Marc-Andre ter Stegen is unavailable to represent Barcelona against Atletico Madrid at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday.
Barcelona will look to keep pace with Real Madrid when they welcome Atletico Madrid to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday night. And Xavi Hernandez does not have a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Gavi remains a long-term absentee due to the knee injury he sustained during the international break. Meanwhile, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has yet to recover from a back complaint and will not be available to take on Atletico Madrid this weekend.
Xavi confirmed ter Stegen’s unavailability during his pre-match press conference, saying, “He has been tested but he has a problem. He is not fit, he is ruled out for tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the Barcelona manager also discussed his team’s full-back options, with Alejandro Balde, Joao Cancelo, and Ronald Araujo being the subjects of discussion. On Balde, he said, “He had a good game against Rayo. He will be important, regardless of if Cancelo plays.”
Xavi then spoke about Cancelo and Araujo, saying, “It’s an alternative to play on the left. It’s positive for the coach and the team. And it’s a very good variant. He has a good one-on-one shot.”
Finally, Araujo’s recent comments about not liking the right-back role got this reply from Xavi: “The problem lies with the coaches. Some of them are still central defenders. They play where the coach tells them to. They adapt to the group and the wing position.”
Araujo will continue as the right-back, considering Xavi prefers more defensive cover on the right flank in the big games. The Uruguayan international will join Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Joao Cancelo in the backline. The defensive quartet will cover Inaki Pena, who will deputise for ter Stegen again.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Pedri, Ilkay Gundogan, and Frenkie de Jong. So, Oriol Romeu and Fermin Lopez will find themselves on the bench on Sunday, with the duo being options for later in the game. Finally, Robert Lewandowski will spearhead the Barcelona attack against Atletico Madrid, with Raphinha and Joao Felix completing the numbers in the offensive department.
Predicted Barcelona XI: Pena; Araujo, Kounde, Christensen, Cancelo; Pedri, Gundogan, de Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Joao Felix
