Ousmane Dembele and Adama Traore should start, but Ronald Araujo and Pedri could be rested when Barcelona face off against Levante in La Liga.
Barcelona will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways when they travel to Estadio Ciutat de Valencia on Sunday night to lock horns with Levante in La Liga.
Manager Xavi Hernandez has a new roster concern leading up to the game. Senior defender Gerard Pique is ruled out due to a thigh injury he picked up in midweek against Eintracht Frankfurt. He joins Sergino Dest, Memphis Depay, Sergi Roberto and Samuel Umtiti on the sidelines. Ansu Fati is back in training but is not ready to return to action yet.
Levante vs Barcelona Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
Providing an update on Pique in his presser, Xavi said (h/t Barca Blaugranes), “He’s making a tremendous effort. These last two months he’s been incredible, he’s been playing at a high level. The other day we took him out because he wasn’t feeling great. He won’t play tomorrow and we’ll see on Thursday. He wants to try, he’s committed, but we’ll see how he feels.”
With a vital game against Eintracht Frankfurt coming on Thursday, Xavi might rest a few of his key players for Sunday’s clash against Levante. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a guaranteed starter in goal. Jordi Alba is a certainty to feature at left-back, given the lack of alternatives.
Dani Alves, who was ineligible to play in the midweek tie, ought to return at right-back in place of Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan has been playing without a break and could do with a rest on Sunday. Instead, Eric Garcia and Clement Lenglet should pair up at the heart of the Barcelona defence against Levante.
Pedri, too, has had little rest of late. Considering his injury problems this season, it would bode well for Barcelona to give the youngster a break against the relegation battlers. In his place, Nico Gonzalez, who has not started a league game in close to three months, should get the nod. Sergio Busquets should hold on to his place in the lineup while Frenkie de Jong comes in for Gavi in the third midfield slot.
Ousmane Dembele, who did not feature from the start against Eintracht Frankfurt, should come into the lineup on Sunday. He should occupy the left flank while Adama Traore keeps hold of his place on the right. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked rusty in the last game and could be given a breather, with Ferran Torres moving into a central role for Barcelona against Levante.
Barcelona Predicted XI: ter Stegen; Alves, Garcia, Lenglet, Alba; de Jong, Busquets, Nico; Adama, Torres, Dembele
