Linares Deportivo v Barcelona Live Commentary & Result, 5/1/22, Copa del Rey

That's all from us, we'll see you for the next game. For now though, it's goodbye.

That close victory sends Barca through to the next round. With only 16 teams left after this round of fixtures, Xavi's side will be hoping that they can win the tournament again for a second successive year, although they won't forget the stern test that Linares put them through in this game.

Ousmane Dembele completely changed the game after coming on, and finished it with a goal and a key pass, from seven shots, with three on target. He was also fouled three times, showing the impact he had upon both sides after being introduced at half-time.

A fantastic cup tie comes to an end, with holders Barcelona just sneaking through! Hosts Linares gave a fantastic account of themselves, and thoroughly deserved their lead, that they held onto deservedly until substitute Dembele equalised! Jutgla quickly got the winner soon after but Barca were really made to work for that result, and they will progress knowing that they can't take any team for granted in this season's Copa del Rey!

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: LINARES DEPORTIVO 1-2 BARCELONA.

90' + 2' Dani Alves has been impressive on his second Barcelona debut, completing six key passes and seven good crosses, as well as winning three fouls, all highs in this match.

90' We'll play three more minutes of additional time at the end of this second half.

David Luna

Sanchidrián

88' Sanchidrian has had an impressive game for the hosts, and comes off for David Luna.

Luis Castillo

Jon Etxaniz

88' Etxaniz is subbed back off after an injury, and Luis Castillo comes on in his place.

87' WIDE!!! Alves finds Alba down the left, who in turn links up with Alvaro inside the box. He has time to shoot and does so, dragging his effort just wide of the post!

85' Dembele loses possession and Barbosa breaks for the hosts, teeing up Carracedo to cross. He floats a pass across goal, but it's cleared, before Rodri's header back towards goal is gratefully gathered by Neto.

84' Some good link-up play from Barca gives Alba space to cross, but his pass for Jutgla is cut out and intercepted by the homne side's defenders.

82' WIDE!!! Carracedo's goes close again, dispossessing Mingueza before shooting from the edge of the box! This effort isn't as accurate though, and flies just wide of Neto's left-hand post!

80' Thos game has really opened up now. Barca are getting increasingly more freedom every time they come forward, but the breaks of Linares are still looking dangerous, if less frequent, and with just one goal in it, this game is far from decided.

78' OFF THE BAR!!! Barca win possession and Dembele glides into the area, shooting hard and high as his effort smashes the crossbar and goes behind!

76' Alba looks for the late run of Dani Alves into the box, but Barbosa nips in front of the Barca man to clear right at the last!

75' OFF THE POST!!! Carracedo cuts inside from the left and unleashes a shot from the edge of the box, and his curling effort cracks against the top of the post with Neto beaten! What an equaliser that would've been!

Álvaro Sanz

F. de Jong

74' De Jong is substituted just 29 minutes since coming on, and Alvaro Sanz replaces him.

73' Barca break and the ball comes to Dembele, who cuts inside on his way to goal. From a similar position to his equaliser, he shoots low for the bottom corner, but Razak is equal to this one and gets down to hold the shot.

71' The already-booked De Jong brings down Copete on the right with a cynical challenge, but isn't given another card by the referee who blows for the free-kick.

Jon Etxaniz

Hugo Díaz

70' Linares' opening goalscorer Diaz is withdrawn, and fellow striker Jon Etxaniz will come on for him.

Nico González

Assist

69' Gonzalez led that break for Barca, and after finding Jutgla out wide, could just sit back and watch as his fellow youngster did the rest to put Barca a goal to the good!

Ferran Jutglà

Goal

69' GOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!! Barca have turned it around!!! The Blaugrana counter and Jutgla cuts inside before racing into the box. He creates shooting space, and curls an effort beyond the reach of Razak to make it 2-1 to the away side!

68' Barbosa plays two one-twos and is put through down the left, but his cross from the byline finds no-one and Barca survive!

68' WIDE!!! Barca come back up the other end, and Jutgla fires a shot across the face of goal that is just inches wide of the post!

67' BALL IN THE NET!!! The Linares corner is swung in, and Guerrero comes back to head it goalwards and in!!! The flag is up, and it won't count, but that looked like a legitimate goal that without a VAR review, will remain chalked off!

65' CHANCE!!! Alba whips in a cross to the near post, and Razak has to divert the ball behind after Gonzalez got a touch on the ball to send it goalwards!

Óscar Mingueza

Assist

63' Mingueza gets the assist, but that was all Dembele, and although Razak probably should've done better with that shot, it's exactly what the France winger was brought off the bench to do!

O. Dembélé

Goal

63' GOOOAAAALLLL!!!! It's the curse of the commentator as Barca equalise! Dembele beats a challenge and shoots from the edge of the box, and his low curling effort beats Razak to make it 1-1! Game on!

62' Although they've introcuded three subsittutes, Barca's play, particularly in attack, looks very clunky indeed. Alba cuts inside and shoots from distance, but his weak-footed effort is high and wide of the intended target.

