Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has left Spain playmaker Xavi and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez out of his squad for Sunday's La Liga match at Valencia.
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Argentine Martino, who took over from the ailing Tito Vilanova last month, told a news conference on Saturday it was their turn to have a rest after their exertions in Wednesday's Spanish Super Cup triumph against Atletico Madrid.
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Barca's World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who missed last weekend's 1-0 La Liga win at Malaga with a bruised thigh, came through a full training session on Saturday, while fullback Adriano has been given the all-clear by medical staff, the club said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es).
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Barca top the La Liga standings on goal difference after winning their opening two matches but still have plenty of room for improvement, Martino said.
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"What the team needs is to improve its teamwork and that will help improve individual players," he told reporters at Barca's training facility outside the Catalan capital.
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"How do we improve that? Working in training, coordinating movement with the fullbacks and the central players. We have to harmonise our movement."
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Barca have conceded only one goal in four competitive games this term but against Malaga and Atletico struggled to create clear chances.
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"It is positive that they are not scoring against us and we have not allowed many scoring opportunities," Martino said.
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"It's also true that we have to score more goals from the forward line," he added.
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Andres Iniesta or Cesc Fabregas are likely to fill in for Xavi in central midfield on Sunday, with Pedro joining Messi and new signing Neymar in a three-pronged attack.
I think they really deserve that rest. It's a well deserved one!