How Barcelona could line up against Elche

Barcelona's pursuit of the top two in La Liga will continue on Sunday afternoon when they head to Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero to take on Elche.

The Catalan giants have won four of their last five in the league, including each of their last three, to rise into third spot in the table, but they are still 10 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

This contest will be Barca's first league match since January 9, and Ronald Koeman's side have lost to Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Spanish Super Cup and beaten Cornella in the Copa del Rey since the clash with Granada, which ended in a 4-0 success.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the visitors could line up on Sunday afternoon.

Out: Lionel Messi (suspension), Ansu Fati (knee), Gerard Pique (knee), Sergi Roberto (muscle), Philippe Coutinho (Knee) Doubtful: Sergino Dest (thigh)

> Click here for Barcelona's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Barca will again be without the services of Ansu Fati, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto and Philippe Coutinho through injury on Sunday afternoon, while Sergino Dest is a huge doubt with a thigh problem.

The Catalan giants will also be unable to call upon Lionel Messi as the Argentine is suspended due to the red card that he picked up in the Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic.

Messi's absence could open the door for Martin Braithwaite to start alongside Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele in the final third of the field, while Dest's injury issues means that Oscar Mingueza is likely to again be given the nod at right-back.

There will be changes from the team that started against Cornella in the Copa del Rey, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong set to return.

Pedri has been impressive for Barca this season and is also expected to be back in the starting XI, with Trincao, Riqui Puig and Miralem Pjanic likely to drop out from Thursday's clash.