MX23RW : Monday, December 23 06:15:48| >> :120:25272:25272:
[monks data]
Villarreal logo
La Liga
Dec 10, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

0-2


Raba (60')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Suarez (72'), Messi (83')

Team News: Javier Mascherano, Andres Iniesta out of Barcelona squad for Villarreal trip

Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta are not in Barcelona's starting XI for their La Liga trip to Villarreal on Sunday night.

Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta have not been included in Barcelona's matchday squad for their La Liga game away at Villarreal on Sunday night.

The midfield duo are sidelined at present and join a lengthy absentees' list which also includes Ousmane Dembele, Rafinha and Samuel Umtiti.

Arda Turan and Gerard Deulofeu, meanwhile, failed to make Ernesto Valverde's 18-man squad for the trip to the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Valverde has made six changes to the team that started against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League during the week as Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Paulinho and Lionel Messi are reinstated to the XI.

The league leaders dropped points last time out with a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo, but remain five points clear of nearest rivals Valencia at the top of the table.

Villarreal also rested several key players in their midweek Europa League defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv and have restored most of their regular starters for their meeting with the Blaugrana.

Goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo has recovered from a ligament injury suffered in February to make his La Liga comeback in between the sticks.

Midfielder Pablo Fornals collapsed during training on Saturday due to hypoglycemia and, even though he is recovering, the game comes too soon for the 21-year-old.

Andres Fernandez, Denis Cheryshev and Nicola Sansone are unavailable through injury and will also not feature.

Villarreal: Asenjo; Costa, Ruiz, Alvaro, Mario; Trigueiros, Semedo, Rodrigo, Soriano; Bakambu, Raba
Subs: Marin, Castillejo, Rukavina, Bonera, Barbosa, Guerra, Moya

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Paulinho; Messi, L. Suarez, D. Suarez
Subs: Cillessen, Semedo, Alcacer, Digne, Gomes, Vidal, Costas

Follow all the action from the Estadio de la Ceramica with Sports Mole's live match commentary.

ID:313802: cacheID:313802:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4716:
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Javier Mascherano and his imaginary friend in the La Liga match between Barcelona and Malaga on November 19, 2016
Read Next:
Barcelona to block Mascherano exit?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!