Barcelona have confirmed their squad for Sunday's La Liga contest against Valencia at Camp Nou.
As expected, the Catalan outfit will again be without the services of Ousmane Dembele, Pedri and Robert Lewandowski due to hamstring problems, while Gavi is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up in the 1-0 defeat at Almeria in the league last weekend.
Andreas Christensen had emerged as a doubt for the match when an ankle problem prevented him from being used against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night.
However, the Denmark international has been named in the squad for this match and is expected to start in the middle of the defence alongside Jules Kounde.
"Christensen will be ready for tomorrow. Lewandowski has improved and is feeling well. Pedri and Dembele are continuing their own recovery," Barcelona boss Xavi said during Saturday's press conference.
© Reuters
The absences have left the Catalan outfit short of options in the final third of the field, meaning that both Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres could be in the starting lineup against Valencia, who are down in 18th position in the table, having collected just 23 points from 23 matches this term.
"We expect a Valencia that'll defend well. They have gained in aggressiveness and intensity and we hope to be more dominant, create more scoring chances and it's clear that we have to win," added Xavi when asked about the challenge facing his side this weekend.
"It is another final for us. It's very important to win against Valencia. We want to go ten points clear before the Real Madrid match."
Xavi also hit back at criticism of his team's performance against Real Madrid on Thursday, with an own goal from Eder Militao handing Barcelona a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.
"There is always noise around Barcelona. You have to know how to manage it from the inside," said the manager.
© Reuters
"From the outside, I don't know but from the inside our analysis that Madrid pushed us a lot, and we don't want that. We were not able to maintain possession, but in big games, the opponent can sometimes dominate you.
"We see to have possessions of 60, 70, or even 80%. But without the ball, we were very good. Barcelona is the toughest club in the world.
"You win 0-1 at the Bernabeu, and some are not convinced. If it happens to another team, it will be a national holiday. In Barcelona, you have to win and maintain 70% possession."
Xavi will not be on the touchline against Valencia on Sunday, as the 43-year-old picked up a milestone booking during Barcelona's 1-0 defeat at Almeria in the league last weekend.
Barcelona squad vs. Valencia:
Ter Stegen, Tenas, Pena; Araujo, Christensen, Alonso, Alba, E Garcia, Kounde, Balde; Busquets, Kessie, Roberto, F de Jong, Torre; Fati, F Torres, Raphinha, Alarcon, Estanis
No Data Analysis info
