Ronald Koeman has announced the line-up of Barcelona for the game against Rayo Vallecano. The Barcelona coach grants Sergio Aguero his debut in the starting lineup. Barça have to do without the injured Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati. The match starts at 7 p.m. in the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas.
The front line of Barcelona appears to consist of Memphis Depay and Sergiño Dest alongside Aguero on Wednesday evening. It was a puzzle for Koeman to come up with eleven names, because Barcelona is struggling with a significant injury wave. In addition to Frenkie de Jong and Fati, Ronald Araújo, Martin Braithwaite, Ousmane Dembélé and Pedri have also been eliminated due to various injuries.
In midfield, Nico González is preferred over Gavi, who is on the bench. The youngster plays the line together with Sergio Busquets and the probably further advanced Philippe Coutinho. In the back, Sergi Roberto joins the team as right back where Óscar Mingueza played on Sunday. Gerard Piqué, Eric García and Jordi Alba remain in the rear, as does goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
Aguero came over from Manchester City on a free transfer last summer, but suffered a lingering calf injury in the summer. The 33-year-old Argentinian returned in mid-October and made his debut as a substitute against Valencia (3-1 win). He also came in briefly against Dynamo Kiev (1-0 win) and Real Madrid (1-2 loss). In that last game, Aguero scored his first goal for Barca.
Barcelona line-up: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Garcia, Alba; Nico, Busquets, Coutinho; Dest, Aguero, Depay