Dani Olmo will replace Fermin Lopez in the Barcelona starting lineup when they host Deportivo Alaves at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Barcelona will be eager to return to winning ways when they welcome Deportivo Alaves to the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday afternoon. Hansi Flick has new roster issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Ronald Araujo is the latest absentee, as he has missed training due to a stomach bug that will keep him on the sidelines this weekend. Fermin Lopez is also unavailable after sustaining a calf injury, which will keep him in the treatment room for two weeks.
The Spanish international has joined Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gavi on the sidelines. However, Pedri will return to the matchday squad to take on Deportivo Alaves this weekend. During his pre-match press conference, Flick discussed Pedri’s impending return and provided fitness updates on Araujo, Fermin Lopez, and Raphinha.
The Barcelona manager said, “He [Araujo] has a stomach virus. He’s out of training today and will also miss tomorrow’s match. Athletic’s tackle affected him [Fermin], but he had no problems. It was after the match against Chelsea that he noticed some discomfort. There’s no other explanation.”
“He [Pedri] will definitely get some minutes against Alaves, but not from the start. We’ll see. He may also play those minutes in the first half. For me, he [Raphinha] is one of the most focused players in the team and I’ve missed him. He fits in very well with our philosophy and usually has a very positive impact on our game. He’s very good in transition.”
Raphinha and Pedri will start on the bench this weekend before featuring from the get-go next week. Meanwhile, Joan Garcia is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Deportivo Alaves. The backline will feature Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde.
As for the midfield unit, Marc Casado will line up alongside Frenkie de Jong in the double pivot, with Pedri being a backup option on the bench. Dani Olmo will reprise the no. 10 role, with Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford being the two wide attackers. Finally, Ferran Torres will lead the line for the home side against Alaves. So, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha will be among the second-half substitutes.
Predicted Barcelona XI: Joan Garcia; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Cubarsi, Balde; de Jong, Casado; Yamal, Olmo, Rashford; Torres
