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| Barça players in training |
After an impressive 4-0 win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, Barça return to action three days later in La Liga when they take on Valencia at the Mestalla in their ninth League game to the season and coach Luis Enrique has named 18 players for the game.
Barça had three players sidelined for the game through injuries. Jasper Cillessen has been out for more than a week as he continues his recovery from an injury picked up while with the Netherlands national team which means third choice goalie Jordi Masip will serve in his place.
Key men Gerard Piqué and Jordi Alba also picked up injuries against Manchester City and will be out for three and two weeks respectively. This means 19 players were available for selection to make the trip to the Mestalla but then the news broke that Arda Turan and Rafinha Alcántara both picked up injuries in training.
It meant Barcelona have only 17 first team players available and Luis Enrique had no choice than to include Aleix Vidal in the squad. The out-of-favour right-back didn’t make Barça’s final squad for the game against Manchester City which means sat out eight consecutive games but has now returned. Sergi Roberto passed fit and received the medical greenlight to feature against Valencia, he is likely to start at right back.
Midfielder Denis Suarez also returned to the squad after being left out of the final 18 to face Manchester City, he is however unlikely to make the starting lineup at the Mestalla. Barça B Midfielder Carles Aleña got called up to fill up the last spot left.
FC BARCELONA SQUAD VS VALENCIA
Goalkeepers: Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Jordi Masip;
Defenders: Aleix Vidal, Sergi Roberto, Javier Mascherano, Samuel Umtiti, Jeremy Mathieu, Lucas Digne;
Midfielders: Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez, Carles Aleña, Andres Iniesta;
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Paco Alcácer, Neymar