Preview: Cordoba vs. Barcelona

La Liga leaders Barcelona travel to Segunda Division outfit Cordoba on Wednesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey fifth-round clash in Andalusia.

The home side have beaten Elche, Sabadell and Real Sociedad to advance to this stage of the competition, but they are currently struggling for form in their domestic league.

A run of five games without a win has seen them drop into 11th spot in the table, but they will attempt to provide one of the all-time shocks against an understrength Catalan outfit.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are enjoying their best ever start to a league season and they currently top the standings having won 14 of their 15 La Liga matches this season.

They have lifted the Copa del Rey on 26 occasions and are the current holders having beaten Athletic Bilbao in the final of the competition last season.

The home side will be without Cristian Ramos through suspension, but Gaspar Galvez and Jose Fernandez are both expected to start in a strong team.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will make changes, but Alexis Sanchez is expected to make his first start since returning from injury.

Recent form

Cordoba: LLDDD Barcelona: WWWDW

Possible lineups

Cordoba: Alberto; Garcia, Gaspar, Kiko, Fernandez; Silva, Gomez, Garai, Dubarbier; Vico, Patino

Barcelona: Valdes; Montoya, Song, Puyol, Planas; Thiago, Busquets, Roberto; Sanchez, Villa, Tello

Sports Mole says: 1-3