MADRID, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde knows his side will have to improve when they resume their Champions League campaign in Lyon on Tuesday night.
Although Barca moved eight points clear at the top of the Liga Santander in Spain with a 1-0 win at home to Valladolid on Saturday night, it was far from vintage Barca and follows similar disappointing performances against Athletic Club Bilbao, Valencia and Real Madrid.
Barca have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, perhaps because of a fixture calendar which saw them play twice a week since the start of 2019, with only last week allowing a brief midweek respite.
If fatigue is the issue, then things are not going to get better for Valverde, whose players now face another intense fortnight with European football combined with the a difficult league game away to Sevilla, followed by the semifinal of the Copa del Rey away to Real Madrid and four days later another game away to Real Madrid in the league.
The good news for Barca is that central defender Samuel Umtiti is back to fitness after a long struggle with a knee problem and has been included in the squad for Tuesday's game away to Oympique Lyon, although it is unlikely he will start against his former club.
Umtiti's return is balanced by another injury to Thomas Vermaelen after the fragile Belgian strained a calf muscle in Saturday's win against Valladolid.
Barca will have all of their firepower available in Lyon with Leo Messi and Luis Suarez leading the attack along with Ousmane Dembele, while Philippe Coutinho may have to wait for his chance from the subs' bench as Valverde doesn't trust his defensive contribution in midfield.
Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal are likely to start in France with Carles Alena on the bench as Arthur Melo remains sidelined with a thigh injury.
Jordi Alba slots in to offer width and pace left back with Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet forming the central defensive pairing and Valverde has to decide between Nelson Semedo or Sergi Roberto at right back with Marc Andre Ter Stegen in goal.
Last season saw Barca crash out of the quarterfinals against Roma and although he signed a contract extension with the club last week, Valverde knows he needs to improve on that this time around and to do that, his players need to hit form - tired legs or not.
