The Turk, with a slight ankle sprain, remained on the bench at halftime, but will have “zero problems for Liverpool.” Tchouaméni also missed the match due to a yellow card.
Precautionary changes. That's the diagnosis behind the double substitution at halftime. Güler and Tchouaméni came off, replaced by Ceballos and Camavinga. Xabi doesn't want to take any risks. Especially with the game slipping away, Valencia reeling, and the score at 3-0. Although the explanations for each player differ. While the Frenchman left the field due to an early yellow card, the Turk did so with discomfort in his right ankle. It's minor, and in a different context, he would have continued. With Anfield just around the corner, prevention is better than cure.
Camavinga had already started warming up in the first minute, because that's when Arda twisted his ankle. It happened accidentally, while turning, and he quickly went down on the pitch. It set off alarm bells. But it was a minor injury. He was able to return. He was able to continue without any apparent problems. Proof of this was his assist to Mbappé for the 2-0 goal. His sixth of the season. His sixth assist to Kylian. But the club is adamant: “Zero problems for Liverpool.”
Tchouaméni had a comfortable first half, with only one scare. The one that earned him a yellow card. Beltrán broke away on a counter-attack attempt, and Aurélien tried to extinguish the flames in time. Busquets Ferrer didn't hesitate and booked him. Neither did Xabi at halftime. Because, moreover, it allows him to give a key player some rest. A player who will be fundamental on Tuesday, against a midfield as physical as Liverpool's. A substitution that was part of Xabi's game plan, provided there were no shortages, which hasn't been the case.