Barcelona news this week: Arthur Melo and Sergi Roberto hoping to return for Napoli clash

Barcelona start the week top of the table in Spain.
AFP via Getty Images
Ben Hayward9 March 2020

Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 1-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty and stayed on top of LaLiga with a two-point advantage after Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat at Real Betis on Sunday night.

Coach Quique Setien has given his players time off until Tuesday at 18:00 CET, when preparations will begin for next Saturday’s league game away to Mallorca.

That is the first fixture in a busy week, with Barca also in action at home to Napoli in the teams’ Champions League last-16 second leg game at Camp Nou next Wednesday.

Amid the threat of coronavirus, authorities in Catalonia are keen to stage the match behind closed doors, with a decision to be made this week.

Napoli and Barcelona drew 0-0 in the first leg in Italy last month and Setien’s side will be without Sergio Busquets for the second leg through suspension.

In Pictures | El Clasico, Real Madrid vs Barcelona | 01/03/2020

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Barca hope midfielder Arthur Melo will be back from injury in time for the Champions League clash after the Brazilian was ruled out of the Real Sociedad game with an ankle problem, but the Napoli match could come too soon for the 23-year-old.

Right-back Sergi Roberto also stands an outside chance of returning after missing the last six games with a muscle injury.

Striker Martin Braithwaite, who signed from Leganes in February after Ousmane Dembele was ruled out for the season, is ineligible for European games.

The Danish international made his first start for Barca in the win over Real Sociedad and is likely to be used increasingly around Champions League matches in order to give rest to others.

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez is stepping up his recovery after undergoing knee surgery in January and could be available again for the quarter-finals of the Champions League if Barcelona make it past Napoli next week.

After the Napoli game, Barca are at home to Leganes on the weekend beginning March 21.

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