MADRID, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona and its coach Xavi Hernandez face a vital test on Thursday night when they visit the singular Unionistas de Salamanca in their last-16 tie in the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona travels to play the team that play in the RFEF I (third category of the Spanish game) after it was comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Real Madrid in the final of the Supercup in Saudi Arabia on Sunday night.

Real Madrid's superiority over a Barca side that looked sluggish in midfield and attack and chaotic in defense, hasn't set alarm bells ringing, because they were ringing before the game, it has merely increased their volume, as it starkly exposed the problems in Xavi's side.

Xavi is in a no-win situation on Thursday, if his side qualifies for the quarterfinals against a rival two levels below it, it is merely fulfilling expectations of what a top-flight team should do. If it loses, however, it would mean the end of its most realistic chance of winning a title this season and the humiliation could see Xavi sacked.

The Barca coach has a long injury list to contend with, as Inigo Martinez, Raphinha, Gavi, Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Joao Cancelo and Marcos Alonso are all sidelined.

Xavi's main task is to sort out a defense which looked to hold a high-line on Sunday, but lacked coordination, with Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo both struggling and with Kounde looking very unhappy at right back.

The coach could move Andreas Christensen into midfield to give more bite, which would give Frenkie de Jong more freedom of movement and allow Roberto to play on the right and Kounde in the middle of defense.

Fermin Lopez will get another chance in an attacking midfield role, while Ferran Torres is likely to start in attack with Robert Lewandowski rested for a difficult league game against Betis at the weekend.

Unionistas are full of confidence for the game after knocking Villarreal out of the last round after a penalty shootout.

The club works as a grassroots democratic cooperative after being formed by a group of supporters in 2013 following the demise of the historic UD Salamanca for economic reasons.

Unionistas are run by the "criteria of popular, transparent and democratic principles," which mean that every one of its 3,000 plus club members votes on major decisions, while 50 unpaid volunteers help organize events and look after their training ground and Reina Sofia Stadium. Enditem

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