Missing Players and team news:
Barcelona remain rather fortunate on the injury front, with long-term absentees Philippe Coutinho and Ansu Fati – as well as Martin Braithwaite – their only injury concerns at the minute. Braithwaite’s sprained ankle is expected to keep him out for at least a couple of weeks, but there was never any chance of the Danish striker displacing Griezmann or Lionel Messi – who boasts 12 goal contributions from six Camp Nou outings against Granada in La Liga – up top. Koeman should largely stick with the same XI from their win over Villarreal, but Sergino Dest was taken off at half time against the Yellow Submarine and may be replaced by Sergi Roberto here. Granada’s Antonio Puertas was cautioned for the fifth time this season against Sevilla and will miss out here, while Angel Montoro is also suspended but would have struggled to force his way into the first XI anyway. Darwin Machis should return as Puertas misses out, but Granada have been dealt further injury blows with Rui Silva, German Sanchez, Jesus Vallejo and Carlos Neva reportedly set to miss out, with the quartet joining Domingos Duarte and Luis Milla in the infirmary. Martinez’s hand is therefore largely forced in some areas, and Aaron Escandell should fill in as the last line of defence with Silva injured.
