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”Don’t Rule Us Out” Martino

Barcelona hope to put their La Liga difficulties to one side in the Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg against Real Sociedad on Wednesday.

They lost 2-3 on Saturday – their first defeat in two months – as Atletico Madrid went top of the league following their 4-0 win over Sociedad.

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino says ”Forty-five minutes of bad play is not enough to rule out Barca”

“It is true that crises always have a beginning so it is up to us to cut it short,” coach Gerardo Martino said.

“We have it within our power to ensure this does not go any further.”

Club captain Carles Puyol, along with defender Martin Montoya, winger Ibrahim Afellay and forward Isaac Cuenca, are named in his 22-man squad after missing the Valencia game.

Brazil forward Neymar returned to training on Monday for the first time since injuring his ankle last month, but is still not expected to play for another two weeks.