FC Barcelona Versus RCD Mallorca Preview, Team News And Starting Lineup

The boys are back in town.

Or in Palma to be exact, where late on Saturday evening, FC Barcelona will face local outfit RCD Mallorca in their return to La Liga action at 16.00 ET/22.00 CET.

Barça have not kicked a competitive ball since March 7, when late in their clash with Real Sociedad, a controversial penalty awarded by VAR and converted by Lionel Messi sent them two points clear of Real Madrid at the summit prior to professional soccer being halted by the spread of COVID-19.

Coincidentally, the last time these two sides met was also on the 7th of the month back in December. Showing off his sixth Ballon d’Or before kick off at the Camp Nou, Messi then marked the occasion with a blistering hat trick in a 5-2 win.

On that evening, the Argentine was joined on the scoresheet by Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez, whose backheel was arguably the goal of the season until now, and could line up alongside them for the first time since January.

The Uruguayan, injured in the Spanish Super Cup semi final defeat to Atletico Madrid in January that was Ernesto Valverde’s last match in charge, has made an impressive return to fitness since undergoing surgery and was last weekend given the green light by medical officials.

Barça lacking something going forward in his absence, and Messi someone to connect with, El Pistolero’s return will give the Blaugrana a much-needed boost in this stretch of 11 games in five weeks, while Quique Setien will be pleased to coach him for the first time.

Further down the pitch, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will start between the sticks with his goal protected by a back line of Jordi Alba, Samuel Umtiti, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto.

Clement Lenglet suspended, Nelson Semedo fell foul of coronavirus guidelines by participating in a gathering of 20 people earlier this week, and therefore missed training on Thursday.

In midfield, Setien’s trio in a 4-3-3 is much harder to predict, with many outlets banking on Busquets as a pivot behind Frenkie de Jong and either Ivan Rakitic, Arthur or Arturo Vidal.

Barcelona predicted First XI: Ter Stegen; Alba, Umtiti, Pique, Roberto; Busquets, De Jong, Rakitic; Griezmann, Suarez, Messi