With Maxwell out after not yet recovering from a hernia, there are 17 first team players on the list, including Puyol and Milito, who are joined the three B team youngsters Thiago, Montoya and Sergi Roberto.

As well as Maxwell, the other unfit players are Abidal, Bojan and Adriano.

Team talk involving reserves

On Monday, the team trained behind closed doors at the Camp Nou. Before going onto the pitch, the coach gathered his players for a half-hour discussion in the dressing room. Carles Puyol and Gaby Milito trained normally, and the B team’s Thiago, Rafa Alcántara, Planas, Montoya, Muniesa and Benja all joined in. Andrés Iniesta worked out in isolation.