“Does he have a love story with Xavi” – Barcelona fans claim 'massively overrated' 22-year-old is in the line-up against Real Sociedad due to ‘politics’

Barcelona take on Real Sociedad on Thursday (April 21) in a crucial La Liga clash, but fans are unhappy with Xavi Hernandez's team selection.

The Blaugrana are aiming to bounce back following a shock 1-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened Cadiz last time out. The loss left Xavi's team 18 points off leaders Real Madrid.

Barca currently lie fourth in the table, three points clear of Real Betis with two games in hand, as they look to secure another season of Champions League football.

Xavi made four changes to the starting lineup from the Camp Nou defeat on Monday. However, he has decided to keep faith with Ferran Torres, much to the annoyance of Barcelona fans.

Torres joined the Catalonian club in January following a transfer from Manchester City, in a deal that Transfermarkt claims was worth around €60 million.

The Spanish international has since scored four goals and provided three assists in his 11 Liga appearances so far, but fans have been less than impressed with their new winger.

Here are some of the best reactions to the news that the 22-year-old Spaniard is starting at the Reale Arena:

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Barcelona aiming to bounce back from humilating defeat

Following their crushing Europa League quarter-final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, the expectation was that Barca would steamroll over Cadiz in their next game. The expectations were not unfounded, given the opposition was in the bottom three before kickoff.

However, Xavi's team put in a lackluster performance, in which their attack looked completely toothless, and did not manage to find the net despite taking 18 shots.

The hosts were hit with a sucker punch early in the second-half when former Arsenal forward Lucas Perez buried a chance to condemn Barca to their first top-flight defeat in 16 games.

They will however be confident of a victory over Sociedad, having not lost to tonight's opponents in 14 games. This includes a 4-2 win in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.