Luis Suarez could make a quick return from a calf problem to face Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday, but Jordi Alba is definitely out for Barcelona.
The Uruguay striker was injured in last Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Levante and was expected to be out for around three weeks, but coach Ernesto Valverde revealed on Tuesday that the injury was less serious than first thought and said he could be back at the weekend.
If the 32-year-old is deemed unfit to start, Valverde will choose between Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele in attack alongside Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann.
Alba was substituted at half-time in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at home to Slavia Prague in the Champions League with a recurrence of a hamstring problem and the left-back will miss the game against Celta.
In his absence, right-back Nelson Semedo seems set to move over again, with Sergi Roberto on the right. Summer signing Junior Firpo is another alternative, although he was left out of the squad altogether for the Slavia game.
Arthur was also excluded from the list for the Champions League clash, but should return on Saturday and the Brazilian is set to replace Arturo Vidal in the starting XI at Camp Nou.
Sergio Busquets is expected to be fine after he went off feeling dizzy on Tuesday.
Predicted Barcelona XI (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Semedo; Busquets, De Jong, Arthur; Messi, Griezmann, Ansu Fati
Predicted Celta Vigo XI (4-3-3): Blanco; Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Olaza; Mendez, Lobotka, Cheikh; Aspas, Fernandez, Suarez
