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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.

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Javier Mascherano and his imaginary friend in the La Liga match between Barcelona and Malaga on November 19, 2016
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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