How will Barça line up towards Athletic?
Barcelona look to maintain the momentum going from their wonderful win towards Villarreal with one other robust take a look at at Camp Nou as they welcome Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night time for a giant La Liga match.
After the disasters towards Inter Milan and Real Madrid, Barça rebounded in an essential method towards the Yellow Submarine with a powerful efficiency and a dominant victory. But Villarreal had been lacking their greatest gamers via harm, so it’ll take a giant win towards a very good group to show that they’re heading in the right direction once more.
And Athletic is a very good group, one of many perfect on this early league season because of an incredible job by former Barça supervisor Ernesto Valverde, and the Blaugrana will have to be at their perfect to win this one. Here’s how we expect Xavi Hernández’s troops will line up on Sunday.
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Xavi has some huge selections to make in terms of rotating his squad on this one with the large Champions League recreation towards Bayern Munich proper across the nook, however having already made modifications for the Villarreal match it’s unlikely we see a deep rotation of the facet for the go to of Los Leones.
But there most likely will likely be a few modifications on the again, with Jules Kounde more likely to be rested for this one having simply returned from harm. Eric García didn’t play on Thursday so it’s protected to imagine he’ll are available in for Kounde, and Héctor Bellerín will most likely begin at right-back to offer Sergi Roberto a relaxation earlier than Bayern.
Marcos Alonso possible retains his place at center-back until Xavi decides to offer Gerard Piqué one other probability, and Jordi Alba ought to stay the left-back after his wonderful exhibiting on Thursday.
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Frenkie de Jong had an exquisite efficiency towards Villarreal and deserves an prolonged run within the place he was meant to play at Barça all alongside, and the Dutchman’s stamina permits him to start out a number of video games in a row. Sergio Busquets shouldn’t be anyplace close to the beginning lineup for now, however can be the favourite to switch Frenkie in case Xavi decides to relaxation De Jong for Bayern.
Pedri performed all 90 minutes towards Villarreal which suggests he gained’t be beginning this one, and Franck Kessie can be his alternative alongside De Jong and Gavi in the course of the park.
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Ansu Fati joins De Jong on the listing of gamers who deserve an prolonged run of video games after his efficiency towards Villarreal, and it’s very clear that the Prince is a lot better as a starter with time to get into the sport as an alternative of being a substitute with the strain to vary issues immediately.
Fati ought to begin on the left wing, and Ousmane Dembélé might be returning to the facet after getting a relaxation on Thursday. Robert Lewandowski would profit from a relaxation earlier than Bayern, through which case Ferran Torres would possible begin up entrance as a false 9. But with Lewy substituted early towards Villarreal, it’s unlikely the Pole is overlooked of the group for this one.
Possible XI: Ter Stegen; Bellerín, Eric, Alonso, Alba; Kessie, De Jong, Gavi; Dembélé, Lewandowski, Fati (4-3-3)
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