Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Ben Hayward

Ibiza vs Barcelona: Lionel Messi rested for Copa del Rey trip

Lionel Messi has been rested for Barcelona's Copa del Rey last-32 tie against Union Deportiva Ibiza on Wednesday.

The Barca captain, who scored his side's only goal in Sunday night's win at home to Granada in LaLiga to hand new coach Quique Setien a winning start, is left out of the squad for the cup clash.

"He has here on the beaches and in the restaurants in the summer," said Ibiza coach Pablo Alfaro ahead of the game. "It would be great to see him here in the winter as well."

But Messi will stay behind in Barcelona, along with Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets.

The Catalan midfielder is suspended in the Copa del Rey from last season.

"I have always liked the Copa," Setien said on Tuesday. "We are going to try to win it, as well as the Champions League and LaLiga."

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.

The new Copa del Rey format this year means ties will be played over one game and not two legs as in previous editions.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.