Barcelona must overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit when they host Levante on Thursday at Nou Camp, if they want to reach the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Ernesto Valverde meanwhile, has revealed that the club are working on potential signings in January.

“The message from the club and the directors board is to always try to reinforce what we have,” he said.

“To reinforce the players we have because they are the ones responsible to move us forward.

“We are all, the directors board, the club and the players that at certain moments we must try to improve what we have if we have the possibility to do so. But if we can’t then we won’t.”

The four-time defending champions are expected to have some key players back in their starting line-up, after they were rested during the first leg.

Lionel Messi, who scored his 400th league goal on Sunday is one who could return.

Early goals from Erick Cabaco and Borja Mayoral put Levante ahead in the first leg, with the Catalan side scoring their solitary goal – a penalty – through Philippe Coutinho five minutes from time.

Barcelona thrashed Levante 5-0 when they two sides faced in other in the Spanish La Liga in December.