Dembele to debut vs Espanyol
MADRID: The most expensive player in Barcelona’s history will take to the field for the first time on Saturday as Ousmane Dembele debuts in a Catalan derby against Espanyol. The arrival of the 105m-euro Frenchman is a much-needed tonic for Barca in the midst of continuing institutional chaos with ongoing public clashes between the board and leading players.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu claimed new contracts for Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, whose deals expire next summer, were a matter of time on Tuesday only for Iniesta to flatly deny that claim a day later.
On the field Barca need to ensure they don’t suffer their habitual hangover from international breaks known locally as the “FIFA virus”.
This time last year Barca suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to Alaves as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez started on the bench following their international commitments.
With Messi and Suarez only arriving back in the Catalan capital on Thursday after two cru- cial World Cup qualifiers in South America, Espanyol will rarely have a better chance for a first win at the Camp Nou since 2009.
COUTINHO LEFT OUT LONDON: Philippe Coutinho will be left out of Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Manchester City, with manager Juergen Klopp saying the Brazilian needs training time to make up for his disrupted preseason.
Coutinho, who has not played for Liverpool so far this season due a back injury, submitted a transfer request after the club received and rejected bids for him from Barcelona during the transfer window.