A second-half stoppage time goal from Clement Lenglet earned Barcelona a 1-0 victory over Cultural Leonesa in the first leg of the Copa del Rey Round of 32 on a chilly Wednesday night at the Estadio Reino de Leon in Leon.
Barcelona's attack never really got going against the Segunda B side until the final 10 minutes, and an Ousmane Dembele free kick in the waning minutes was headed in by Lenglet to hand the Catalonians the narrow advantage in the tie. Despite the win, a heavily rotated Barcelona was largely anaemic and it was not until Arthur's late inclusion did the visitors finally kick into gear against a very brave and spirited Cultural Leonesa that had their share of chances.
Barcelona managed used the occasion to field some Barcelona B players, like Cuena, Chumi, Miranda in defence and Sergi Samper in midfield. Meanwhile, fringe players like Denis Suarez and Malcolm also enjoyed rare starts. Cultural came out looking to do damage to their illustrious guests and a Semedo blunder deep in the Barcelona half gifted Zelu a chance, but stopper Jasper Cillessen was alert and made the stretch save.
Valverde's night got a bit more complicated shortly after the half-hour mark when Samper was forced to withdraw early with an injury and was replaced by fellow youngster Carles Alena. Barcelona's attack was stale, as none of the reserve players were making the most of their time on the pitch. It was the same story to start the second half. Valverde's men were sloppy and with each minute that passed, the hosts grew in confidence, reflected in Alena's careless giveaway in the middle of the pitch that almost led to a Jorge Ortiz goal.
Barcelona supporters had to wait until the 71st minute before their team even registered a shot on goal, and it was a fairly weak one at that with Alena firing right at Cultural goalkeeper Palatsi. If there was a goal to be scored, it looked more likely to come from Cultural. Moments after a corner kick hit the post, Cillessen had to make a lightning-quick reaction save on a long-range bullet from Saul.
Valverde made his last change in the final 10 minutes, hauling off the ineffective Malcom and replacing him with Arthur to exert some control over the midfield. Barcelona were a better side with the former Gremio man, and the Catalonians finally put a scare into Palatsi when a knockdown header from Alena fell perfectly for Munir, but the shot was well over the crossbar.
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Barcelona kept pugging away in hopes of a winner and it would come in stoppage time, as a Dembele free-kick was hit perfectly for the onside Lenglet, whose header squeezed in between the post and the diving Palatsi to give Barcelona the 1-0 triumph.
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Source: Marca