Xavi has needed to take care of a mountain of accidents in the beginning of 2023/24 season which has seen Barcelona battle via the opening act of their title defence.
Whereas they have not been particularly dazzling on the attention at instances, Barca have nonetheless been productive. The Catalans head into Saturday’s El Clasico only a level off Actual Madrid on the prime of La Liga, whereas their victory over Shakhtar Donetsk within the Champions League on Wednesday meant they maintained their 100% begin to the group stage.
Xavi is hopeful of welcoming again a number of stars key to their success final season again to the fold quickly, with the Catalonian media citing Saturday’s Clasico because the potential return date for Barca’s present absentees.
Nevertheless, it stays to be seen what number of will characteristic. This is how Barcelona might line up for Saturday’s El Clasico.
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Barcelona’s backline hasn’t been fairly as stringent in comparison with final season, however Ter Stegen has nonetheless already saved 4 La Liga clear sheets on dwelling soil.
RB: Joao Cancelo – It will be fascinating to see the place a maverick like Cancelo matches in on Saturday given Xavi will possible method the competition with warning.
CB: Ronald Araujo – The dominant Uruguayan has beforehand had success one-on-one in opposition to Vinicius Junior however Actual Madrid’s system change means we cannot see a strict man-marking job this weekend.
CB: Andreas Christensen – Christensen has arguably performed his greatest soccer alongside Jules Kounde, however the Frenchman misses out this weekend as a result of damage.
LB: Alejandro Balde – The younger left-back earned minutes off the bench in midweek and needs to be recent for Saturday’s Clasico.
DM: Oriol Romeu – The cautious Romeu has an enormous function to play in all phases in opposition to a stellar Madrid midfield. Can the veteran metronome decelerate Jude Bellingham?
CM: Fermin Lopez – La Masia’s Lopez has impressed in virtually all of his appearances to date this seaosn and was on the scoresheet in opposition to Shakhtar Donetsk. Xavi might welcome Frenkie de Jong again to the fold, however Lopez deserves his large likelihood.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – These had been the kinds of video games Gundogan had a behavior of turning up in in the direction of the top of his Manchester Metropolis profession. Xavi wants the easiest of the German this weekend.
RW: Lamine Yamal – The record-breaking teenager has all of the makings of a famous person and the easiest have a tendency to save lots of their most majestic brilliance for video games of this magnitude.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – There’s optimism surrounding the striker’s standing for Saturday and Xavi will begin Lewandowski if the Pole believes he is able to go.
LW: Gavi – Xavi has hardly ever opted for this ploy in the beginning of 2023/24, however he might revert to it in opposition to a compact Madrid facet. The Barca boss might ask Gavi to tuck in from a large left place in a bid to match Madrid in the midst of the park.
