Barcelona vs. Elche: Another vote of confidence for under-performing stars

Barcelona vs. Elche: Another vote of confidence for under-performing stars

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Koeman will make minimal -- or no -- changes to the side for Wednesday's La Liga game

FC Barcelona have their fourth consecutive game at Camp Nou and are under pressure -- obliged, even -- to win to get closer to league leaders Atletico Madrid.

Save any late changes, they are set to do so with the same team that succumbed to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and failed to beat Cadiz at the weekend.

That was the message that came from coach Ronald Koeman, who said the club's captains must lead the way and, at the same time, convince the younger players that they can still fight for silverware this season.

Wednesday's game against Elche should have been the first game of the season in September but was postponed due to Barça's involvement in the Champions League.

Gamper win

However, the two sides have already met twice since the summer. Barça beat Elche 1-0 in the Joan Gamper Trophy and won 0-2 at the Martinez Valero at the end of January.

Any result that is not a win on Wednesday will mean goodbye to the league. Barça are eight points behind Atletico and after facing Elche will have played a game more. On Saturday, they travel to third place Sevilla.

Therefore, Koeman's decided to pick with his usual team: Ter Stegen in goal; Dest and Jord Alba as the two full-backs flanking Pique and Lenglet; Busquets in midfield with De Jong and Pedri: and the Dembele, Messi and Griezmann trident in attack.

La previa del FC Barcelona - Elche CF de este miércoles en el Camp Nou (19.00 h)

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