Barcelona stands on the verge of securing their first trophy of the season, but a formidable challenge awaits against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España on Sunday.
Xavi’s squad secured their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Osasuna, yet the performance left fans unconvinced ahead of the impending Clásico. On the other side, Real Madrid advanced with a chaotic 5-3 win against Atletico Madrid, revealing vulnerabilities that Barcelona aims to exploit.
The setback for Barcelona is the injury to Brazilian winger Raphinha, who suffered a hamstring blow and is unavailable for the final. Here is the anticipated starting lineup that Xavi is likely to deploy against Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España, adopting a 4-3-3 formation:
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Goalkeeper (GK): Inaki Pena
– Pena, seizing the opportunity in Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s absence, faces his most significant test yet.
Right-Back (RB): Jules Kounde
– Kounde, starting in the semi-final at right-back, is expected to continue, especially with Joao Cancelo’s return unlikely.
Center-Backs (CB):
– Ronald Araujo: A crucial player for Barcelona, Araujo is constantly linked with a move away.
– Andreas Christensen: Assuming Martinez doesn’t recover in time, Christensen is set to retain his place.
Left-Back (LB): Alejandro Balde
– Balde, contributing to the typical back four, will aim to pose an attacking threat from the left.
Central Midfielders (CM):
– Pedri: Assuming fitness, Pedri is likely to start, offering a significant boost for Xavi.
-Ilkay Gundogan: The German, instrumental in Barca’s first goal against Osasuna, needs to enhance creativity.
Central Midfielder (CM): Frenkie de Jong
– De Jong, pursuing more trophies with Barcelona, eyes success in the 2022/23 season.
Right Wing (RW): Lamine Yamal
– Yamal, stepping in for the injured Raphinha in the previous match, is expected to earn a starting position.
Striker (ST): Robert Lewandowski
– Scoring in the previous game, Lewandowski will need to be sharp against the challenge posed by Real Madrid.
Left Wing (LW): Joao Felix
– With Ferran Torres falling short in the last match, Joao Felix is likely to replace him after an impactful performance off the bench.
The clash against Real Madrid presents a crucial opportunity for Barcelona to claim Supercopa de España glory.