The biggest game of the season has arrived for Barcelona as they face Real Madrid in the third and final El Clásico of the campaign looking for a win or a draw to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles against their biggest rivals at Camp Nou.
Here’s how we think Hansi Flick will line up his troops for Sunday’s battle:
Defense
Barça have had a full week to prepare for this game and Hansi Flick seems to have found his favorite team as of now, so we don’t think there will be many changes from the side that beat
Osasuna last week.
There will be one likely alteration at the back, however, as Jules Kounde returns from suspension and will start this one at right-back ahead of Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo, and the rest of the back four will remain as usual with Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín as the center-back duo and João Cancelo starting ahead of Alejandro Balde at left-back.
Midfield
Flick has continued to trust the combination of energy and playmaking of the double pivot of Gavi and Pedri, so we think Frenkie de Jong will continue to wait for his chance to return to the XI. Dani Olmo and Fermín López have started together in the last two weeks as rotating number 10 and left wing options, and we think they’ll be in the lineup again for this one as Raphinha is not expected to start.
Attack
Marcus Rashford has made decisive contributions off the bench in the last two games and has outplayed Roony Bargdhji on the right wing, so we think Flick will pick the Englishman to start this one ahead of the young Swede. The only main doubt about the lineup is who starts up front, and we think Flick will go with Robert Lewandowski instead of Ferran Torres to begin this one.
Possible XI: Joan; Kounde, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Rashford, Olmo, Fermín; Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)
How do you think Barcelona should line up against Real Madrid? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!
