Pedri will replace Frenkie de Jong in the Barcelona starting lineup when they host Villarreal at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday.
Barcelona will be eager to remain on the summit of La Liga when they welcome Villarreal to Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon. Hansi Flick has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Gerard Martin and Frenkie de Jong are the latest absentees for the home side. While Martin will serve a suspension after picking up a milestone yellow card last weekend, de Jong is unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
The Dutch playmaker has joined Andreas Christensen (knee) in the treatment room. However, Gavi may be in contention to feature for the home side after continuing on his recovery trail this week. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Flick provided a fitness update on de Jong.
The Barcelona head coach said, “Every team has problems and we have to manage them. We have quality and different options. Others will get opportunities.We have different options; Frenkie’s quality is difficult to replace, but it gives us the chance to play others. I don’t look at those who can’t play, but at those who can; I don’t want to talk too much about the injured players so as not to make excuses.”
Flick also addressed questions about his players’ physical condition, saying, “If you had asked me before the Atleti game, I would have said yes, but games change. Now we’re focused and want to show our best side; I think that’s something we have to do. The important thing is to win, win, and win.”
Joan Garcia is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Villarreal on Saturday.