Lamine Yamal and Frenkie de Jong will return to the Barcelona starting lineup against UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday.
Barcelona will aim to end the two-game winless run when they welcome UD Las Palmas to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday afternoon. And Hansi Flick has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Lamine Yamal is fit and available after recovering from an ankle injury. Ferran Torres should also be in contention to take on UD Las Palmas on Saturday. However, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, and Ansu Fati remain on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Marc Casado is also unavailable due to suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the 2024/25 season. During his pre-match press conference, Flick discussed team news updates and spoke about Yamal’s recovery, among other topics.
The Barcelona manager said, “In training, you could see how the team is coming along well and we have players coming back, we have a good situation. He is back and ready to play, we haven’t decided if he will start, I think he can and will play.”
Flick also issued an update on the recovery and impending return of Ronald Araujo, saying, “He’s [Araujo] already training, he’s getting better every day. And at a higher intensity. I wouldn’t say a specific date, but he’s very close to playing matches again.”
With Araujo still unavailable, there is no looking past Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez as the central defensive pairing. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde should be the two full-backs, with the latter replacing Gerard Martin. Inaki Pena will retain his spot between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against UD Las Palmas.
As for the midfield unit, Marc Casado’s absence through suspension means Frenkie de Jong will pair up with Pedri in the double pivot. So, Gavi will be an option on the bench, with Dani Olmo reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for the home side, with Raphinha and the returning Lamine Yamal being the two wide attackers.
Predicted Barcelona XI: Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; de Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
