Marcos Alonso has been the latest to join Xavi Hernández's long list of casualties to face the leader, Girona, tonight (9pm). With lower back pain that prevented him from playing against Atlético de Madrid last weekend, Marcos Alonso is once again absent from a squad in which there are three other important absences: Ter Stegen, Iñigo Martínez and Gavi.
Barça faces the Catalan derby with personnel problems, but with the ambition of achieving a victory that would place them just one point behind Girona and two behind Real Madrid, who lost yesterday against Betis.
This afternoon Xavi Hernández announced the list of those called up for this important clash. A list that does not include Marc-André ter Stegen, recovering from back surgery, which will keep him off the pitch for a long season, nor Gavi, the other long-term injured player. He will also not be able to count on Iñigo Martínez, with problems in his femoral biceps.
Barça Atlètic centre-back Pau Cubarsí enters the list. It will be the fifth call-up with the first team for the 16-year-old youth player, who also appeared in the League matches against Villarreal, Osasuna and Real Madrid and in the Champions League victory against Shakhtar Donetsk (2-1 ), although he has not yet made his debut under Xavi Hernández.
Despite the losses, on the positive side, Barça will be able to count on Ronald Araújo despite his jaw problems, since he will play with a protective mask. There will also be Raphinha, recovered from his discomfort, as well as Andreas Christensen, who was absent from training to attend the birth of his son, but returned on Saturday and exercised with the rest of the group.
Xavi Hernandez has named Iñaki Peña, Joao Cancelo, Araújo, Ferran, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Joao Felix, Christensen, Oriol Romeu, Sergi Roberto, De Jong and Gundogan , Koundé, Astralaga, Yamal Foil, Kochen, Fermin and Cubarsi.
