How will Barcelona line up against Granada?

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A win will send the hosts top of the table

Barcelona take on Granada in La Liga at the Camp Nou on Thursday and know victory will send the team top with just five games left to play.

It promises to be another exciting night in the race for the league title as Barcelona take on a team they have already beaten twice this season.

Ronald Koeman’s side ran out 4-0 winners at Los Carmenes in January and then enjoyed a brilliant 5-3 comeback victory in February in the Copa del Rey.

Let’s see who might feature:

Defense

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There are plenty of options in defense for Barcelona with the entire backline fit and available for this one. Oscar Mingueza will have to be careful if he starts as he’s one of four Barca players a booking away from a one-match suspension.

Midfield

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The one big question in midfield is whether Pedri will get a rest with the youngster having looked in need of a breather in recent games. Frenkie de Jong is also an option to drop out given he’s also a yellow card away from a ban.

If Koeman does make changes then the player at the front of the queue to come in is surely Ilaix Moriba. The 18-year-old has been Koeman’s go-to man off the bench in recent games and could start here.

Riqui Puig is another possibility but that looks unlikely given the way the season’s gone, while Miralem Pjanic is fit after knee trouble and so can resume his usual spot on the bench.

Attack

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Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi could both start but will need to be careful as a yellow card for either would rule them out of Sunday’s trip to Valencia too.

The Frenchman scored twice last time out against Villarreal and has four goals in two matches against Granada this season.

Ousmane Dembele is fit again and is an option to come into the team if Koeman is worried about suspensions, but Martin Braithwaite is still out with a sprained ankle.

Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Pique, Lenglet; Dest, De Jong, Busquets, Ilaix, Alba; Messi, Griezmann.

How do you think Barcelona should line up against Granada? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!

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