Aleña saves Barcelona from embarrassment against Hercules in Copa del Rey

Carles Aleña rescued a draw for Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey tie against Hercules on Wednesday. 

The third tier side took a surprise second half lead through David Mainz, but Aleña, making his second official start for Barça if you include the Catalan Super Cup, equalised moments later. 

Given the ball 30 yards out, the 18-year-old lifted his head and fired the ball into the bottom corner with his impressive left foot. 

Aleña was one of few positives on another disappointing night as Luis Enrique's side were held to a draw for the third time in their last four games. 

With Lionel Messi and the majority of the Blaugrana's regulars left in Barcelona, an experimental team was named in Alicante. 

There were starts for B team players Aleña, Borja Lopez and Alex Carbonell, while Aleix Vidal returned to the team and Paco Alcacer, in search of his first goal, started up front. 

Despite the lure of Barça, the lack of stars on show, the 10pm kick off local time and the cost of tickets kept a number of home supporters away. 

They didn't miss much in a goalless first half which may have sent many viewers to sleep. 

Hercules, perhaps, had the better chances, although they were happy to give the possession to Barça and force them to break them down. 

And the hosts took a deserved lead soon after the interval -- although there was some questionable defending involved. 

Vidal allowed a cross to come in from the right, Samuel Umtiti missed the ball with a diving header, Borja decided to leave it and Lucas Digne let Mainz tap in at the far post unchallenged. 

Before there was a chance to moan, though, Barça were level when Aleña unleashed from distance. 

The Catalan side had chances to win it: A Vidal cross was taken off Alcacer's boot and substitute Andre Gomes sent a free header straight at goalkeeper Ivan Buigues, who then forced a Marc Cardona shot behind for a corner.  

Omgba headed over at the other end after back-to- back Hercules corners, but neither side was to find a winner. 

Luis Enrique may have to select a stronger squad for the return leg at Camp Nou at the end of December if he doesn't want to risk crashing out of a competition his side have won for the last two season. 

Hercules: Buigues; Dalmau, Roman, Rojas, Peña; Omgba, Pedro Ingles, Gaspar (Chechu), Juanma; Salinas (Miñano), Mainz (Berrocal).

Barcelona: Cillessen, Vidal, Umtiti (Nili), Borja, Digne, Rafinha, Denis, Arda, Carbonell (Gomes), Aleña (Cardona), Alcacer.