Valverde's Messi dilemma ahead of Levante comeback attempt

Valverde's Messi dilemma ahead of Levante comeback attempt

Ernesto Valverde y Leo Messi durante la presentación del Barça 2018/19 en los prolegómenos del Trofeo Joan Gamper
Ernesto Valverde y Leo Messi durante la presentación del Barça 2018/19 en los prolegómenos del Trofeo Joan Gamper | EFE

The Barcelona boss has to decide whether to bring the Argentine in on Thursday

Barcelona are preparing for their round-of-16 Copa del Rey second leg against Levante with the aim of overturning a 2-1 defecit from the first leg. Ernesto Valverde has one (relative) dilemma: Will he give those that lost in Valencia the chance to turn things around or will he bet on Lionel Messi and the other heavyweigths to try and book a place in the last eight? 

Valverde will oversee the last training session before the game on Wednesday afternoon, before revealing his squad list. The most likely option is something in the middle, aware that many consider the cup the smallest of the three competitions Barça are in the running for. 

MESSI BALANCE 

MESSI BALANCE The Barça coach's decisions always feature a balance between common sense, the management of a dressing room full of stars and the needs of the game. And Valverde wants to be in the quarterfinals of the cup and maintain the competitive spirit among his players. 

In fact, Valverde already made a gesture towards one of the players criticised in the Copa last week, Philippe Coutinho, who he kept in the side for the LaLiga game against Eibar (3-0). The Brazilian played well. 

For that reason, it's possible he will show confidence in others, like the youngsters Miranda and Chumi, but surround them with players who rested last week, like Gerard Pique. Or in attack, the security of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez after the trial of Ousmane Dembele as a No.9. 

QUALITY FOR ROTATING 

The poor start at Levante and the lack of a shine in phases of the game doesn't hide that Valverde's team is very competitive, especially when coutning on teh 'Messi Factor'. The squad has more quality than previous seasons. 

Cillessen, Semedo, Busquets, Arturo Vidal, Dembele and Coutinho were in the Copa XI and have all shown their quality.

Meanwhile, for the 2-1 at the Ciutat de Valencia, Valverde left out Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Rakitic, Arthur, Luis Suarez and Messi of his starting lineup. Three weeks earlier, eight of those (Sergi Roberto was injured) has beaten Levante 5-0 in LaLiga, with a hat-trick from Messi. 

Even though Valverde may use some players from the first leg -- like Murillo, Denis or even Miranda -- it's difficult to imagine him not making some big changes on Thursday. 

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