SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA:BARCELONA COACH Frank Rijkaard has kept faith with the majority of the squad that played in last week's goalless Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United for tomorrow's return encounter at Old Trafford.
Captain Carles Puyol returns after being suspended for the goalless draw at Camp Nou and takes the place of Rafael Marquez, who is banned.
The only other change sees Brazilian utility man Edmilson, who was injured for the first meeting, drafted back in with young Mexican forward Giovani dos Santos the player to make way.
Ronaldinho and back-up goalkeeper Albert Jorquera remain sidelined through injury, while Oleguer and Santi Ezquerro have been omitted from an 18-man squad by Rijkaard.
Midfielder Yaya Toure was unable to take part in squad training yesterday morning after sustaining an ankle injury during Saturday's 2-0 Primera Liga defeat at Deportivo La Coruna, but he has also been included in the travelling party.
Barcelona fielded a second-string side against Deportivo and paid the price, losing their seventh game in Primera Liga this season.
Rijkaard was clearly focused on tomorrow's Champions League semi-final second leg, retaining only three starters from the first-leg scoreless draw. Rijkaard had left Lionel Messi, Xavi and Samuel Eto'o out of the squad, and with Gabriel Milito and Andres Iniesta suspended, it was an unfamiliar line-up in La Coruna.
Juan Rodriguez and Pablo Amo took advantage of sloppy marking to put Deportivio in front in the second half as Barcelona effectively bowed out of the title race.
The visitors dominated possession without managing to open up the massed home defence in the first half. Teenage striker Bojan Krkic provided Barca's greatest threat with a couple of efforts, but Rodriguez slotted home Angel Lafita's pull back from the touchline just after the break.
The home side took control of the game and defender Amo was left unmarked at the back post to nod in a free kick as Barca made it one win from nine in the league.
Villarreal kept the title race alive yesterday after edging a 1-0 win away to Real Betis thanks to a breathtaking goal from Marcos Senna. The midfielder fired the ball into the top corner from a metre inside the Betis half to earn his side a win that deprived leaders Real Madrid of the chance to wrap up the title at home to Athletic Bilbao last night.
The victory cemented Villarreal's hold on second place in the standings and left them four points clear of Barcelona with four games left to play.
Real restored their 10-point advantage at the top last night when they defeated Bilbao 3-0 at the Bernabeu. Javier Saviola open the scoring in the 14th minute before Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved a Joseba Garmendia penalty. Arjen Robben got Real's second on 74 minutes and Gonzalo Higuain wrapped up the win three minutes later.
Atletico Madrid remain in fourth spot, six points behind Barca, after drawing 1-1 at Getafe.
