With La Liga feeling out of reach, the focus around Barcelona is beginning to shift towards the Champions League match-up with PSG in two weeks. Ansu Fati has now been ruled out while Gerard Piqué is racing back. Fortunately for Ronald Koeman, Sergi Roberto and Sergiño Dest are both healthy at the same time for the first time in months. The Dutch manager may use them both at some point against Granada in the Copa del Rey. That trophy continues to be the one that Barcelona are best positioned to compete for this season, and the squad named for the clash reflects that.
With Roberto and Dest back, there is no place for Ilaix Moriba and Konrad de la Fuente. Since the competition only allows for nine substitutes, Junior Firpo and Matheus Fernandes will also be sitting this one out. With Samuel Umtiti returning to fitness, Junior may find himself strapped for minutes going forward. The failed loan move to Milan during the January window is another indication that Koeman was willing to go the rest of the season without him.
Barcelona faced off with Granada less than a month ago in the south of Spain as Koeman was on the verge of permanently sticking with the 4-3-3. Since that time, the Blaugrana has taken the change in formation well and several players have found fine form. Antoine Griezmann has already scored five goals in 2021, while Frenkie de Jong has scored four goals in his last seven games. Umtiti looks healthier than he has in years and Ronald Araújo is still the only player yet to be dribbled past in La Liga this season.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, seemed to be trying his best to ignore the ugly leak of his contract in El Mundo by dismantling Athletic Club over the weekend. A motivated Messi is never a good thing for his opponent.
Last time the two met, Granada was an entirely different side than the one that has risen to eight in the league table. The Andalusians were missing players last time due to the virus, but the main figures have returned. Most importantly, Colombian Luis Suárez can’t stop scoring, overtaking Roberto Soldado (4) for most goals in the side (5).
There is a firm argument that a big part of Granada’s struggles last time out was that the backline handled Soldado a lot easier than they might have Suárez. Yet, even with the Colombian, Messi would have been too much:
Expected line-ups:
Barcelona (4-3-3): Neto; Alba, Lenglet, Araújo, Roberto; Busquets, de Jong, Puig; Trincão, Messi, Griezmann
Granada (4-2-3-1): Silva; Neva, Duarte, Vallejo, Foulquier; Milla, Herrera; Kenedy, Vico, Machís; Suárez
Dan Hilton is an American journalist, broadcaster, and current Editor-in-Chief of BarcaBlog. Extensive work as a play-by-play broadcaster, producer behind the scenes, and quite average player in his younger years has given him a well-rounded and informative perspective on the sport. Alongside BarcaBlog founder Francesc, Dan started The Barcelona Podcast in 2017
