Barcelona's worsening injury list among key talking points ahead of trip to Real Betis

Andy West 23:25 20/01/2018
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  • La Liga table-toppers Barcelona travel to Real Betis on Sunday night, looking to bounce back immediately from seeing their unbeaten run go up in smoke on Thursday against Espanyol in the Copa del Rey.

    Here, we assess three key talking points ahead of the clash.

    Is Valverde running out of players?

    Barca’s lengthening injury list is starting to become a concern for manager Ernesto Valverde, who would find his resources severely stretched if he saw any more players forced into the treatment room.

    Ousmane Dembele, Paco Alcacer, Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Javier Mascherano and Andres Iniesta have all been sidelined, while midfielder Rafinha is on the verge of completing a move to Inter Milan after returning from injury. Samuel Umtiti though could return after six weeks out after being passed fit

    Valverde can still call upon his team’s key central core, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gerard Pique (who agreed a new contract this week), Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez all available and in excellent form.

    But during a busy run of games leading up to the decisive phase of the season, the former Athletic Bilbao boss must be concerned that his current lack of options is limiting his ability to rest and rotate, forcing those key players into an overload of work which could prove damaging in the weeks ahead.

    Valverde would love to be able to consider making a few changes to his side on Sunday night, but that’s not a realistic option considering the absentees, and all he can do is cross his fingers and hope for no more injuries.

    BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 11: Andres Iniesta of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Nemanja Radoja of RC Celta de Vigo during the Copa del Rey round of 16 second leg match between FC Barcelona and Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on January 11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

    Club legend Andres Iniesta is one of the star’s on the injury table.

    Can Barca bounce straight back?

    Barcelona suffered a rare loss in mid-week, being upset by a Lionel Messi penalty miss and a late goal to lose 1-0 in the Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg against local rivals Espanyol, setting up an intriguing return match at Camp Nou on Thursday night.

    Losing was a feeling Barca’s players had become entirely unaccustomed to, having remained unbeaten in all competitions ever since the Spanish Super Cup loss to Real Madrid way back in August.

    With that five-month run broken, now the challenge for Valverde’s men is to show they have not been psychologically adversely affected by that setback and that they can bounce straight back into a positive dynamic against Betis.

    Many fans were strangely happy about the loss against Espanyol, reasoning that defeat had to come sooner or later and that the perfect manner to do so was a narrow first leg cup loss with several players rested against a local rival who can now be a bit more relaxed about their obsession with beating Barca in the future.

    But if one loss leads to another it could quickly become a rut and a mini-crisis, and with the resumption of the Champions League looming that’s the last thing Barca need.

    Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi prepares to shoot a penalty kick during the Spanish 'Copa del Rey' (King's cup) quarter-final first leg football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on January 17, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)

    Can Barcelona immediately get back to winning ways?

    Will confident Betis claim another scalp?

    Hosts Real Betis are an extremely dangerous opponent: the Seville-based club have already claimed one major scalp this season by ending Real Madrid’s long unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu in September, and their confidence could barely be higher after gaining a famous 5-3 away win at hated city rivals Sevilla a couple of weeks ago.

    Manager Quique Setien is one of the game’s great purists, insisting on an attack-minded passing approach which leads in equal measure to fabulous flowing football and infuriating defensive inconsistency. But on their day Betis can be a match for anyone, and Barca will have to work particularly hard in midfield to prevent the home team from establishing their passing rhythm.

    Setien’s attacking options have recently been boosted by the return of club icon Ruben Castro from a brief stint in China, and the goal-poaching veteran made a dream start by netting a late penalty winner in last weekend’s exciting 3-2 victory over Leganes, further adding to the feelgood factor which is currently flowing through their atmospheric Benito Villamarin stadium.

    Betis might not be the most high-profile team in the world, but Barca must not underestimate them.

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