Football news - Clement Lenglet nets late winner for Barcelona in Copa del Rey

Clement Lenglet scored a late winner as Barcelona claimed an unconvincing 1-0 win over third tier Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey.

Ernesto Valverde rang the changes following the weekend win over Real Madrid in El Clasico, with Munir El Haddadi, Malcom, Sergi Samper, Arturo Vidal and Jasper Cillessen among those handed a start for the away trip.

Samper’s game didn’t last long, with the 23-year-old withdrawn in the first half through injury as Barcelona struggled to make their superiority tell against a Cultural Leonesa side who created a handful of opportunities to take the lead.

But it was substitute Lenglet who got the winner, getting on the end of an Ousmane Dembele freekick delivery to squeeze home a header at the back post. With a second leg still to be played at Camp Nou, Barca can probably start planning for the last 16 of the competition.

The Brazilian has reportedly called for game time having failed to make an impression at Barcelona since making the move from Bordeaux in the summer. This was a chance for Malcom to make his mark, but he struggled to do that. Against lower league opposition, the winger was easily kept up wraps. It didn’t bode well for his Barca career, which might well be over before it even started. Rumours of a January exit are building.

He didn’t start the match, coming off the bench to replace the injured Sergi Samper, but ultimately, Carles Alena made the difference for Barcelona. The Catalans struggled to take a grip of the game before his introduction and with Alena on the pitch they looked to take control. Alena still hasn’t been given his league debut by Valverde, but on this basis it won’t be long before he is performing on that stage.

Cultural Leonesa: Palatsi 6, Saul 7, Nicho 6, Ivan 5, Bernal 6, Vicente 6, Sergio 7, Liberto 5, Zelu 7, Ortiz 8, Aridane 88. Subs - Alonso 5, Roberto 6.

Barcelona - Cillessen 7, Semedo 5, Cuenca 6, Chumi 6, Miranda 7, Vidal 5, Samper 6, Denis 5, Dembele 8, Munir 6, Malcom 5. Subs - Arthur 6, Lenglet 7, Alena 8.

11’ Aridane draws the save! Semedo gives up the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, giving Aridane the chance to shoot on goal. But with the ball heading for the far corner of the net Cillessen makes the diving save.

32’ Samper injury! Barcelona are going to be forced into an early change here. Samper has slumped to the turf and the midfielder will have to come off. Injuries have plagued him.

75’ What a double save! Cillessen keeps the score level! First, the Dutchman makes the save from a corner kick at the near post, then he makes a stunning save to deny Saul from the edge of the box!

91’ GOAL! Cultural Leonesa 0-1 Barcelona: It's a late winner for Barcelona! Finally, Dembele comes up with a moment of quality, finding the run of Lenglet at the back post and the French centre back squeezes the header into the back of the net! Barca have the win, surely.

92’ SENT OFF! Cultural Leonesa will finish this match with 10 men as Marcos is shown a late red card.