Andres Iniesta ruled out for Barcelona vs Sporting Lisbon but Nelson Semedo and Gerard Deulofeu return

Nelson Semedo and Gerard Deulofeu are back in the Barcelona squad to face Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night (5 December) after the two summer recruits were rested by Ernesto Valverde for the 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo.

Andres Iniesta, Samuel Umtiti, Javier Mascherano, Arda Turan, Rafinha Alcantara and Ousmane Dembele will all miss the final game of the Champions League group stage due to varying injuries.

The captain was diagnosed with "muscle fatigue in his left calf" following the weekend clash with Celta but he could be back for the upcoming La Liga trip to Villarreal on Sunday [9 December].

Meanwhile, Umtiti will be out of action for around two months after he was forced off with a hamstring injury against Celta, meaning that the France international will miss the coming trip to Real Madrid on 23 December and all the fixtures in January.

Umtiti's injury has been an ill-time blow for Valverde with Mascherano remaining on the sidelines due to the hamstring injury sustained while on international duty with Argentina last month.

Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen are thus expected to lead the defence against Sporting with Valverde having susprisingly opted against promoting another centre-back from the second team to serve as a back-up.

"The situation is what it is and every time a player has come in he has done well. I am confident that those who play will do well as the squad is ready to resolve the problems which come up as we go along," Valverde said in the press conference ahead of the game before suggesting that midfielder Sergio Busquets and left-back Lucas Digne could be used as central defenders in case of emergency.

Barcelona have already guaranteed themselves a place in the last 16 as group winners, topping Group D with 11 points, three ahead of Juventus and four clear of Sporting.

Valverde suggested that he will rotate his squad after Lionel Messi was already rested during the previous Champions League goalless draw with Juventus.

Yet, the Barcelona boss says that his side will respect the competition, with Sporting and Juventus still battling for the second spot.

"It is a competition we enjoy and we have to be play well for our fans. The Champions League has given us a lot and we want it to continue doing so, so we have to respect it," the Barcelona boss added.

"Sporting are a great team. We know about their potential, the fact they take this competition very seriously, and their need for a result to qualify. They will look to beat us and as they need this win to advance from the group stages they will have to be offensive."