FC Barcelona Versus Leganes Preview, Team News And Starting Lineup

Fresh off an impressive 0-4 defeat of Mallorca over the weekend, FC Barcelona return to the Camp Nou to host Leganes in La Liga on Tuesday evening at 16.00 ET/22.00 CET.

The fact that Barça will contest competitive soccer at their home stadium for the first time since a controversial 1-0 win against Real Sociedad on March 7, which put them back on top of the Spanish top flight prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, is being celebrated by local media.

Mundo Deportivo writes on its front cover of how the Blaugrana “reappears at its fortress, now without a crowd, and with the objective to win and put pressure on Real Madrid”.

It is also noted how coach Quique Setien “announced” rotations at his midday prematch press conference on Monday, though goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is a guaranteed starter between the sticks.

Assist and goal hero in Palma Jordi Alba is suspended for picking up one two many yellow cards, which means flop signing Junior Firpo receives another chance at left back.

Returning from suspension himself, Clement Lenglet is likely to partner Gerard Pique in the center of defense while Nelson Semedo, previously punished for attending a coronavirus gathering of 20 people, finishes the back line.

In order to rest Arturo Vidal and Frenkie de Jong for Friday’s clash with Sevilla, Mundo Deportivo’s Gabriel Sans believes that Ivan Rakitic and Arthur will be placed in front of Sergio Busquets in midfield.

Up top, a trident of Martin Braithwaite, taking on his old club, Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi is again expected to be put out while the recovering Luis Suarez watches from the bench.

“The idea is to make changes and we will do as the games continue,” informed Setien yesterday regarding team selection. “I want to see how tiredness affects each player because I want to reach the end of the season with the necessary freshness.  We’ll see how the championship progresses and how the players recover from their efforts.”

“It’s like a game of chess, there are a lot of variables and you have to decide which piece to move,” he continued on this matter. “There are unknowns that you cannot control because you see the board as it is, but you don’t know how it will be a few moves down the line. What I want is everybody to be fresh when they step on to the pitch.”

By toppling a visiting outfit they trounced 5-0 in the Copa del Rey on January 30th, in Setien’s third game in charge, Barça will re-open a five point gap over bitter rivals Real Madrid at the summit.