Official: Barcelona squad list to face Granada — Sergino Dest in, Junior Firpo out

Barcelona have released the squad list that will travel to Andalusia to take on Granada in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. Barcelona are eyeing the Kings’ Cup primarily, but have not let loose in the league, currently sitting in second after leap-frogging Real Madrid on the weekend.

Sergino Dest, who has been in and out of the squad recently owing to injury, has been given the medical green light. Sergi Roberto, too, is part of the squad after returning to the pitch for the first time in over two months against Bilbao. Owing to the same, we could see Oscar Mingueza start in the heart of the defence alongside Ronald Araujo.

Lionel Messi has scored a goal each in his last two games after returning to the Barça squad after suspension and will be hoping to keep that record alive, continuing to answer on the pitch. Similarly, Antoine Griezmann, who is in red-hot form, will be looking to boost his streak even further with another goal or two.

Junior Firpo has been left out, though, with no explanation from the club. The Spaniard was expected to start this game, but it looks like Jordi Alba will be taking to the pitch again. Touted to leave the club in the January transfer window, Firpo’s transfer to AC Milan fell through after Barcelona could not sign Eric Garcia.

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

Absentees: Pique, Busquets, Coutinho, Fati

The Copa del Rey seems to be the only competition where Barcelona are well and truly alive. The Champions League is a far-fetched dream, while the league seems out of control as a Luis Suarez-led Atletico Madrid continue to table opponents without fail.