60' The hosts aren't tiring at all, and Mingueza is pressed so far back that he's forced into a long clearance, which deflects off the goalscorer Diaz and goes behind for a Barca goal kick.

Lolo Guerrero

Yellow Card

58' Guerrero was having some stern words with the referee after that foul, and is also given a yellow for dissent.

F. de Jong

Yellow Card

58' De Jong slides into Razak as he chases a long ball and is penalised, receiving quite a soft yellow card in the process.

57' Carracedo cuts inside Alves and Mingueza before shooting from 20 yards, and it's a decent effort that Neto catches in the top corner of the goal.

Cristian Carracedo

Álex Meléndez

56' Melendez is also withdrawn for the hosts, and Cristian Carracedo comes on for him.

Migue Marín

Fran Carnicer

56' Carnicer comes off in Linares' first change, and Miguel Marin enters the action.

56' OVER!!! Dani Alves whips in the free-kick, and Dembele rises at the back post to head over a looping effort!

55' Carnicer bundles Dembele to the ground about 30 yards from goal, and the visitors have a free-kick from quite a dangerous position.

53' Dembele crosses from the right, and the ball takes a slight deflection off Barbosa on its way into the waiting arms of Razak.

51' Dembele almost takes the ball out of play as he progresses up the right-hand side, before being brought down by Carnicer for a Barca free-kick.

49' The substitutes are already looking to put their stamp on things for Barca. De Jong and Pique have already solidified the midfield and defence, whilst the home defence appears to be very wary of Dembele's presence out wide for the Blaugrana.

47' WIDE!!! An early Barca chance sees Alba cross from the left. Gonzalez just misses it, and the ball rolls just past the outside of the far post!

Piqué

R. Araujo

46' Araujo is the third Barca player to be withdrawn at half-time, and Gerard Pique comes on for him.

F. de Jong

Riqui Puig

46' Xavi also brings off Puig, with Frenkie de Jong coming on for him.

O. Dembélé

Ilias Akhomach

46' Ilias comes off at half-time, and Ousmane Dembele will start the second half.

The second half kicks off, and this cup tie is far from over!

The teams head back out for the second half, and this one is Linares' to lose if Barca don't up their game!

Guerrero has been simply exceptional at the back for Linares so far, and has pulled off two interceptions, three tackles and six clearances, as well as completing 80 per cent of his duels, more than any other player for the hosts.

It's a half-time scoreline that makes for grim reading if you're a Barcelona fan, as they've been thoroughly second-best at times to a Linares side who have taken their chances! The hosts' opener was a well-worked move that they capitalised on, and Barca are yet to produce a reply of the same quality! The holders need to improve if they're to advance to the next round, but Linares won't give up their lead without a fight!

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: LINARES DEPORTIVO 1-0 BARCELONA.

45' + 1' WIDE!!!! Barca come forward in numbers and Mingueza crosses from deep. It's a good ball, but falls to an unsuspecting Alba whose half-volley is weak and rolls behind the goal! He could've hit that with much more force if he'd seen it coming!

45' We'll play an additional minute of added time at the end of this first-half.

44' WIDE!!!! Alba looks to create shooting space for himself before being dispossessed, but Garcia unleashes a well-placed finish that Razak has to tip around the base of the post to keep out!

42' Ilias crosses from the right, and finds Puig in the box. He strikes a volley whilst on the run, but the effort is anything but on target as it lands deep in the stands near the corner flag at the Linajeros.

41' It's hard to say that Linares haven't been the better team so far. Their attacks have been less frequent, but more potent, than Barca's, and although the third-tier side will undoubtedly tire in the second-half, Barca will still need to raise their game if they're to reverse this scoreline.

39' CHANCE!!! The face-masked Josema surges forward on the break and finds Sanchidrian out wide. His cross for the centre-back is good, and Araujo has to stick out a leg to divert the ball behind and concede the corner!

37' Puig plays Gonzalez through, and gets the ball back after the forward is crowded out. He looks for another defence-splitting pass but can't find one, and his eventual shot is high and wide of the Linares goal.

36' CHANCE!!! Barca create an overlap down the left and Alba crosses once more. Razak's in no man's land as his defenders panic, before Josema heads the ball behind for a Barca corner!

34' BLOCKED!!! Alba is put through into the box and crosses from the byline. It falls to Gonzalez, whose effort looks good, but it's blocked by Josema and flies out for a throw!

32' Barca may be maintaining an eye-wateringly high possession rate of 82 per cent, but that hasn't yet helped them reverse this scoreline and as things stand, the Copa del Rey champions are heading out of the competition!

31' Araujo drives forward and unleashes a shot from 25 yards, but his low drive is well wide of Razak's goal as it heads behind for a goal kick.

29' It's almost a catastrophic effort from Dani Alves, who leaves a high ball to bounce behind him. It falls to Diaz, who volleys on the turn, but luckily the effort is poor and the ball goes wide of the target!

