Jan 25, 2018 at 8.30pm UK at ​Camp Nou
Barcelona
2-0
Espanyol
Suarez (9'), Messi (25')
Suarez (8'), Messi (27'), Alba (38'), Paulinho (82')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Hermoso (19'), Granero (60'), Garcia (72'), Gomes Pereira (77')

Philippe Coutinho hails "very special" Barcelona debut

Coutinho hails
Philippe Coutinho says that he is "thrilled" to have made his Barcelona debut against Espanyol on Thursday night, but admits to having some nerves before the match.

Philippe Coutinho has thanked Barcelona supporters for making his debut "very special" after coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes of the 2-0 win over Espanyol.

The Brazil international was given his first taste of Camp Nou action in Thursday night's Copa del Rey second-leg tie after shaking off a minor calf injury.

Coutinho, who joined from Liverpool in a £142m deal at the start of the January transfer window, is happy to have got some minutes under his belt and played a part in Barca's 2-1 aggregate triumph.

"For me it's a great night, a very special night," he told reporters at full time. "They are my first minutes with this club and I'm very happy, thrilled.

"The reception I got from the fans and the players left me happy. I was a little anxious, nervous, but the way they all received me left me very calm.

"It's a special night and we've managed to win the game, which is the most important thing. It was a difficult game, as you'd expect, against a team who played well. I think from the first half we controlled the game well and we've deserved to win."

Barcelona will face either Valencia, Sevilla or Leganes in the final four of the domestic cup competition.

Philippe Coutinho's Barcelona shirt pictured on January 6, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona21183059104957
2Atletico MadridAtletico2113713292346
3Valencia21124542251740
4Real Madrid20115443192438
5Villarreal2111463224837
6Sevilla2110382729-233
7Celta Vigo219483830831
8EibarEibar218582633-729
9GironaGirona217772929028
10Getafe217772621528
11Leganes208482021-128
12Athletic Bilbao216962423127
13Real Betis2183103544-927
14Espanyol216691828-1024
15Real Sociedad2165103640-423
16Levante2131081830-1219
17AlavesAlaves2161141731-1419
18Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo2145122446-2217
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2142151650-3414
20Malaga2134141434-2013
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