Barcelona loses key trio for Espanyol trip
Barcelona will be without Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Arthur and Ousmane Dembele for Sunday's (AEDT) LaLiga derby with Espanyol.
All three players have been left out of the 18-man squad for the clash with Abelardo's side.
Head coach Ernesto Valverde confirmed that goalkeeper Ter Stegen would be unavailable because of a knee tendon injury that also makes him a doubt for the Supercopa de Espana in Saudi Arabia.
Midfielder Arthur is expected to be out for three weeks with a groin problem, while forward Dembele has not yet recovered from his latest thigh muscle injury.
There is also no room in the squad for defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who has been linked with moves to AC Milan and Everton this month.
The good news for Barca is that Ansu Fati has been given the all-clear to travel, while Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal, who only trained for the first time since the holidays on Friday (AEDT), also are included.
Barca heads into 2020 with a two-point lead at the top of LaLiga.
