Ivan Rakitic dropped from Barcelona squad for Villarreal clash
The Barcelona midfielder hasn't played a game since el Clásico on 3 December and has now been omitted from the squad altogether. Denis Suarez comes in and could face his old club
Ivan Rakitic has been omitted from Luis Enrique’s Barcelona squad for the trip to Villarreal on Sunday night.
The Croatian midfielder – an indispensable player for Enrique over the past two seasons – hasn’t played a minute in LaLiga since el Clásico against Madrid on 3 December.
Rakitic dropped
It’s possible that the Asturian coach has wanted to give Rakitic some rest, but given that he now hasn’t featured for Barcelona in the league for over a month, it’s more likely that the player has been dropped.
Into the squad for the game at El Madrigal comes Denis Suarez, who missed the midweek cup defeat to Athletic Bilbao, and could line up against his old side.
Aleix Vidal and Mathieu remain out of the squad by technical decision, while No.2 keeper Cillessen is absent through injury.
Barcelona squad v Villarreal (Sunday 8 January, 20:45)
Ter Stegen, Masip, Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Denis, Arda, Iniesta, Luis Suárez, Messi, Neymar, Rafinha, Mascherano, Digne, Alcácer, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, André Gomes and Umtiti.
