Pedri and Frenkie de Jong will not take the field for Barcelona against RCD Mallorca at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Friday.
Barcelona will aim to get back to winning ways when they welcome RCD Mallorca to Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys on Friday evening. And Xavi Hernandez has new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are the latest absentees, with the latter sustaining a hamstring injury and the former picking up an ankle issue. The duo has joined Alejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso, and Gavi on the sidelines.
In addition, Ronald Araujo is unavailable due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Meanwhile, Xavi spoke about Pedri during his pre-match press conference, addressing several questions on the young midfielder.
The Barcelona manager said, “What we are trying to do is injury prevention, I think we have done an impeccable job, especially Pedri. I have already told him that this is the last injury. It’s not as serious as we thought. I’m sure he’ll come back and be important. He’s not the first player to be injured. I’m sure he’ll come back and be important. He’s not the first player to be injured.”
“This is not the first one that happens to him that at the beginning of his career, he has a lot of injuries and then he doesn’t get injured anymore. It’s not easy to manage the pressure at his young age, I think there’s an issue that he has to convince himself that he will recover and be fine.”
“The important thing for Pedri is that he is well. It’s not about coming back on the day of the Clásico, nor about recovering for the European Championship. He doesn’t have to think about anything other than recovering 100%. With Albert Luque we are in constant contact, I have a good relationship. He’s from Terrassa just like me.”
Pedri’s absence will bring Lamine Yamal back into the starting eleven. The youngster will likely accompany Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the final third. As for the midfield unit, Fermin Lopez should replace Frenkie de Jong. The youngster will join Ilkay Gundogan and Andreas Christensen in the middle of the park.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. The defensive quartet should feature Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Joao Cancelo, with Martinez replacing the suspended Araujo.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Cancelo; Gundogan, Christensen, Fermin Lopez; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
It’s really hard for us to miss this two players