How Barcelona could line up against Alaves

Barcelona will be looking to make it seven La Liga victories in a row when they continue their 2020-21 campaign at home to Alaves on Saturday night.

Ronald Koeman's side have beaten Huesca, Athletic Bilbao twice, Granada, Elche and Real Betis in their last six league matches to move onto 43 points from 21 matches.

Barca, who lost 2-0 to Sevilla in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday night, are still third in the table, though, and currently sit eight points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the home side could line up against Alaves.

Out: Martin Braithwaite (muscle), Ronald Araujo (ankle), Sergi Roberto (muscle), Philippe Coutinho (knee), Gerard Pique (knee), Ansu Fati (knee) Doubtful: Miralem Pjanic (foot), Sergino Dest (thigh)

Barca's injury list is fairly substantial at the moment, with Martin Braithwaite, Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto, Philippe Coutinho, Gerard Pique and Ansu Fati currently on the sidelines.

Miralem Pjanic is also a doubt due to a foot injury, but there is a hope that Sergino Dest, who has recently been struggling with a thigh issue, will be available to start as the defender is in need of some minutes ahead of next week's Champions League last-16 first leg with Paris Saint-Germain.

Koeman is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes from the team that started against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, but there is almost certain to be an alteration at the back, with Clement Lenglet expected to come in for Samuel Umtiti.

Frenkie de Jong and Pedri should again feature in midfield, while Ousmane Dembele, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann are expected to feature as the front three.

Koeman will hope to rest some of his key players in the second period, though, and Riqui Puig and Trincao should both receive some minutes during the La Liga affair.