It approaches the stop navideño but the activity does not cease for the FC Barcelona, that still has to face several demanding commitments before his brief holidays. In the Stadium of the Ceramics the Catalans will have to forget two ties consecutive suspender belts to replace of a day in which, this time yes, all his rivals have done the duties. The drops will not serve of excuse against the Villarreal, a team complicated and that it wants to plant face to the leader.
For the duel, the Catalans arrive with the drops of Ousmane Dembélé, Rafinha Alcántara, Javier Mascherano, Andrés Iniesta and Samuel Umtiti by injuries of diverse consideration. The one who also fell of the list was Gerard Deulofeu, that has reopened the doubts on his future. Having absences, the main novelty in the eleven is Paulinho.
This is the XI of the Barça in front of the Villarreal
XI of the Villarreal: Asenjo; Mario, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, Coast; Trigueros, R. Semedo, Rodrigo, Soriano; Raba and Bakambu.
XI of the FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Hammered, Vermaelen, Alba; Denis, Rakitic, Busquets, Paulinho; Suárez and Leo Messi.
Bench of the Barça: Cillessen, Semedo, Alcácer, Digne, André Gomes, Aleix Vidal, David Coasts.
The tactical training, as it is usual out of house, goes back to aim to the 4-4-2 with Valverde signalling that the fight by the possession will be one of the keys of the meeting. This time, Denis Suárez and Paulinho will form beside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic in the medullary, with the Brazilian incorporating to a classical forward with Leo Messi and Luis Suárez. Sergi Roberto will start like main novelty in the defence.
The Villarreal, by his part, will trust his options to a team to the that likes him have the balloon and with a lot of gunpowder up. Fault Carlos Bacca and there is some drop of level, but the mordiente of Cédric Bakambu has saved to the castellonenses of more than a difficulty. Defend of the rival with the ball and be effective of face to goal will be two of consign them of the group 'groguet'.