Barcelona to start Copa del Rey title defense away to third tier Guadalajara

MADRID, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Reigning Copa del Rey holder FC Barcelona will start its title defense campaign when Hansi Flick's side visits third tier Guadalajara in the third round of the tournament on Tuesday night.

Barcelona will make changes to the starting 11 that faced Osasuna on Saturday, with players such as Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez all likely to start, while Marc Andre Ter-Stegen could make his first appearance following his back operation in the summer.

Robert Lewandowski was an unused substitute in Saturday's 2-0 win, but is a doubt with a slight physical problem.

Guadalajara plays in the RFEF I division and lost 3-1 to Real Madrid's B-team on the weekend.

On Wednesday, Real Madrid travels to Talavera, who plays in the same division as Guadalajara.

On Thursday, Atletico Madrid visits Atletico Baleares (the side that knocked out Espanyol in the last round) and Athletic Bilbao travels to play an Ourense side that has already beaten top-flight rivals, Oviedo and Girona. ■