Copa del Rey: Barcelona defend Luis Suarez after another disappointing night against Atletico Madrid

Barcelona have defended club-record signing Luis Suarez after the former Liverpool man endured another disappointing night in front of goal against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Suarez, who cost the Catalan club £75m when he moved from Merseyside last summer, has managed only five goals in 16 outings with Barca and has failed to reproduce the stunning goalscoring form of his final two seasons at Anfield.

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The Uruguayan laboured against Atletico during his side’s 1-0 Copa del Rey win on Wednesday and wasted a fantastic opportunity in the first half when he fired over the bar after being played in by Ivan Rakitic.

However, Suarez still retains the support of figures at the club, with Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu and coach Luis Enrique confident the goals will start to arrive on a more regular basis for the 27-year-old.

Bartomeu said: "We have very high expectations, he is a great player. He has the support and the affection of the people."

Meanwhile, Enrique added: "Perhaps he didn’t have the fortune to score today but he fixed himself to the centre-backs very well, he gave us solutions, he was a danger near the area. The goals will come, there are no doubts with him."