Ernesto Valverde has all his men at his disposal as Barcelona get set to host Real Madrid at Camp Nou in the final El Clasico of the season on Sunday.
Barcelona and Real Madrid will lock horns for the final time this season in the 238th El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday, with little at stake except bragging rights and an unbeaten run. Ernesto Valverde will be looking to get a step closer to enjoying an ‘Invincible’ season, and has very little hampering his preparations.
The Barcelona boss has a full-strength squad at his disposal ahead of Real Madrid’s visit, with Sergi Roberto available after serving a one-match ban against Deportivo La Coruna last weekend. The Spaniard should return to the starting lineup, slotting in at right-back in place of Nelson Semedo.
Roberto is likely to line up alongside Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Jordi Alba in the first-choice back four. Behind them, there’s no replacing Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been a goalkeeping extraordinaire for Barcelona this season and will be aiming to keep another clean sheet on the night.
In midfield, Andres Iniesta was a minor concern due to a calf injury. But, the Barcelona captain has shrugged off the problem to be available for his 38th and final El Clasico. Unsurprisingly, Valverde was asked about the departing veteran in his pre-match press conference.
“It’s not the last league game. Iniesta has the recognition of everybody, including the players and the fans, because of what he’s done for Barça and Spanish football. We have three more games left and I do not know if tomorrow will be Andrés Iniesta’s last game with Barça. The first and last are always the most meaningful.”
Iniesta should start on the left side of midfield, with the in-form Philippe Coutinho likely to be deployed on the opposite flank. Between the duo, the tireless pair of Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets should shore up the midfield, keeping things tight in the middle and recycling the ball at pace.
Upfront, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have been getting the bulk of the goals for Barcelona all season and should once again line up alongside each other in attack, with Paco Alcacer and Ousmane Dembele the impact substitutes, if need be.
Ernesto Valverde has all his men at his disposal as Barcelona get set to host Real Madrid at Camp Nou in the final El Clasico of the season on Sunday.
Barcelona and Real Madrid will lock horns for the final time this season in the 238th El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday, with little at stake except bragging rights and an unbeaten run. Ernesto Valverde will be looking to get a step closer to enjoying an ‘Invincible’ season, and has very little hampering his preparations.
The Barcelona boss has a full-strength squad at his disposal ahead of Real Madrid’s visit, with Sergi Roberto available after serving a one-match ban against Deportivo La Coruna last weekend. The Spaniard should return to the starting lineup, slotting in at right-back in place of Nelson Semedo.
Roberto is likely to line up alongside Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Jordi Alba in the first-choice back four. Behind them, there’s no replacing Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been a goalkeeping extraordinaire for Barcelona this season and will be aiming to keep another clean sheet on the night.
In midfield, Andres Iniesta was a minor concern due to a calf injury. But, the Barcelona captain has shrugged off the problem to be available for his 38th and final El Clasico. Unsurprisingly, Valverde was asked about the departing veteran in his pre-match press conference.
“It’s not the last league game. Iniesta has the recognition of everybody, including the players and the fans, because of what he’s done for Barça and Spanish football. We have three more games left and I do not know if tomorrow will be Andrés Iniesta’s last game with Barça. The first and last are always the most meaningful.”
Iniesta should start on the left side of midfield, with the in-form Philippe Coutinho likely to be deployed on the opposite flank. Between the duo, the tireless pair of Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets should shore up the midfield, keeping things tight in the middle and recycling the ball at pace.
Upfront, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have been getting the bulk of the goals for Barcelona all season and should once again line up alongside each other in attack, with Paco Alcacer and Ousmane Dembele the impact substitutes, if need be.