The blaugranes face a new challenge in La Liga on Saturday with an away trip to Deportivo Alavés (kick off 6.30pm CET) to follow their win at home in midweek over Osasuna in the same competition. Three points are vital for the hopes of Xavi’s team to remain in the battle for the title this season.
The Barça boss will be without forward Ferran Torres for the game in Mendizorrotza after he picked up a hamstring injury in the opening minutes of the 1-0 victory against the club from Pamplona in the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The good news is that defender Iñigo Martinez is back after injuring a hamstring against Barbastro on 7 January. After almost a month out the Basque defender returns to the squad for the game in Vitoria. The full list is as follows: João Cancelo, R. Araujo, I. Martinez, Pedri, Lewandowski, Iñaki Peña, Christensen, Fermín, Romeu, Vitor Roque, F. De Jong, Gündoğan, Kounde, Astralaga, Lamine Yamal, M. Casadó, Kochen, Cubarsí, Unai, Pau Víctor, Marc Guiu and H. Fort
Final session before making the trip to face Alavés
The available first team players took part in the squad’s final session on Friday before leaving for the Basque Country. Also present were Astralaga, Kochen, M. Casadó, Cubarsí, H. Fort, Marc Guiu, Albert Navarro, Unai, Dani Rodríguez and Pau Víctor from Barça Atlètic.
