Ronald Koeman has his XI for Barça's first La Liga game vs. Villarreal

Ronald Koeman has his XI for Barça's first La Liga game vs. Villarreal

Ronald Koeman dando instrucciones a Trincao durante el FC Barcelona-Elche del Gamper
Ronald Koeman dando instrucciones a Trincao durante el FC Barcelona-Elche del Gamper | VALENTÍ ENRICH

The Dutch coach will pick the same side that started the Joan Gamper Trophy

Ronald Koeman recognised that the final friendly of preseason, a 1-0 win against Elche in the Joan Gamper Trophy, was a dry run for the first game of La Liga. Barcelona's campaign starts against Villarreal at Camp Nou on Sunday. 

The new Barça coach, save any setbacks in training this week, will pick the same team against Villarreal that started against Elche. 

Neto will start in goal with Marc-Andre ter Stegen injured, with a back four, right to left, of Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Jordi Alba. 

The two midfielders will be Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong, with Miralem Pjanic not yet up to speed, and the front four will feature Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho. 

Koeman has other options, such as Ousmane Dembele and Francisco Trincao. He also has Pedri, who has impressed in preseason despite only being 17. 

The rest of the squad are either reserves or not in Koeman's plans. In the first group is Iñaki Peña, Araujo, Aleñá, Braithwaite (currently injured), Junior Firpo, Riqui Puig and Konrad. In the second group is Semedo (set to join Wolves), Matheus Fernandes (currently injured), Todibo, Rafinha and Luis Suárez.

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