Published 12:38 IST, November 12th 2019
FC Barcelona: Messi, Suarez and other players on international duty
FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde will be relieved at recent LaLiga results. He will hope his players return without injuries during the international break.
Advertisement
After a tumultuous start to the 2019-20 LaLiga season, FC Barcelona currently find themselves at the top of the table on goal difference ahead of rivals Real Madrid who have the same number of points. Coach Ernesto Valverde will be praying to the gods that star players like Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez return to Spain without any injury niggles at the end of this week's international break. Here’s a list of FC Barcelona players on international duty this week.
Advertisement
Catch the highlights from FC Barcelona's recent LaLiga win against Celta Vigo
LaLiga: FC Barcelona players on international duty
Germany
FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will join up with his German teammates for their UEFA Euro 2020 qualification games against Belarus and Northern Ireland. Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer will also be training with the national team. It will be interesting to see who Joachim Low opts to go with for the two qualification games.
Advertisement
Netherlands
Summer acquisition Frenkie De Jong will join Netherlands in their UEFA Euro 2020 qualification campaign. De Jong will be expected to play a crucial role in both matches against Northern Ireland and Estonia this week.
Spain
There was a time when the Spanish starting 11 almost entirely comprised of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid players. Not anymore though, as Sergio Busquets was the only Spanish player to have been called up to the senior national squad. Busquets will be in contention to start in the two UEFA Euro 2020 qualification games against Malta and Romania this week.
Advertisement
Argentina
Without a doubt, Lionel Messi has been the most important player for FC Barcelona this season. Despite his injury struggles, Messi has nine goals this season and was crucial in Barca's 4-1 win over Celta Vigo over the weekend. Valverde will hope that Messi returns home without any injury problems while playing for Argentina.
Advertisement
Uruguay
Luis Suarez will join up with Edinson Cavani, Lucas Torreira and the rest of his Uruguayan teammates during the international break. Suarez will take on his teammate Lionel Messi's Argentina in a friendly match which will be played on November 18, 2019.
France
FC Barcelona duo - Clement Lenglet and Antoine Griezmann - will be in contention to feature for 'Les Bleus' in their Euro 2020 qualification campaign. France are currently second in Group H behind Turkey and will face Moldova and Albania this week.
Croatia
World Cup runner-up Ivan Rakitic will join his Real Madrid rival Luka Modric with the Croatia national team this international break. Croatia lead Group E and will be favorites to make it through to the final competition next year. They play Slovakia and Georgia on November 16th and 19th, respectively.
Brazil
Arthur Melo has been called up to the Brazil squad for the friendly matches against Argentina and South Korea this week. Brazil coach - Tite - has placed his trust in the Barca midfielder over the last couple of months. Expect Arthur to feature in the highly-anticipated Brazil-Argentina clash to be played on November 15, 2019.
02:07 IST, November 12th 2019