Official: Barcelona squad list to face Athletic Bilbao — Sergi Roberto is back

Barcelona have released the 22-man squad list that will take on Athletic Bilbao as the team returns to the Camp Nou for the first time in over a month. With just one defeat on the road in 11 consecutive matches on the road, Barça will be motivated to win the game and go second in the table after Madrid’s loss to Levante yesterday.

While Sergino Dest does not travel with the team owing to injury, Sergi Roberto returns to the team squad after missing over two months of football after a hamstring knock against Atletico Madrid. The Spaniard is likely to get the start over Oscar Mingueza for this encounter.

Sergio Busquets will miss out as well, after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Elche. However, it might force Ronald Koeman’s hand to give Ilaix Moriba his La Liga debut, or extended game time to Riqui Puig.

Full list: Ter Stegen, Neto, Arnau; Roberto, Mingueza, Lenglet, Umtiti, Araujo, Alba, Firpo; Pjanic, Puig, Ilaix, Pedri, Matheus, de Jong; Griezmann, Messi, Dembele, Trincao, Konrad, Braithwaite

Absentees: Dest, Pique, Busquets, Coutinho, Fati

Lionel Messi picked up a red card during his last game against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup final, and returns to the La Liga for the first time since then. Given all that happened today regarding his contract and salary, he is bound to be frustrated. Barça fans can hope that their captain will channel his energy in the way it brings the best out of him and the team.