Barcelona team news: Coutinho benched for Copa del Rey match against Valencia

Philippe Coutinho will start from the bench as Barcelona face Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at Camp Nou on Thursday.

The January signing from Liverpool made his Barcelona debut off the bench against Espanyol in the cup last week, before making his first start against Alaves in La Liga on Sunday. 

Coutinho missed three weeks with a thigh injury after signing for Barca, with his benching possibly an attempt to ease the 25-year-old back into action. 

Elsewhere, Thomas Vermaelen misses out after aggravating a hamstring injury.

Barcelona are the defending champions and reached the semi-final this season by beating Murcia, Celta Vigo and Espanyol.

Valencia, meanwhile, got past Zaragoza, Las Palmas and Alaves en route to this stage of the competition.

Barcelona XI: Cillessen; Vidal, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Roberto; L. Suarez, Messi.

Subs: Ter Stegen, Alcacer, Paulinho, Coutinho, Digne, Mina, D. Suarez.

Valencia XI: Jaume; Montoya, Vezo, Gabriel, Gaya; Soler, Coquelin, Parejo, Andreas; Rodrigo, Vietto.

Subs: Neto, Zaza, Ferran, Lato, Maksimovic, Vidal, Mina