Samuel Umtiti returns to the bench for much-changed Barcelona | OneFootball

Samuel Umtiti is available for Barcelona for the first time since sustaining a muscle injury in early December.

Barcelona can extend their lead at the top of the LaLiga table to 11 points if they beat Real Betis on Sunday evening.

However, Ernesto Valverde faces a balancing act as his side have only four days rest until they look to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie against Espanyol.

The manager has made six changes from that first-leg defeat.

Marc-André ter Stegen is restored, while Jordi Alba and Nelson Semedo reclaim their places at full-back.

Sergi Roberto shifts to midfield, where he will play alongside Sergio Busquets and and the re-introduced Ivan Rakitic and André Gomes.

Luis Suárez is restored in attack to accompany Lionel Messi.

Philippe Coutinho is not yet fit enough to be included in the squad despite participating in training this week but Umtiti is on the bench, along with potential January departures Aleix Vidal and Gerard Deulofeu.

Rafinha is left out as he is in Milan completing his expected move to Inter.

Real Betis make two changes from the side that beat Leganés last weekend, with Jordi Amat and Aïssa Mandi coming in.