4 players absent from Barcelona’s squad to face Madrid in the Classico

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Jeison Murillo is the only new addition to the list of 19 Barcelona players set to travel to the Spanish capital to face Real Madrid on Saturday from the group that was at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for Wednesday’s 3-0 Copa del Rey semi-final triumph. For the upcoming LaLiga Santander encounter, Ernersto Valverde is taking his strongest squad possible to Madrid. The Colombian defender on loan from Valencia takes the place of third choice goalkeeper Inaki Pena.

Jeison Murillo

Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jean-Clair Todibo are the only two fully fit players who won’t be making the trip to Madrid for tomorrow’s Clásico at the Bernabéu. Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde announced a 19-man squad list for the Real Madrid game, and has included all of his star players – even the ones who are carrying knocks from Wednesday’s Copa del Rey tie.

Valverde excludes Boateng from Barcelona squad for El Clásico

Todibo, who won’t be officially available to play for Barça – only in cases of extreme emergency, and Boateng, will remain at home along with injured players Rafinha and Vermaelen. Busquets, Rakitic, Dembélé, Luis Suárez and Messi, who starred in Wednesday’s 0-3 Cup victory, should be in line to start on Saturday. Valverde will have to cut one player before announcing his final 18-man squad ahead of the game.

The 19 players travelling to Madrid are: Ter Stegen, Cillessen; Semedo, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Lenglet, Murillo, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur, Coutinho, Alena, Arturo Vidal, Messi, Luis Suarez, Dembele and Malcom.
However, the points that are up for grabs on Saturday at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu are extremely important, particularly to Barcelona. A win over their arch rivals would put them well on course to winning LaLiga Santander – Real Madrid would be essentially knocked out of the title race while only Atletico Madrid would remain with a chance, though a very slim one. Ernesto Valverde’s men are well aware that another victory on enemy territory would put them 12 points ahead of Madrid with 12 matches remaining.R

Diego Simeone’s side are Barcelona’s closest league rivals, seven points behind the Catalan outfit. LaLiga has not yet been decided, words which have become a mantra in the Barcelona camp yet even they will believe that they are uncatchable should they pull off another win at the Bernabeu. Barcelona’s worst run of the season was two draws and one defeat, all the way back in September.

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