Intercity vs Barcelona predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey fixture. Read on for analysis as Xavi takes his team to Alicante.
| Date | Wednesday 4th January 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 21:00 (local time) |
| Stadium | José Rico Pérez |
| Competition | Copa Del Rey |
Intercity vs Barcelona Preview
Barcelona head to Alicante this week for a Copa del Rey 3rd Round showdown against Intercity. Xavi’s side enter the competition at this stage and will be strong favourites to progress into the last 16.
Club de Fútbol Intercity were only founded in 2017 so it’s very safe to say that this is the biggest occasion in their short history. They’ve risen quickly through the leagues to take their place in the 2022/23 Primera Federación, the tier below the Segunda División. Intercity have struggled to cope so far though at that level and do lie in the relegation zone as things stand.
They are enjoying a good time of it in the Copa del Rey though. Following a 1-0 win at fourth tier Cirbonero in Round 1, they upset Mirandes of the Segunda 2-0 at home to set up this glamour tie. This will be played at a different venue though with Hercules’ 29,500 capacity Estadio José Rico Pérez in the city of Alicante providing the setting and that will most likely aid their opponents chances of avoiding a shock.
Barcelona do have considerably more squad depth this season than in recent years following their big summer spend and may use this game to allow some of their World Cup stars a chance to get their first minutes of 2023. Xavi will want a response too after a disappointing draw at home to Espanyol in LaLiga on Friday which allowed Real Madrid to join them on 38 points at the top of the table.
Winning at least one trophy is a major priority between now and June for Xavi and Barcelona and this is clearly one competition they have a good chance in. The 2020/21 Copa was the last time the Catalans got their hands on silverware and in theory this tie should offer them relatively smooth passage into the Last 16.
Score Prediction: Intercity 0-3 Barcelona
Playing this game away from Intercity’s tiny regular ground in a much larger stadium does play into Barcelona’s hands to a large extent and it’s hard to make much of a case for Intercity here. The visitors have sufficient quality in depth to rotate their team and still seal a Last 16 place.
PLEASE NOTE – Our Copa del Rey predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.
