The personnel problems in the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona are not expected to ease in time for the club’s upcoming return to action on the continent.
Barca, of course, find themselves in the midst of something of an injury crisis at present.
After falling to successive defeats in all competitions over the weeks prior, the Blaugrana were forced to field a backline featuring midfielder Frenkie de Jong and engine room starlet Brian Fariñas during a meeting with Deportivo Alavés on Saturday.
Hansi Flick’s troops nevertheless emerged dominant 6-1 victors, but an altogether more challenging prospect lies in wait in midweek.
On Tuesday night, Barcelona will welcome Unai Emery’s Aston Villa to the Spotify Camp Nou, for a Champions League matchup.
And according to Blaugrana insider Javier Miguel of Diario AS, Flick and his staff do not expect to have any of Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé, Eric García or Xavi Espart back available for selection to face Villa.
Conor Laird – GSFN
