How will Barcelona lineup against Valencia | La Liga 2020-21

Barcelona midfielders

Sergio Busquets

Barcelona youngster Pedri was rested against Granada with Jordi Alba playing in midfield alongside Frenkie De Jong. Moriba started at left wing-back. However, Jordi Alba is expected to return to left wing-back tonight against Valencia.

🗣️ Koeman: "Frenkie De Jong excels everywhere, both in attack and defense, this is very important for the team." pic.twitter.com/K94qVfcGv0

— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) April 25, 2021

With Miralem Pjanic and Riqui Puig becoming non-entities under Ronald Koeman, Sergio Busquets will play as the holding midfielder with the likes of Pedri and Frenkie De Jong operating ahead of him. Sergino Dest is expected to start at right-back.

Carlos Soler and Uros Racic are expected to start in central midfield for Valencia and the duo have fared decently in recent times. Barcelona will face a tough test but the slickness of Pedri, Frenkie De Jong and Sergio Busquets is expected to give them the edge over their Valencia counterparts.

Barcelona forwards

Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona - La Liga Santander

Ronald Koeman has a very limited number of options in attack. Striker Martin Braithwaite continues to be sidelined with an injury. He is close to a return but Sunday night might come too early for him.

Both Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho are long-term absentees but Ousmane Dembele is fully fit and in contention for a starting spot. However, Antoine Griezmann has done a great job in recent times and he is expected to retain his starting berth.

The Frenchmen have enjoyed their best seasons yet at the Camp Nou. Griezmann has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 31 appearances in La Liga so far this term. Meanwhile Dembele has scored five goals and provided two assists in 26 appearances of which only 16 have been starts.

Griezmann has four goals and an assist in the last four matches and is expected to be given the nod ahead of Ousmane Dembele, with the latter likely to come off the bench as an impact substitution.

His partner in attack will be Lionel Messi, who has been in top form since the turn of the year and the Argentine had given Barcelona an early lead in their loss against Granada in midweek as well. He has scored more goals in 2021 than any other player in Europe's top 5 leagues.

Most goals and assists in 2021:1. 🇦🇷 Messi - 332. 🇵🇱 Lewandowski - 293. 🇫🇷 Griezmann - 264. 🇳🇴 Haaland - 265. 🇪🇸 Moreno - 267th Ballond’Or🔜 pic.twitter.com/RWEDfNE7L5

— Stan (@FutbolStan_) April 30, 2021

Having played a starring role in Barcelona's Copa Del Rey win, Lionel Messi will want to cap off what started off as a forgettable campaign with a league title. Messi will once again be Barcelona's main creative force.

Barcelona predicted XI (3-5-2): Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Oscar Mingueza, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Frenkie De Jong, Sergino Dest, Jordi Alba, Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi