MX23RW : Thursday, October 17 13:11:05| >> :60:1448:1448:
Oct 19, 2019 at 12pm UK at ​Estadio Municipal de Ipurúa (Eibar)
EibarEibar
vs.
Barcelona

How Barcelona could line up against Eibar

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up for Saturday's La Liga clash with Eibar.

Barcelona return to action following the international break with a trip to Eibar.

The Catalan giants have been boosted by the return to fitness of Lionel Messi, who played the full 90 in their 4-0 demolition of Sevilla last time out.

However, head coach Ernesto Valverde must deal with a number of absentees through both injury and suspension, seeing two men sent off in the clash at Camp Nou.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Barca could line up for Saturday's showdown.


Possible BAR XI vs. EIB

Out: Samuel Umtiti (foot), Gerard Pique (suspension), Ronald Araujo (suspension), Ousmane Dembele (suspension)
Doubtful Jordi Alba (hamstring), Junior Firpo (muscle), Carles Perez (knock)

> Click here for Barcelona's full injury and suspension list ahead of this match

Marc-Andre ter Stegen's presence in goal is a near certainty, but the back line in front of him is likely to be significantly less settled. Valverde has little option but to field a centre-back pairing of Clement Lenglet and Jean-Clair Todibo, given the absence of any alternatives.

Left-back Alba was named on the bench against Sevilla and could make a return to the starting line-up, allowing Nelson Semedo to return to his favoured right-back position ahead of Sergi Roberto.

In midfield, the head coach appears to have stumbled across a winning combination, with Frenkie de Jong and Arthur Melo's technical quality dovetailing well with Arturo Vidal's energy and thrust. However, keeping Sergio Busquets on the bench would prove a big call from Valverde, but the success of the aforementioned trio should keep them their places.

Messi and Luis Suarez are certain to retain their places in the front three, but Dembele's red card opens the door for big-money singing Antoine Griezmann to return to the side, albeit in an unfavoured left-wing role.

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Who will win Saturday's La Liga clash between Eibar and Barcelona?

Eibar
Draw
Barcelona
Eibar
0.0%
Draw
0.0%
Barcelona
0.0%
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Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba celebrates scoring against Real Sociedad on April 20, 2019
Read Next:
Barcelona injury, suspension list vs. Sevilla
>

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