MX23RW : Monday, February 22 04:08:23| >> :120:21011:21011:
Jan 24, 2021 at 3.15pm UK at Martinez Valero
ElcheElche
0-2
BarcelonaBarcelona
FT(HT: 0-1)
de Jong (39'), Puig (89')
Busquets (68'), Griezmann (84')

How Barcelona could line up against Elche

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in Sunday's La Liga clash with Elche.

Barcelona's pursuit of the top two in La Liga will continue on Sunday afternoon when they head to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero to take on Elche.

The Catalan giants have won four of their last five in the league, including each of their last three, to rise into third spot in the table, but they are still 10 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

This contest will be Barca's first league match since January 9, and Ronald Koeman's side have lost to Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Spanish Super Cup and beaten Cornella in the Copa del Rey since the clash with Granada, which ended in a 4-0 success.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the visitors could line up on Sunday afternoon.


POSS BAR XI vs. ELC

Out: Lionel Messi (suspension), Ansu Fati (knee), Gerard Pique (knee), Sergi Roberto (muscle), Philippe Coutinho (Knee)
Doubtful: Sergino Dest (thigh)

> Click here for Barcelona's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Barca will again be without the services of Ansu Fati, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto and Philippe Coutinho through injury on Sunday afternoon, while Sergino Dest is a huge doubt with a thigh problem.

The Catalan giants will also be unable to call upon Lionel Messi as the Argentine is suspended due to the red card that he picked up in the Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic.

Messi's absence could open the door for Martin Braithwaite to start alongside Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele in the final third of the field, while Dest's injury issues means that Oscar Mingueza is likely to again be given the nod at right-back.

There will be changes from the team that started against Cornella in the Copa del Rey, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong set to return.

Pedri has been impressive for Barca this season and is also expected to be back in the starting XI, with Trincao, Riqui Puig and Miralem Pjanic likely to drop out from Thursday's clash.

ID:431640:cQx

How you voted: Elche vs Barcelona

Elche
7.8%
Draw
17.2%
Barcelona
75.0%
128
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Junior Firpo in action for Barcelona on December 8, 2020
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico23174245162955
2Real Madrid24164442192352
3Barcelona23145450222847
4Sevilla22143532161645
5Real Sociedad24118541202141
6Villarreal2481333325837
7Real Betis24113103238-636
8Levante2471073433131
9Granada2486102941-1230
10Athletic Bilbao2385103327629
11Celta Vigo247892936-729
12Valencia246993032-227
13Osasuna2367102231-925
14CadizCadiz2467112140-1925
15Getafe2466121730-1324
16AlavesAlaves2457122038-1822
17ElcheElche224992031-1121
18EibarEibar2449111927-821
19Real Valladolid2449112235-1321
20Huesca24310112135-1419

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