Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Copa del Rey clash between Real Murcia and Barcelona. We'll bring you all the action as it happens. Kick off is at 8.30pm.

OFF THE LINE! The opportunity for Barcelona was the result of a dangerous cross into the penalty area, with a Real Murcia defender clearing the shot from Denis off the line. So close.

As I mentioned earlier, Alcacer has been linked with a move to the Premier League in the January transfer window. That could be best for both Barcelona and for the player himself.

Oh dear. I've just been told that Alcacer has touched the ball for the first time in the match... after 19 minutes. The former Valencia striker is such a misfit in this Barca side.

This is also a significant chance for Deulofeu to make a real impression. There's a place up for grabs in this Barcelona team, on the right side, and he's one of the contenders for that spot.

For the moment, Real Murcia are holding their own against Barcelona. As you might expect, the visitors have had more of the ball, but they haven't done all that much with it.

This is an opportunity for Digne to make a claim for a starting place. The feeling is that there isn't much between the Frenchman and Alba, who tends to be Valverde's choice at left back.

Of course, Barcelona have made a strong start to the Liga season, currently sitting top of the table by four points. But is the Copa del Rey a competition that is a priority this season?

CROSS FROM DIGNE! The Barcelona left back did well to turn his marker, get to the byline and play a cross to the front post, but Alcacer just couldn't get on the end of it.

There are still a number of established Barcelona players in this team. Denis is one of those. He has become a key player for Valverde this season. He's forced his way into the team.

Of course, there is a second leg which will be played a month later. Many argue that the two-legged format should be scrapped as it means less upsets. I can their point. It preserves the status quo.

That's a warning for Barcelona. They have been on the end of humiliating results in the Copa del Rey before. Murcia have just shown that they can cause them some problems.

CHANCE FOR THE HOSTS! The flag stayed down with Oritz making a run from deep to get in behind the Barcelona defence, but he puts his shot high of the target when he should have scored.

However, the biggest team news this evening is that Vermaelen has been given a starting place in the side. To be honest, I had forgotten that was even still at Barcelona!

As you might have guessed on the basis of the last scoring opportunity for Barcelona, Alena is starting for the Catalans this evening. Of course, he's very highly rated at the club.

ALENA SURGES THROUGH! This has been a relatively strong start to the match by Barcelona. This time it's the youngster Alena who tries to break his way through the defence.

Indeed, this is a second string Barcelona team with Messi given a rest. Alcacer is the one leading the line for the Catalans. He's been recently linked with a move to Southampton.

DEULOFEU DRIBBLE! The former AC Milan and Everton man takes on one, two, three opposition defenders and is eventually stopped just as he was about to pull the trigger on goal.

A reminder of the form Barcelona are in at the moment...

Valverde has made a number of changes for this match, as you might expect given the competition and the standard of the opposition. Cillessen, for one, has been handed a spot.

The match is under way! It's Real Murcia against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey!