he won the domestic title last season and the financial limitations put upon him - and defeat against lowly Unionistas would add more weight to that argument.
Fans want a piece of Pedri
The young star was part of the travelling squad for this cup game and we'll see soon if he takes his place in the starting line up.
COPA DEL REY
Unionistas - Barcelona: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | Copa del Rey
What's that you say? You want a bunch of coloured pixels dancing around in some type of order that combines to form images of the descriptions I provide for you in words?
Well, you're in luck. Check out this guide that tells you where you can watch the game... in another tab, of course.
Copa del Rey quarters taking shape
The winner of this Game will take the penultimate place in the Copa del Rey quarter final line-up alongside these teams:
Athletic
Sevilla
Celta de Vigo
Real Sociedad
Girona
Mallorca
After the conclusion in Salamanca, be sure to jump straight over to live coverage of the undisputed tie of the round as our Joe brings you Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid. Tasty!
Unionistas vs Barcelona: welcome
Hello and a very warm welcome to you as we get set for a rarely seen clash between Unionistas de Salamanca and Barcelona. The Estadio Municipal Reina Sofía is our host for the evening and many onlookers, not Barça fans mind you, have a Copa del Rey round of 16 upset in mind.
Stay with me for the next couple of hours and we'll discover together if there is more trouble at the door of Xavi Hernández or if it's Business as usual for the big boys.
Club Deportivo Unionistas de Salamanca CF, USL
Fútbol Club Barcelona, BCN
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