MADRID, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona will welcome a host of first team regulars back into their starting 11 when the Liga Santander leaders entertain Eibar at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Barca coach Ernesto Valverde rested Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic and Clement Lenglet for their Copa del Rey tie away to Levante on Thursday and watched in evident frustration as the players who were given their chance to shine failed to take it.
Levante quickly took a 2-0 lead and in needed a couple of good saves from Jasper Cillessen to keep the score 2-0 before Philippe Coutinho scored a vital away goal with a late penalty.
However, Coutinho's penalty didn't stop him from being the target of much of the post-game criticism following an apathetic display in which virtually nothing worked out for the Brazilian.
Valverde's assistant Jon Aspiazu commented before the game that Coutinho wasn't playing "at the same level as last season," while in his post-match conference, Valverde was hardly conciliatory towards the Brazilian when he said "if a player isn't happy, then they have to work to turn the situation around."
That all implies Coutinho will start Sunday's game on the bench, with Messi, Suarez and Dembele (who played in Thursday) in attack, while Busquets, Rakitic and either Arthur or Arturo Vidal, play in midfield in front of a defense made up of Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet and Alba with Ter Stegen in goal.
Barca have a five-point lead at the top of the table and have a 10-point advantage over Real Madrid, who have a difficult game away to Betis. Should Barca win and Madrid slip up, that would effectively end Madrid's title hopes and leave just Sevilla and Atletico Madrid to challenge Barca's domestic hegemony this season.
Meanwhile following Thursday's disappointing performance and a shaky win over Getafe last weekend, Valverde will be looking to see his side get back to their best as they reach the halfway point of the campaign.
