Luis Suarez has recovered from a muscular injury in time to play for Barcelona today at Camp Nou against Rayo Vallecano.
The Uruguay forward missed several training sessions this week and was a major doubt for the game, but he rejoined his teammates in their workouts on Thursday and is deemed healthy enough to take on Rayo.
“Luis Suarez is 100 per cent fit,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.
That is good news for the Spanish champions, whose Argentine forward Lionel Messi is out with a knee injury while Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta is sidelined with a hamstring problem.
“Due to circumstances, we have to accept to work with those players that are available and rotate less. But that should not be an excuse,” Enrique said.
“My only concern is that Messi recovers well and not that he is available for this game or the other.” Suarez, who has three goals and set up one more in six Primera Liga starts, will partner Neymar in Barca’s attack.
Barca lost for the second time this season in a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla before the international break. The outcome dropped Barca to fourth in the standings, and Enrique is wary of today’s opponents.
“Rayo has always been a difficult rival for us and I expect a challenging game tomorrow,” he said.
Rayo, 15th in the table, are looking to avoid a third straight defeat after falling 3-2 at Sevilla and 2-0 at home to Real Betis.
Rayo coach Paco Jemez is excited about playing Barcelona.
“Barca can be beaten and Sevilla and Celta already proved this,” Jemez told Marca.
“We are going there determined to bring home three points.”
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