Barcelona have rested six first team players for Wednesday’s closing Champions League group stage match against Benfica.
Barca welcome the Portuguese to the Camp Nou already assured of top spot in the group and so have taken the opportunity to rest a number of key men.
Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Javier Mascherano, Pedro Rodriguez, Jordi Alba and Cesc Fabregas have all been omitted from Tito Vilanova’s 18-man squad for the Group G encounter.
Lionel Messi, ever closer to Gerd Muller’s record of goals scored in a calendar year, is a notable inclusion and is joined by a number of B team players including Cristian Tello, Gerard Deulofeu and Sergi Roberto.
Barcelona squad to face Benfica: Valdes, Pinto, Pique, Puyol, Villa, Messi, Thiago, Dos Santos, Sergio, Montoya, Adriano, Song, Sergi Gomez, Sergi Roberto, Deulofeu, Planas, Rafinha, Tello
