Xavi introduced Jules Kounde straight again into Barcelona’s workforce for Sunday’s Clasico conflict with Actual Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kounde, a big-money signing from Sevilla, returned to coaching earlier this week after recovering from a hamstring difficulty sustained on worldwide responsibility with France in September.
His return to the beginning XI, which marks his Clasico debut, got here on the expense of Gerard Pique, who was culpable for one among Inter’s objectives in Wednesday’s 3-3 draw within the Champions League, which left Barca on the point of an early exit from the competitors.
Frenkie de Jong additionally got here into the workforce, changing Gavi, whereas Marcos Alonso made means for Alejandro Balde at left-back.
Xavi caught with the identical entrance three that began in opposition to Inter, with Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha flanking Robert Lewandowski, the latter two, like Kounde, making their Clasico debuts.
BARÇA XI #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/fgIDOQCuLY
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 16, 2022
Lewandowski has scored six objectives in eight conferences with Actual Madrid, all within the Champions League, making him the participant who has scored essentially the most objectives in opposition to Los Blancos within the historical past of that competitors.
Sergio Busquets, in the meantime, will equal Francisco Gento (21 wins) because the participant with essentially the most victories in Clasico historical past in all competitions ought to Barca win.
Carlo Ancelotti was unable to name on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has did not get better from harm in time to characteristic for the hosts, so Andriy Lunin retained his place.
Ancelotti was in any other case capable of title what many would take into account a first-choice XI, spearheaded by Karim Benzema, who has been concerned in 20 objectives in 38 Clasicos, a document solely bettered by Lionel Messi within the twenty first century (40).
