With 4 defenders injured and Dani Alves suspended, Barcelona are forced to go with a makeshift back 4 for their La Liga kick off. With Xavi rested and David Villa also only fit enough for the bench, former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas makes his long-awaited La Liga debut, and the talented youngster Thiago Alcantara also starts, with Andres Iniesta on the left of the front 3.
Barcelona Vs. Villarreal: Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez Make Their La Liga Debuts
The defence, however, is where it gets interesting: Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets, normally defensive midfielders, are the two centre backs, while it appears that Alexis Sanchez, normally a very attacking right winger is going to play at right back. Given that Dani Alves usually spends most of the time attacking, it shouldn’t be a problem, but it may be something that Villarreal can exploit, with Giuseppe Rossi and Nilmar likely to pull away to the left.
FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Victor Valdes, Alexis Sanchez, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets, Eric Abidal; Cesc Fabregas, Seydou Keita, Thiago Alcantara; Pedro, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta
Substitutions: Jose Manuel Pinto, Marc Bartra, Andreu Fontas, Jonathan Dos Santos, Xavi, Sergi Roberto, David Villa
Villarreal CF (4-4-2): Diego López; Joan Oriol, Mateo Musacchio, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Cristián Zapata; Cani, Carlos Marchena, Bruno Soriano, Borja Valero; Giuseppe Rossi, Nilmar
Substitutions: Diego Marino, José Catalá, Mubarak Wakaso, Hernán Pérez, Javier Camuñas, Marcos Senna, Marco Ruben
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