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Copa del Rey, fourth round first leg

A depleted Barcelona line-up made up of reserves and B team players could only draw 0-0 at second division B side Villanovense in their first leg tie, although they will be expected to make it through to the next round when the two teams meet again in the Nou Camp later this year. The fixture was brought forward by six weeks or so to free up time for Barça’s participation in the Club World Cup in December, and although Luis Enrique left all of his star players at home, the population of the small town of Villanova de la Serena in Extremadura turned out en masse. In the end though it was a dull game, Munir and Sandro wasting the best chances for the visitors, and Calatrava hitting the bar for the part-timers shortly before the break. The fans didn’t mind however, and they cheered their players off the pitch at the end. The record books will show that their boys drew against the reigning European champions! (28.10.15)