28' WIDE!!! Alba finds Ferran inside, and the forward looks to curl an effort from the edge of the box. It's a good finish, but doesn't curl enough to find the corner as it sneaks around the outside of the post!

27' Linares break forward off a sloppy Barca pass, and have an overlap, but Copete's wide ball is sluggish and Araujo gets back to re-win possession for the Blaugrana.

25' SAVED! Puig lays off Gonzalez, who shoots from 20 yards, but his low effort is well held by Razak in the Linares goal!

23' Ilias snakes through two challenges and drives into the box, but his cut-back is again met by Guerrero who clears his lines once more!

22' Dani Alves sneaks through the defence and cuts back a lofted cross from the byline, but Guerrero heads the ball clear before it can fall to Jutgla.

21' The atmosphere is rapturous in this 10,000-seater stadium after that opener, and the home side really have their tails up now!

Fran Carnicer

Assist

19' That ball from Carnicer was perfectly placed for Diaz, and the veteran striker's header left Neto with no chance!

Hugo Díaz

Goal

19' GOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!! WOW!!!! Linares have the opener!!! Carnicer has it on the right, and places a fantastic cross right into the six-yard box. Diaz beats his man to connect with the ball, and diverts a brilliant low header into the bottom corner to make it 1-0! An upset of epic proportions is on the cards here!

18' WIDE!!!! Alves finds Gonzalez with an inside ball, who sends Ilias through into the box. He shoots low and beats Razak, but the ball rollsa agonisingly wide of the left-hand post! The best chance for Barca so far!

16' Gonzalez looks to create shooting space inside the Linares box, but overhits a pass to Puig that is cut out by Rodri on the edge of the area.

15' Perejon looks to break for Linares and carries the ball up the field, but he's crowded out by Araujo, Busquets and Puig, with the latter coming away with the ball for Barca.

13' A poor Puig pass is cut out and lands at the feet of Carnicer, but his effort from distance is wayward to say the least, and flies almost out of the stadium after passing well over the top of Neto's goal.

12' A long, cross-field ball from Araujo looka for the run of Mingueza, but it's too far for the Barca right-back and goes out for a throw-in deep in Linares' territory.

10' Sanchidrian beats two players and loops a high cross into the area. It's a good-looking ball, but Dani Alves is back to cut it out and clear for the Blaugrana.

8' Barca look to have created a positive attacking move, but Alba's cut-back to the edge of the box is poor and the home side easily intercept, breaking forward through Melendez.

6' WIDE!!! In swings the corner, and Araujo rises highest at the front post. His flicked header is heading for the far corner, but rolls just a fraction wide of the post!

5' Alba races down the left to be put through, but his cross for the unmarked Jutgla is put out for a corner by Guerrero for Linares.

3' Melendez procudes a good cross from the right-wing after playing a one-two with his captain Rodri, however Neto is out to catch the ball and quash the chance.

1' Barca kick-off, and we're up and running in this game!

The teams both make their way out onto the pitch at the Estadio de Linarejos, and this Copa del Rey fixture will be underway shortly!

That inexperienced Barca front-line will be bolstered by the return to the club of their legendary right-back Dani Alves, who starts in midfield as he makes his 392nd appearance for the Blaugrana - his first since leaving for Juventus in 2016.

Ghanian international goalkeeper Brimah Razak is protected by two banks of four in Linares' flat 4-4-2 formation, as the home side look to keep out a relatively untested Barcelona front three, that has an average age of less than 20.

BARCELONA SUBS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gerard Pique, Ousmane Dembele, Frenkie de Jong, Inaki Pena, Alvaro Sanz, Amau Comas, Guillem Jaime, Estanis Pedrola, Mika Marmol.

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Neto; Oscar Mingueza, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba; Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets, Riqui Puig; Nicolas Gonzalez, Ilias Chakkour, Ferran Jutgla.

LINARES DEPORTIVO SUBS: Ernestas Juskevicius, David Luna, Miguel Marin, Jon Etxaniz, Luis Castillo, Fede Olivera, Cristian Carracedo, Juan Lorente, Antonio Jesus Canete.

LINARES DEPORTIVO (4-4-2): Brimah Razak; Daniel Perejon, Lolo Guerrero, Josema, Alvaro Barbosa; Ruben Sanchidrian, Rodri, Alejandro Melendez, Fran Carnicer; Hugo Diaz, Fernando Copete.

Holders Barca have had a mixed season in the league so far, and so ensuring they do well in the Copa del Rey, a tournament they have won in five of the past seven seasons, will be paramount for Xavi and his players.

Recently promoted to the third tier of Spanish football, Linares take on the most successful side in Copa del Rey history, Barcelona, as they look to progress beyond the round of 32 for the first time in their history.

Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this Copa del Rey clash, between Linares Deportivo and Barcelona.

Linares Deportivo v Barcelona Live Commentary, 6/1/22

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