Inigo Martinez and Pedri will return to the Barcelona starting lineup when they take on Athletic Club at San Mames on Sunday.
Barcelona will look to cut the gap to Real Madrid at the top of the table when they lock horns with Athletic Club at San Mames on Sunday evening. And Xavi Hernandez does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Ferran Torres is closing in on his return to action after recovering from a hamstring injury. But Sunday’s game has come too soon for him, and he does not feature in the travelling squad. In addition, Marcos Alonso, Alejandro Balde, and Gavi remain on the sidelines.
Xavi discussed Torres’s improving fitness during his pre-match press conference. The Barcelona boss said, “He is almost there and in principle he will be with the team next week. We didn’t want to take unnecessary risks with him.”
The former Spanish international spoke about Inigo Martinez’s return to his former stomping ground. He also discussed Joao Felix after his recent return from injury. On Martinez, Xavi said, “He is calm. He also returned to San Sebastian and had a great game. I don’t think his performance will change.”
On Joao Felix and his progress, the Barcelona boss said, “He has been injured and we are managing the loads well. The other day he was decisive again. He is comfortable in that position as a winger going inside.”
While Felix is regaining his sharpness, the Portuguese international will not feature from the get-go on Sunday. Instead, Pedri will start on the left-hand side of the offensive trifecta, reprising the advanced role again. The Spanish international will join Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the final third.
As for the midfield unit, Andreas Christensen will reprise the holding midfield role, which he has been reprising for most of 2024 thus far. The Dane will join Ilkay Gundogan and Frenkie de Jong in the middle of the park.
The backline should see one change, with Inigo Martinez replacing Pau Cubarsi in the central defensive pairing, accompanying Ronald Araujo at the heart of the defence. Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo should continue as the full-backs, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen will take his place between the sticks.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Inigo Martinez, Cancelo; Frenkie de Jong, Christensen, Gundogan; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Pedri
That good, let keep it up we can make it much love for FC Barcelona 🥰😍😍