Ernesto Valverde ignoring Barcelona's reserve options
Players like Rakitic, Dembele and Umtiti have not been used much yet
Barcelona's 3-1 defeat by Levante left a bitter taste in the mouth and provoked a hangover. Ernesto Valverde's side were able to stay top of La Liga because of Atletico and Real Madrid struggling, however.
THE SEVEN INVISIBLE MEN
Ernesto Valverde appears to have cut seven men out of his plans, certainly for the time being. Instead he relies on a block of 14 players to which he adds Ansu Fati and Carles Perez. Here are those he has left out...
IVAN RAKITIC
| PJ (Games played) | MIN (Minutes) | LES (Injured) | SANC (Suspended) | Not called up or left on the bench | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 233 | - | - | 5 | - | 1 |
Ivan Rakitic is the most dramatic case, going from eseential to invisible. His performance was questioned last season and the club consider his signing fully amortized. Rakitic didn't want to leave though and has paid the price by being left out, with Frenkie De Jong and Arthur Melo usually picked ahead of him.
OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ
| PJ (Games played) | MIN (Minutes) | LES (Injured) | SANC (Suspended) | Not called up or left on the bench | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 233 | - | - | 5 | - | 1 |
The French winger was left out of Valverde's plans to face Levante for tactical reasons - this time there was no injury or suspension. It seems he's behind Perez and Fati in the pecking order now.
SAMUEL UMTITI
| PJ (Games played) | MIN (Minutes) | LES (Injured) | SANC (Suspended) | Not called up or left on the bench | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 233 | - | - | 5 | - | 1 |
Barcelona are disappointed with the Umtiti situation - that he decided to play at the World Cup at the detriment of his knee. He's not hit the same level since, seemingly injured eternally.
JUNIOR FIRPO
| PJ (Games played) | MIN (Minutes) | LES (Injured) | SANC (Suspended) | Not called up or left on the bench | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 233 | - | - | 5 | - | 1 |
Watched from the stands despite supposedly being the man to sub in for Jordi Alba. Instead Valverde picked Nelson Semedo there ahead of him. Had an unfortunate debut against Granada and although he has improved since, it seems Valverde doesn't have faith in him.
Carles Aleñá
| PJ (Games played) | MIN (Minutes) | LES (Injured) | SANC (Suspended) | Not called up or left on the bench | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 233 | - | - | 5 | - | 1 |
Especially harsh treatment for the cantera player. Taken off against Bilbao in the opening day defeat and has not resurfaced since. When asked about Alena, Valverde speaks of the competition that exists in the squad.
JEAN CLAIR TODIBO
| PJ (Games played) | MIN (Minutes) | LES (Injured) | SANC (Suspended) | Not called up or left on the bench | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 233 | - | - | 5 | - | 1 |
Hardly plays for Barcelona and it's sad that he's gone nearly a year without playing, given he was stopped from playing by Toulouse before he joined the Blaugrana.
MOUSSA WAGUE
| PJ (Games played) | MIN (Minutes) | LES (Injured) | SANC (Suspended) | Not called up or left on the bench | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 233 | - | - | 5 | - | 1 |
Not played a single minute for the Catalans and appeared on the bench twice - against Osasuna and Getafe. Valverde keeps putting Sergi Roberto at right back when Semedo isn't playing there.
