Gavi will return to the starting lineup when Barcelona and Cadiz lock horns at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday.
Barcelona will look to get off the mark in the wins column when they welcome Cadiz to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday evening. And Xavi Hernandez has two new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Raphinha is serving a suspension after seeing red against Getafe last week. Meanwhile, Ronald Araujo picked up a hamstring injury in training this week and is out for the foreseeable future. The duo has joined Inigo Martinez on the sidelines and will not be in the matchday squad.
Meanwhile, the reigning La Liga champions are yet to register Marcos Alonso in La Liga due to Financial Fair Play issues. So the Spaniard will also be unavailable against Cadiz on Sunday. Xavi spoke about the injured players during his pre-match press conference.
The Barcelona manager also spoke about the issues in registering Alonso and Inaki Pena, saying, “Inigo will be with the group next week. We’re keeping an eye on the registrations, we’re optimistic. We’ll see if we can register Marcos and Iñaki.”
Barcelona vs Cadiz Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
On Araujo, he said, “Ronald got injured in training. We have to prevent and minimise injuries. How long he will be out depends on how he feels. I imagine that after the international break he will be fit. The calendar is very demanding. The other day Pep was rightly complaining. They don’t think so much about the players but about the business.”
Araujo’s absence will compel Xavi to use a replacement, with Sergi Roberto poised to start on the right flank. The Spanish international will don the armband for the home team. And Roberto will join Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Alejandro Balde in the backline. In goal, there is no looking past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Meanwhile, Xavi should fall back to his tried and tested 4-3-3 formation after utilising the 4-2-3-1 against Getafe. And the midfield trifecta should feature Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Ilkay Gundogan, with Gundogan making his home debut for Barcelona.
Oriol Romeu will thus drop to the bench, making way for Gavi, who will start on the left flank on paper. But the hosts will see their formation morph into a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond from time to time. Ez Abde should replace the suspended Raphinha, with Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres missing out. And finally, there is no looking past Robert Lewandowski as the central striker.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Roberto, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Pedri, de Jong, Gundogan; Abde, Lewandowski, Gavi
