Explanations for the respective absences of Sergino Dest and Yusuf Demir from Barcelona’s squad to face Elche have been provided online.

Elche test

Xavi Hernandez’s struggling troops are of course currently locked in action at the Camp Nou.

The Blaugrana have welcomed relegation-battling Elche to Catalunya, eyeing a long overdue return to winning ways.

A 2-2 stalemate with Osasuna last weekend means that, as things stand, Barca sit in a lowly 8th in the La Liga table, amid a 3-game winless streak across all competitions.

As things stand early in the action on Saturday evening, the scoreline remains goalless.

Demir & Dest latest

As such, it goes without saying that Xavi was no doubt keen to have as many of his key performers as possible fit and available to feature from the off versus Elche.

This comes with the likes of Pedri, Ansu Fati and Martin Braithwaite already on the sidelines owing to respective fitness problems.

In the hours leading up to kick-off at the Camp Nou this evening, however, a pair of fresh Barca blows were confirmed.

First, word was forthcoming that Sergino Dest would play no part in proceedings against Elche, owing to an adductor injury picked up in training:

[COMUNICADOS MÉDICOS]

@JordiAlba ha recibido el alta médica

@sergino_dest tiene una sobrecarga en los aductores. Es baja y la evolución marcará su disponibilidad pic.twitter.com/qjOvVWEFES

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) December 18, 2021

Then, a short time ago, Dest was joined on the absentee list by Yusuf Demir, who misses out with an ‘upset stomach’:

LATEST NEWS | @yusufdemir_10 is out for today’s #BarçaElche due to an upset stomach pic.twitter.com/ML4fLSwNMv

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 18, 2021

Barcelona vs Elche live streaming: Watch La Liga online

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