Predicted Barcelona lineup against Cadiz: Christensen, Joao Felix to return; Lewandowski suspended

Andreas Christensen and Joao Felix will return to the Barcelona starting lineup against Cadiz at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Saturday.

Barcelona will look to keep the faint La Liga title hopes alive when they lock horns with Cadiz CF at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Saturday night. And Xavi Hernandez has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

Alejandro Balde and Gavi remain long-term absentees for the home side. In addition, Xavi will be bereft of the services of Inigo Martinez, Joao Cancelo, and Robert Lewandowski, with the trio serving a suspension in this weekend’s La Liga game against Cadiz.

However, the former Spanish international greeted the returns of Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri earlier this week in the UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, Xavi answered questions on Vitor Roque and Ilkay Gundogan during his pre-match press conference, confirming the former’s participation in this weekend’s league game.

The Barcelona boss said on Vitor Roque, “We’ve prepared a video for him for tomorrow, he’s a player who can give us a lot of things. Tomorrow he will surely have minutes: we have to take advantage of the way he can kick in space and try to get him to understand the positional play.”

On Gundogan potentially getting some rest on Saturday, Xavi said, “Yes, we want to rest him but it’s not easy. He’s playing spectacularly, we’ll see tomorrow, he’s not a teenager.”

Despite Xavi’s comments, we should see Gundogan getting some rest, with Fermin Lopez returning to the starting lineup. The young midfield prospect will should join Sergi Roberto and Frenkie de Jong in the middle of the park, with Xavi easing Pedri back into the thick of things.

Meanwhile, with Lewandowski unavailable, Ferran Torres should lead the line for Barcelona against Cadiz. The frontline should see another change, with Joao Felix replacing Lamine Yamal. So, Raphinha will retain his spot, although he will move to the right flank.

As for the backline, Cancelo’s absence through suspension means Hector Fort will get another chance to impress. The teenage sensation should join Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde in the defensive quartet, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen retaining his spot between the sticks.