Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski might feature for Barcelona against Real Madrid at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday.
Barcelona will look to leapfrog Real Madrid to the top of the table when the two La Liga giants clash at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday afternoon. And Xavi Hernandez might see a few first-team players returning to action this weekend.
Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski are in contention to feature. But with Barcelona not releasing the matchday squad, the trio’s participation is in doubt. But Sergi Roberto, Jules Kounde, and Pedri remain unavailable.
Meanwhile, Gavi is available to take on Real Madrid after missing the UEFA Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk due to a suspension. Xavi was coy while responding to questions about the availability of many players during his pre-match press conference. But he spoke at length about Pedri.
He said, “I was surprised too, players that we were ruling out want to be there, they feel better and we’ll see how they are tomorrow, we’ll have to wait to see the list tomorrow to see how they feel after training this afternoon. It’s fantastic that they all want to be available. He [Lewandowski] is fine, I will not give any line-up or clues, he is fine and I will decide tomorrow. If they [Lewandowski and de Jong] are 100% there is no problem for them to play.”
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
“We will never know if it’s the accumulated games in his first year, it’s the first thing you think about but we don’t know if it’s the main reason. We will never know. Injuries are multifactorial. With Pedri, we are on schedule.”
“There is no problem with Pedri or anyone else, if we have to highlight something it’s that players who had five weeks to be ready are ready in three weeks. And above all the predisposition of the players. The five players who were out are back.”
With Pedri unavailable and de Jong’s availability in doubt, Gavi, Oriol Romeu, and Ilkay Gundogan will form the midfield trifecta. Fermin Lopez will thus be an option on the bench, with fellow youth prospect Marc Guiu also being a candidate to be an impact substitute for Barcelona.
Lewandowski will start if he is fully fit. But with Barcelona’s matchday squad not out yet, we are going with Ferran Torres to spearhead the attack against Real Madrid, with Joao Felix and Lamine Yamal accompanying him in the offensive unit.
Finally, the defensive unit should see two changes. Andreas Christensen will return at the heart of the defence to pair up with Ronald Araujo. Meanwhile, Alejandro Balde will replace Marcos Alonso on the left flank, with Joao Cancelo being the right-back. The defensive quartet will protect Marc-Andre ter Stegen between the sticks.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Cancelo, Araujo, Martinez, Balde; Gavi, Romeu, Gundogan; Yamal, Torres, Felix
