European champions Barcelona will have to play without the injured Neymar for their final La Liga game before Christmas at home to Deportivo La Coruna before moving off to the Club World Cup in Japan.
The Brazilian star’s absence due to a groin problem is a big miss as he has been Barca’s player of the season given Lionel Messi’s recent two-month absence due to a knee ligament injury, scoring 14 goals in just 13 league appearances.
Messi also missed training on Thursday due to personal reasons and was seen heavily stretching his hamstring towards the end of a depleted Barca side’s 1-1 against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, but is expected to be fit to start.
Luis Suarez was left on the bench for the trip to Germany as the holders had already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, and will return seeking to score for his ninth consecutive game.
Barca were left to rue a host of missed chances last weekend as they conceded late to draw 1-1 at Valencia and allow Atletico Madrid to cut the gap at the top to two points with Real Madrid two points further adrift.
And they face another stiff test at the Camp Nou against a revitalised Deportivo la Coruna side that are enjoying a return to their glory days after a number of seasons bouncing between the top-flight and the second division.
Lucas Perez’s 10 goals have propelled the Galicians up to sixth in the table and he is happy for Barca to be distracted by their upcoming trip to Japan.
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