How will Barcelona line up in opposition to Espanyol?

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FC Barcelona v UD Almeria - LaLiga Santander
Picture by Eric Alonso/Getty Photos

Barça play a giant Catalan Derby within the ultimate recreation of 2022

Welcome again, Barcelona soccer! After a seven-week break for the World Cup, the much-anticipated return of the Blaugrana to motion takes place on Saturday afternoon within the Catalan capital with a really robust Derby in opposition to crosstown rivals Espanyol on the Spotify Camp Nou.


Each worldwide returned during the last two weeks of coaching and most gamers are totally match and able to go, and Xavi Hernández received’t have an excessive amount of of a range headache in relation to availability forward of what's going to be a really busy post-World Cup schedule.


Barça have been notoriously unhealthy within the first match after a global break and should discover a solution to reverse that development in what's all the time a brutal matchup in opposition to Espanyol, even in a season the place they're within the thick of the relegation battle and in determined want of a outcome at Camp Nou. Right here’s how we predict Barça will line up on Saturday.



Protection

FC Barcelona v UD Almeria - LaLiga Santander Picture by Silvestre Szpylma/High quality Sport Photos/Getty Photos

The excellent news concerning the seven weeks off for Barça was that nearly all the injured gamers at the moment are wholesome and both totally match or near it. That's particularly essential on the again, which was combating accidents earlier than the break and badly wanted our bodies.


The most important information is that Ronald Araujo is again, however the Uruguayan might not be fairly prepared for this one after a protracted restoration from a groin damage. Jules Kounde, Eric García and Andreas Christensen are all out there, although, so at the least two of them will likely be within the lineup. Alejandro Balde will proceed to be the first-choice right-back till a brand new one is signed, and Jordi Alba ought to begin forward of Marcos Alonso on the left.


Midfield

FC Barcelona v UD Almeria - LaLiga Santander Picture by Alex Caparros/Getty Photos

Frenkie De Jong is as soon as once more concerned in annoying, unimportant conversations about his future at Barça, however his performances previous to the break proved that Barcelona are a greater workforce when he performs. He ought to begin Saturday and proceed to show that he ought to be the engine of Barça’s midfield for the subsequent decade.


Sergio Busquets is one other one together with his future up within the air, however it appears fairly clear the captain will keep till the tip of the season and there's zero indication he’ll be out of the workforce. He begins, which leaves one ultimate spot in midfield which can go to Pedri. Gavi is all the time in competition to play, however would possibly miss out on this one.


Assault

FC Barcelona - UD Almeria - La Liga Picture by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto through Getty Photos

Barça will likely be with out the suspended Robert Lewandowski for the subsequent three league video games, which presents an enormous problem for Xavi in relation to changing the workforce’s high scorer and greatest participant this season.


Memphis Depay had an excellent World Cup and is the pure substitute within the place, however Ferran Torres may also play centrally and was in nice kind earlier than the break. It appears that evidently the striker place will come between certainly one of them, with Ousmane Dembélé beginning on the suitable and Ansu Fati anticipated to be given a golden alternative on the left to play from the beginning and make a huge impact.



Potential XI: Ter Stegen; Balde, Kounde, Christensen, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Dembélé, Memphis, Fati (4-3-3)



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