Andres Iniesta is set to face a late fitness test to determine his availability as Barcelona host Sevilla at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Barcelona will bid to enter the international break with their unbeaten run intact when they play hosts to Sevilla at Camp Nou on Saturday. With his side looking to shrug off a disappointing result at Olympiacos in the Champions League, Ernesto Valverde has been greeted with some positive news.
Captain Andres Iniesta is part of his matchday squad for the visit of Sevilla, having missed the last ten days of action due to a hamstring injury. But, Valverde said in his pre-match press conference that the veteran midfielder’s availability is not set in stone, with the medical staff not clearing him for action, yet.
“He has not been given the all clear by the medical staff yet, we will have to see. He is an extraordinary that when he is out you always notice. Nevertheless, we have players with other characteristics who can also do a job.”
? Valverde announces squad for #BarçaSevilla and the good news is that @andresiniesta8 is named among the 18 ? https://t.co/t6Eavq52X1 pic.twitter.com/3PW8RdnTYH
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 3, 2017
The midweek game against Olympiacos though, added two players to the treatment table, with Sergi Roberto (hamstring) and Andre Gomes (thigh) picking up their respective injuries. The duo are set to be sidelined for up to five weeks.
Also on the sidelines are Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal (both ankle) who miss out due to their respective short-term injuries. Ousmane Dembele (thigh) and Rafinha (knee) are the long-term absentees from Valverde’s squad.
The Barcelona boss also provided an update on Vidal’s injury, which is a minor recurrence of the problem he struggled with last season.
“He has a problem with the ankle he had an operation on last season. The other day he spoke to the medical staff and I think soon he will be back with the squad.”
Meanwhile, Sevilla manager Eduardo Berizzo is struggling with a number of injury issues, with Walter Montoya (groin), Joaquin Correa (hamstring), Nicolas Pareja (groin), Daniel Carrico (thigh), Gaby Mercado (hamstring) and Jose Mena (groin) all missing out, although Ever Banega and Pablo Sarabia are back.
