Denis Suarez turns 23 and may get birthday present at Villarreal
The midfielder matured at El Madrigal and may be handed a start there on Sunday
In the first game of the year, he was one of the players surprisingly discarded by Luis Enrique. Denis Suarez was not at La Catedral. And then the coach showed his cards.
His idea was to take on Athletic Club with everything. With the trident, as expected, but also with the midfielders most used to demanding matches: Rakitic, Busquets and Iniesta were starters and there was no news during the game of Rafinha.
The rotation was clear and only Andre Gomes had minutes in midfield off the bench. The demands of the game at San Mames, though, will make Luis Enrique think about changes for Villarreal on Sunday.
Even more so considering that the second leg of the cup game is to come next Wednesday at Camp Nou. For Denis Suarez, who turned 23 on Friday, it would be the perfect birthday present to start at El Madrigal.
The last time the former Villarreal midfielder started was against Hercules. On that day he played with Andre Gomes and Rakitic, with Rafinha also starting, as one of the two wide players.
RETURN TO EL Madrigal
For Denis it will not be just any game. The Vigo-born player showed some of the best form of his career at Villarreal. He was a regular there last season and one their best players.
He played 45 games throughout the season, scoring five goals and providing 11 assists. Above all, though, it was a season which saw him mature as a player and earned him a return to Camp Nou.
