Pedri and Ronald Araujo will return to the Barcelona starting lineup against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin Stadium on Sunday.
Barcelona will be eager to keep pace with the front-runners in La Liga when they lock horns with Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin Stadium on Sunday evening. And Xavi Hernandez has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Andreas Christensen is the latest absentee, with the Danish defender sustaining a bruise on his right foot. The former Chelsea centre-back is not a part of the travelling squad to take on Real Betis this weekend.
In addition, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Joao Cancelo, Marcos Alonso, Inigo Martinez, Gavi, and Raphinha remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Xavi spoke about Cancelo and Vitor Roque during his pre-match press conference. He also discussed the impact of his first-choice midfield trifecta.
The Barcelona boss said, “It will be difficult for tomorrow, but I am optimistic for the Cup. He [Cancelo] tried but he was in pain. It’s logical that he won’t be here tomorrow, but he will be for the Cup. It wasn’t an injury, it was just a slight discomfort. The other day he [Vitor Roque] was very good. Quick, with depth… He’s one hundred percent and he’s a player who can give us things.”
As for the midfield unit, Xavi said, “We haven’t had them together very often and it has marked us a bit in the lack of continuity in the game. The midfielders are the identity and unfortunately, we haven’t had them together.”
Pedri, Gundogan, and Frenkie de Jong will form the midfield triumvirate, with Xavi eager to get the trio to know each other in the second half of the 2023/24 season. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski should return to lead the line for Barcelona against Real Betis. Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal will join him in the final third.
As for the defensive unit, Ronald Araujo will return to the heart of the defence, pairing up with Jules Kounde in the central defensive partnership. Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde should form the full-back pairing. Finally, Inaki Pena will take his spot between the sticks for the away side.
Predicted Barcelona XI: Pena; Roberto, Araujo, Kounde, Balde; Frenkie de Jong, Gundogan, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Torres
