Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with Ronald Koeman, Head Coach of FC Barcelona following the La Liga Santader match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at Camp Nou on November 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman faces an issue at centre back ahead of their crunch La Liga trip to Atletico Madrid this weekend.
Injuries to Samuel Umtiti and Ronald Araujo means Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet are the only two fit senior central defenders included in his squad to travel to the Wanda Metropolitano.
Oscar Mingueza has been called up from the B team as a cover option on the bench, but Koeman cannot afford any more defensive injuries.
The club have confirmed Brazilian international Philippe Coutinho has been passed fit, but Sergio Busquets is out after picking up an injury on international duty, with Miralem Pjanic set to step in.
[CONVOCATORIA]
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 20, 2020
⚽ #AtletiBarça
📅 Sábado, 21 de noviembre pic.twitter.com/o9OKlGi86S
With Ansu Fati sidelined until the 2021, after undergoing knee surgery, Koeman is expected to start with Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele against Diego Simeone’s side, as per a report from Marca.
[CONVOCATORIA]
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 20, 2020
⚽ #AtletiBarça
📅 Sábado, 21 de noviembre pic.twitter.com/o9OKlGi86S
BARCELONA POSSIBLE STARTING XI V ATLETICO MADRID
Ter Stegen; Dest, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Pjanic, De Jong, Coutinho; Messi, Griezmann, Dembele