FC Barcelona head coach will make various rotations when his side travels to Real Valladolid on Saturday night for a vital La Liga fixture.
The Catalans currently boast a four-point advantage over bitter rival Real Madrid at the summit, yet they’re nursing tired legs thanks to a gruelling 3-2 extra time win over Los Blancos in the Copa del Rey final in Sevilla last weekend, which came just a few days before Wednesday’s instant classic against Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals.
Barca was clearly tired at the beginning of the meeting with the Italians and conceded two early goals.
Thanks to the genius of Lamine Yamal, however, Hansi Flick’s men swiftly pulled one back and were equal by half time.
Denzel Dumfries again put the Nerazzurri ahead with less than half an hour to spare, but Raphinha hit a screamer from the edge of the 18-yard box to make it 3-3 and set up a thrilling second leg at the San Siro on Tuesday.
With that in mind then, Flick has to make rotations to make sure as many of his starters as possible are fresh to try and help their club advance to the UCL final for the first time in a decade.
FC Barcelona will rotate on every line
Perhaps the most interesting change right off the bat is Wojciech Szczesny being replaced by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who makes his first start since suffering what was expected to be a season-ending injury at Villarreal back in September.
With Alejandro Balde expected to return against Inter, Gerard Martin keeps his place at left back.
Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez hit the bench, and they’re replaced by Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo.
Jules Kounde is injured, so Eric Garcia can do an audition for possibly getting the right back nod in the Champions League semifinal second leg.
In midfield, Pedri gets a much-needed rest so that Gavi can team up with the number 8’s usual dance partner Frenkie de Jong.
Standing in for a Dani Olmo that has been unflattering in his last two outings, Fermin Lopez is the CAM flanked by Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.
Olmo won’t be cut altogether, though, because he’ll be the false number 9 on this occasion with a third consecutive chance to impress.
What FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said
“It’s our job to return [well] to La Liga, it’s the most important thing because this title is the most honest. You have to play the whole season at the highest level. It doesn’t matter where Valladolid are next season, they are now in the First Division.
You can lose the title in these matches. We suffered a lot against Las Palmas, Leganés… and the team knows it.”
FC Barcelona Line Up Vs. Real Valladolid: Szczesny; Martin, Christensen, Araujo, Eric; Gavi, De Jong; Ansu, Fermin, Ferran; Olmo
