Murillo and Samper included in Barcelona squad to face Valencia

Ernesto Valverde has named his matchday squad for the clash with Valencia on Saturday, and has sprung a surprise by including both Jeison Murillo and Sergi Samper.

The pair will be involved, despite Murillo actually being on loan with Los Cules from Valencia, although it hasn't been the most stress-free Friday afternoon for the former Athletic Club coach.

Jasper Cillessen went down with a muscle tear in his right calf in Friday's training session and has since been officially ruled out of action for six weeks.

Whilst this doesn't immediately impact Valverde's plans for the clash at the Camp Nou, it does mean he'll be forced to play Marc-Andre ter Stegen in both legs of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid.

In the Dutchman's absence, La Masia graduate, Inaki Pena has been called up to the senior squad.

Sergio Busquets' absence through suspension has forced Valverde to call on Samper as a replacement, which is a surprise given how little the midfielder has been used this term.

Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Thomas Vermaelen are all included in the squad, meaning that perhaps Murillo will be left as the 19th man once kick-off arrives, although that isn't yet clear.

The full Barcelona squad list is as follows:

GKs: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki pena

DFs: Sergi Roberto, Nelson Semedo, Clement Lenglet, Thomas Vermaelen, Gerard Pique, Jeison Murillo, Jordi Alba

MFs: Carles Alena, Arthur, Arturo Vidal, Sergi Samper, Coutinho, Ivan Rakitic

FWs: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Malcom, Kevin-Prince Boateng