Barca rued a host of missed chances in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Valencia, and will now face a revitalised Deportivo La Coruna side which is enjoying a return to its glory days. PHOTO: AFP
The Brazilian star’s absence due to a groin problem is a huge miss as he has been Barca’s player of the season given Lionel Messi’s recent two-month layoff due to a knee ligament injury, scoring 14 goals in just 13 league appearances.
Messi also missed training on Thursday due to personal reasons and was seen heavily stretching his hamstring towards the end of a depleted Barca side’s 1-1 against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, but is expected to be fit to start.
Luis Suarez was left on the bench for the trip to Germany as the holders had already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, and will return seeking to score for his ninth consecutive game.
Barca were left to rue a host of missed chances last weekend as they conceded late to draw 1-1 at Valencia and allow Atletico Madrid to cut the gap at the top to two points with Real Madrid two points further adrift.
And they face another stiff test at the Camp Nou against a revitalised Deportivo La Coruna side that are enjoying a return to their glory days after a number of seasons bouncing between the top-flight and the second division.
Lucas Perez’s 10 goals have propelled the Galicians up to sixth in the table and he is happy for Barca to be distracted by their upcoming trip to Japan.
“It seems like Barca will be without Neymar which benefits us. If Messi, Suarez and [Andres] Iniesta also want to stay at home and save themselves for the Club World Cup, we’d accept it,” said Perez.
“We are going there to compete. They drew in their last match, but they are playing great football and are in their best form with the return of Messi.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2015.
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