Dembele returns to Barcelona's squad for Atletico clash as Coutinho not fit yet

Ernesto Valverde has confirmed he won't take any risks with Coutinho and has recalled France winger Dembele after his omission against Betis.

Dembélé was left in the stands as Barça were beaten 4-3 by Betis at Camp Nou before the international break as punishment for missing a training session but Valverde has welcomed the France international back into the fold for the fixture at the Metropolitano on Saturday, where Arturo Vidal is expected to start in place of the suspended Ivan Rakitic.

Valverde will also be without Thomas Vermaelen and Sergi Samper, who are both injured, and has omitted Denis Suárez, who is widely expected to leave Camp Nou in January in search of regular playing time.

Youth teamer Carles Aleñá has been included in the squad, where the main piece of good news for Valverde is the availability of Samuel Umtiti after a lengthy layoff with ligament damage in his knee.

Full Squad:

GK: Ter Stegen, Cillessen

DF: Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Umtiti .

MF: Sergio, Arthur, Rafinha, Malcom, Aleñá, S. Roberto, Vidal.

FW: Suárez, Messi, O. Dembélé, Munir

Related： Barcelona Rakitic Coutinho Dembele

Hot comments

Je1

246

2018-11-24 17:26

"In the end, he is a player who offers something that others don't have. He has an innate talent." - E. Valverde. Dembele i is talented and what the m management effort of Barça for a future dominance. these sort of players are not trained, they are made from heaven.
ArjenRodriguez10

238

2018-11-24 20:44

I think this will be perfect. I think that dembele should be brought in place of malcom any time after half time and umtiti should be given little rest and should be substituted in place of lenglet after 75' or 80' to give the defence energy boost. Or umtiti can be brought in place of pique if he lets atletico score.
Hazbmnryz

182

2018-11-25 02:20

Barcelona should forget about this awful 4:3:3 formation, they have been concided a lot goals by using this awful formation. they need to adopt mass defence and attack formation and not focus on attacking formation only, they should change back to 4:4:2 formation
shamaoma

179

2018-11-25 01:25

this will speed up the game to night... S. Roberto is a fantastic outstanding player but in this match we need semado with power and pace to withstand pressure, someone who understands defensive basics not making a striker move in the 18 box to shoot but force him on the verge of goal kick or Corner that's defending. Furthermore, Vidal made a commitment and his going to prove himself tonight, Dembele will spicy up the game... just hoping S. Busquets will help cover Alba and Semado as they will destroy A. Madrid's left and right backs because both have pace.. we should play our style of football, get the ball position, make them defend, offside traps, work as a team eventually, we will surely carry the day varsca!!! varsca!!! vaaaaarsca! 1:2 predicted
WizardOfOZ

178

2018-11-24 19:26

I think Barca should the defense a little and this is the best I could think of but I think they would just keep their 4-3-3 with Vidal and Arthur or Alena in place of Rakitic and Coutinho and umtiti in place of lenglet. Or may be they would keep Roberto in midfield with Vidal/Arthur and busquets and have both Umtiti n lenglet or play semedo and choose one of umtiti and lenglet with Roberto in mdf
Rohingya94

175

2018-11-24 11:50

Best line up for Atletico Match
Cuobelsz

113

2018-11-24 15:46

The best formation against athletico.. Given coutinho and rakitic are both sidelined.. And i'd prefer Semedo over sergi roberto for his speed and natural ability of a wing back