Barcelona return to La Liga action on Sunday looking to put their disappointing Europa League exit in the rear-view mirror.

Xavi’s side were eliminated by Manchester United at Old Trafford, ending their European adventure for another season, but they are on course for La Liga title success after a superb first half of the season.

19 wins have been accrued from 22 games to date and Barça’s eight-point advantage at the top of the table could be maintained, or even stretched, with a win over Almeria – a side who have never beaten them in La Liga.

Here’s how Barça could line up come 5.30pm on Sunday.

Pablo Paez 'Gavi'

Gavi will be a welcome sight to see / Alex Caparros/GettyImages

GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – The German has shipped just seven goals in 22 La Liga outings so far – the kind of record that wins you titles.

RB: Jules Kounde – “It’s true there’s a lot of disappointment,” were the words of Kounde after Thursday’s defeat to Man Utd. The Frenchman will hope to channel that negative result into a positive one here.

CB: Ronald Araujo – Picked up a slight injury niggle in midweek but nothing that should rule him out of Sunday’s encounter.

CB: Andreas Christensen – Was left out in favour of Marcos Alonso in the first leg but ended up replacing the Spaniard later in the game anyway.

LB: Jordi Alba – A surprise omission to some from Thursday’s clash, Alba’s minutes will continue to diminish as Alejandro Balde establishes himself more and more in the first team.

CM: Sergio Busquets – Yet to sign a new deal at Camp Nou or commit elsewhere, it’s anyone’s guess where out of contract Busquets is going to end up this summer. He’ll end up starting here, most likely.

CM: Franck Kessie – Yet to really stamp his authority in Barcelona’s midfield, Kessie may be given another opportunity to impress from the start.

CM: Frenkie de Jong – Was on the receiving end of Manchester United boos at Old Trafford, but still played with an elegance that few others can.

RW: Raphinha – A couple of flashed efforts over the bar aside, Raphinha had a pretty quiet outing in the Europa League and must do more in Ousmane Dembele’s absence.

ST: Robert Lewandowski – 25 goals and counting this season for Lewandowski, who has shown that his goalscoring exploits stretch far beyond the Bundesliga.

LW: Gavi – Barcelona’s Europa League exit was largely down to a lack of creativity. Luckily Gavi has shown spade fulls of it this season, so his return from suspension will be most welcome.

Credit: 90min.com

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