Confirmed Barcelona squad vs Real Betis: Major double blow for Valverde

Posted by Ron Carne

August 25th 2019, 6:54

Confirmed Barcelona squad vs Real Betis: Major double blow for Valverde

Barcelona have announced their squad to face Real Betis on Sunday and there is still no Lionel Messi due to injury.

As noted by the Mirror, the Argentine talisman missed the opening La Liga game of the season with a calf strain, and despite being spotted training with the rest of the group this week, it seems as though he isn’t going to be risked this weekend.

SEE MORE: Barcelona star looks set to leave after falling out with club chief

It comes after Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez also picked up injury problems over the past week, and so it’s not what coach Ernesto Valverde needed, especially after they fell to defeat in the opening game away at Athletic Bilbao last time out.

As seen below, the Catalan giants named their squad for the clash with Betis, and there was no Messi again which led to a concerned reaction from many fans over how they would secure all three points without their star man.

Further, others took a different stance and believe that without him, Barcelona could struggle to secure a positive result and that in turn could put more pressure on Valverde, as they evidently have a desire to see him leave.

Time will tell who steps up in Messi’s absence to emerge as the key figure, but ultimately it’s a worrying start for Barcelona as they will be desperate to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointment but will have to do so with key individuals missing.

Suarez picked up his injury problem during the game against Bilbao, as noted by AS, with Barcelona now hoping that he and Messi can return in time to face Osasuna next weekend before the international break.

In their absence, perhaps it will be down to summer signing Antoine Griezmann to deliver and lead the charge for them as they hope to get their first points of the season on the board.