FC Barcelona v Cordoba: Last game of the year

Leo Messi is among the squad of 18 for the game with Cordoba / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
FC Barcelona see out 2014 with their first league game against Cordoba for 42 years

Barça are in action at the Camp Nou this Saturday in their last fixture of 2014. The guests are Cordoba in a crucial encounter after the 0-0 draw at Getafe allowed Real Madrid to stretch their lead to four points. This weekend, Barça have the chance to narrow the gap as the all-whites are currently in Morocco for the Clubs World Cup final against San Lorenzo.

The Catalans have already made partial amends for the points dropped last week with an emphatic 8-1 win against Huesca in the cup, meaning they have now won nine of their last ten matches.

Neymar back

The Brazilian is over his ankle trouble and has been included in the squad of eighteen announced on Saturday morning. Luis Enrique is missing the injured Dani Alves and Vermaelen, and has also opted to do without Bartra, Douglas, Masip and Sergi Roberto.

This is Cordoba’s first league game at the Camp Nou for 42 years, although they were here two years ago for a cup match. Miroslav Djukic replaced former FCB defender Albert Ferrer as manager of the Andalusian outfit a few weeks ago, and his main doubt for this game was Fede Cartabia, although the Argentinian winger has finally been included in the visiting squad.