Valverde Shifts Barca Focus To Copa Del Rey

Ernesto Valverde has shifted Barcelona’s focus to Wednesday’s Copa del Rey clash with Sevilla following their 2-0 win over Girona.

Goals from Nelson Semedo and Lionel Messi helped Barca to a relatively routine success at the Montilivi and the result has re-established their five-point advantage at the top of the La Liga standings.

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The Blaugrana will now turn their attention to the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie at the Camp Nou later this week and they have work to do if they are to progress, as Sevilla won the first leg in Andalucia 2-0 last week.

Barca have won the Copa del Rey in each of the last four seasons and Valverde is fully focused on prolonging their stay in this year’s competition beyond Wednesday night.

“A win today was a very important step, but now our focus is on Wednesday,” Valverde told Catalan radio station Carrusel Deportivo.

“We made changes (for the first leg) as did Girona (for their game against Real Madrid), and yes we do have three games in six days, but our interest now, is in the Copa.”

Valverde is likely to name a strong starting line-up against Sevilla, with the likes of Messi and Sergio Busquets, both of whom were rested for the first leg, expected to feature.