MADRID, April 12 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde is likely to use his side's visit to bottom of the table Huesca to try and rest key players ahead of the run in to the end of the season.
Barca travel to Huesca after a testing week and a half which saw them follow a dramatic 4-4 draw away to Villarreal with a 2-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid last Saturday and a 1-0 win away to Manchester United.
The triumph against Atletico means Barca need just 10 points from their last seven league matches to be crowned champions, while the victory in Old Trafford has given Valverde's side a foot in the last four of the Champions League.
Barca looked slightly flat in Manchester despite their win and with the return leg to be played in the Camp Nou on Tuesday, the Barca coach will look to rest key players.
Leo Messi looks set for a rest, especially after being hit in the face by Chris Smalling during Wednesday's win, while Sergio Busquets would clearly benefit from a rest after an error strewn display in Old Trafford.
Nelson Semedo will also step down with Sergi Roberto returning at right back, but although Valverde must be tempted to rest Gerard Pique, memories of his side's defensive errors when Pique sat out the draw in Villarreal, could mean it's Clement Lenglet who is rested for Samuel Umtiti.
Huesca have just 24 points from 31 league matches, although they still have a slight chance of avoiding relegation given that they are just six points from 17th place in the league and have games against direct rivals, Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal in the coming fortnight.
Although Barca beat Saturday's rivals 8-2 in the Camp Nou, Huesca coach Jose Rodriguez has made his side tough to beat since the turn of the year and Barca would do well to remember that Real Madrid only won 1-0 in the El Alcoraz earlier this season and two weeks ago they needed a last minute goal to beat them 3-2 in the Santiago Bernabeu.
Anything other than a win for Barca would be a surprise, but the 4-4 in Villarreal shows that if Barca do take their eye off the ball they can be made to suffer.
