Barcelona are quite busy at the moment with the Copa del Rey and a mid-week semifinal first leg match against Real Madrid looming. With that in mind and Osasuna not being very strong, one expects some rotation to the lineup from assistant coach Jordi Roura who continues to cover as Tito Vilanova is away receiving further cancer treatment.
Barcelona vs. Osasuna, 2013 La Liga: Preview and TV schedule
A mid-week Copa del Rey semifinal first leg against Real Madrid is on everyone’s mind but Barcelona have league business to take care of against Osasuna first
Of course Osasuna, despite being in the drop zone, did hold Real Madrid to a scoreless draw recently so they're not a team to simply be swept aside and disregarded. Not having Gerard Piqué due to suspension won't help but Carles Puyol wasn't used in the mid-week so he should be set to start in the central defense.
Osasuna boss Jose Luis Mendilibar could debut his latest signing midfielder Francisco Silva, who joined the club from Universidad Catolica in Chile this week.
Barcelona injuries and suspensions
Out: Gerard Piqué (suspended), Marc Muniesa (knee). In doubt: Lionel Messi (muscle strain)
Osasuna injuries and suspensions
Out: Asier Riesgo (foot), David Timor (hamstring), Emiliano Armenteros (thigh), Sisi (knee), Damià Abella (suspended). In Doubt: None.
Lionel Messi was subbed out of their win over Malaga and strained a muscle in training on Friday so his status is up in the air. Piqué is suspended for his red card in the loss for Sociedad.
Match Date/Time: 8 p.m. local, 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
TV: beIN Sport (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (U.K.)
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