Barcelona will be without the services of eight first-team players for Saturday's La Liga clash with Alaves.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Marcos Alonso, Raphinha, Alejandro Balde, Sergi Roberto, Joao Felix and Ferran Torres are the players to miss out for the Catalan outfit this weekend.
However, there is a piece of positive news on the injury front, as Inigo Martinez has been declared fit following a muscular problem, with the Spain international named in the squad for the game with Alaves.
Pau Victor and Marc Guiu have benefitted from the absences in the final third of the field to be included, while Unai Hernandez and Marc Casado are also among those to be selected.
There had been some concern over the fitness of Lamine Yamal following the 1-0 win over Osasuna on Wednesday evening, but the 16-year-old is again in the squad and likely to start.
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Head coach Xavi announced in the aftermath of the 5-3 home defeat to Villarreal last weekend that he would be standing down as head coach at the end of the campaign.
Barcelona managed to return to winning ways against Osasuna, though, with Vitor Roque, who arrived at the club last month, coming off the bench to register.
The reigning champions are fourth in the La Liga table, level on points with third-placed Atletico Madrid but 10 points behind the leaders Real Madrid on the same number of games (22).
"It's a difficult game, because they are a very intense opponent who have won three consecutive games in the league. [Luis] Garcia Plaza (Alaves manager) transmits their aggressiveness to them," Xavi told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
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"We catch them at their best and at home they give even more, but we need the three points to keep climbing up the table.
"The first thing is to beat Alaves, because they are a difficult opponent. After that, we have to wait and see. Madrid and Girona have done better and that's the reality. There are 16 games left to compete, but I want to take it step by step.
"I expect a game similar to the one at Montjuic. We have to minimise their counters, but they have very quick players. We have to attack well, but be very attentive after losing the ball, because at home it cost us a lot."
Barcelona have another three league matches against Alaves, Granada and Celta Vigo before heading to Napoli for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash on February 21.
Barcelona squad vs. Alaves:
Pena, Astralaga, Kochen; Cancelo, Araujo, I Martinez, Christensen, Kounde, Cubarsi, Fort; Pedri, F Lopez, Romeu, F de Jong, Gundogan, Casado, Unai; Guiu, Victor, Yamal, Roque, Lewandowski
Matt Law
