TEAM NEWS: Fabregas and Busquets return for Barcelona against Spartak

20-Nov-2012 9:20:00 PM

TIto Vilanova makes four changes to the side that beat Zaragoza while the hosts are thankful to be able to welcome back their only fit goalkeeper

Barcelona have made a few switches for their crucial clash with Spartak Moscow, though the hosts will be relieved they can welcome back their first choice shot-stopper Andriy Dikan for the match in Russia on Tuesday evening.

Javier Mascherano returns to the Catalans starting line-up to replace skipper Carles Puyol, and will join Gerard Pique at the heart of the back four which also sees Dani Alves reinstated.

The other two changes from Saturday's victory over Zaragoza are that Sergio Busquets comes back into the midfield in place of Alex Song, while David Villa sits out to make way for Cesc Fabregas.

The departing Puyol, Villa, Song and Martin Montoya are joined on the bench by Jose Manuel Pinto, Jonathan Dos Santos and Gerard Deulofeu.

Andriy Dikan returns for Spartak Moscow, who at one stage were struggling to find a fit goalkeeper when third-choice Artem Rebrov joined Dikan and Sergei Pesyakov on the injury list.

Barcelona: Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Mascherano Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Fabregas; Pedro, Iniesta, Messi.

Spartak Moscow: Dikan; Kombarov, Insaurralde, Suchy, Makeev; Carioca, Kallstrom, Jurado, Kombarov; Ari, Emenike.