Ronald Araujo and Raphinha will return to the Barcelona starting lineup against Celta Vigo at the Balaidos on Saturday.
Barcelona will be eager to return to winning ways when they lock horns with Celta Vigo at the Balaidos on Saturday evening. And Xavi Hernandez has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Oriol Romeu is in the travelling squad after resuming full training with the first-team squad. In addition, Vitor Roque is back after serving a suspension last weekend against Granada. But Sergi Roberto, Alejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso, Gavi, Ferran Torres, and Joao Felix remain on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Xavi discussed team news updates during his pre-match press conference. He also spoke about speculation surrounding some players, including Frenkie de Jong and Gavi.
The Barcelona boss said, “They [Romeu and Sergi Roberto] are both still struggling with discomfort and are a step away from returning. If not tomorrow, it will be against Napoli. Alonso is improving. He’s a player who would have had a lot of minutes with Balde out. We hope to have him soon.”
On de Jong and Gavi, he said, “Frenkie is a very important player and he is happy at the club. This is not the time to talk about this. There are four months of the season left and we are not talking about departures. We are thinking about La Liga and the Champions League.”
“Frenkie had some good games and some not so good games, like the whole team. We have lacked consistency and regularity. We all have to take a step forward. Gavi must stay. For me there is no colour. Gavi has to be the Barça of the future.”
Frenkie de Jong will take his usual spot in the middle of the park, accompanying Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri in the midfield trifecta. So, Andreas Christensen might drop out, with Xavi having one eye on the upcoming UEFA Champions League clash with Napoli.
The defensive unit should see a change, with Ronald Araujo replacing Pau Cubarsi as Inigo Martinez’s central defensive partner. Joao Cancelo and Jules Kounde should continue as the full-backs, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen featuring between the sticks.
One final change should have Raphinha returning to the offensive department, with Pedri moving into the midfield role. The Brazilian international will join Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski in the final third.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, I Martinez, Cancelo; F de Jong, Gundogan, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
