Ansu Fati will return, but Sergio Busquets will be unavailable for Barcelona for the game against Villarreal on Sunday.
Barcelona will look to go 11 points clear at the top of La Liga when they lock horns with Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday night. And Xavi Hernandez has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Sergio Busquets is unavailable for the next few games after picking up an ankle injury against Sevilla. The Barcelona captain has joined Ousmane Dembele on the sidelines. Otherwise, Xavi has a full-strength travelling squad to take on Villarreal.
During his pre-match press conference, Xavi spoke about his potential team combination. And the manager gave nothing away apart from saying that he will miss Busquets. He said, “I never explain the team’s ideas in advance, but we will decide tomorrow. Busquets’ loss is important, we will miss him especially when it’s time to pause.”
Busquets’s absence means Gavi will likely drop in the trifecta in the middle of the park. The young Spanish international will join Frenkie de Jong and Pedri in the midfield unit. So Franck Kessie will again remain a backup option on the bench for the visitors.
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The defensive unit might remain unchanged, although Alejandro Balde will hope to start at left-back. But the Spanish international will be on the bench again, with Jordi Alba set to start. Alba will also don the captain’s armband in Busquets’s absence.
Jules Kounde should continue as the right-back in the absence of a recognised option for the spot. Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo will form the central defensive partnership again. And Marc-Andre ter Stegen picks himself between the sticks.
As for the offensive unit, Ansu Fati might return to the starting lineup. And Xavi addressed the mounting uncertainties surrounding the 20-year-old Spanish international. He also insisted that Barcelona would not sell Fati in the summer transfer window.
Xavi said, “Ansu Fati is non-transferable, like everyone in the squad right now. He’s a very important player. I have tremendous hope. We expect a lot from him, I have blind confidence in him. I have it with everyone. We have been shaping the squad based on what I have wanted.”
Fati should start on the left flank, taking up the spot that Gavi will vacate to drop into the midfield. Raphinha picks himself on the right wing in Dembele’s absence. And finally, Robert Lewandowski will spearhead the attack against Villarreal. Meanwhile, Ferran Torres will be a backup offensive option for Xavi.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Alba; Pedri, de Jong, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Fati
ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Alba; Kessie, Pedri, de Jong, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski