Barcelona look for a third consecutive La Liga win when they travel to the Asturias region for a meeting with newly-promoted Real Oviedo at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium.
The Blaugrana have been excellent since the international break and now look to build momentum in the league to continue chasing leaders Real Madrid, and will be big favorites against an Oviedo side which has scored just once this season and has lost four or their first five games so far.
Here’s how we think Hansi Flick will line up
his troops for Thursday’s battle.
Defense
Barça have two big games at home after this one against Real Sociedad and PSG, and Flick will likely go with his strongest possible team in those matches, so we are expecting a little more rotation than usual for this one.
Joan Garcia will retain his place in goal, as will Jules Kounde and Gerard Martín at the full-back spots, but we are expecting a couple of changes at center-back with Pau Cubarsí and Ronald Araujo coming in for Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen. Flick has often rotated both of his central defenders between games this season, and we think that’ll be the case again in this one.
Midfield
We also anticipate a couple more changes in midfield, although one is forced thanks to Fermín López’s unfortunate injury at the weekend which will keep him out for around three weeks. Dani Olmo will naturally inherit the number 10 spot, looking to take advantage of the opportunity to build momentum as the starter.
The double pivot of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong continues to dominate games, and they’ll be hugely important against Sociedad and PSG so we are expecting both to have their minutes managed in this one. We think Marc Casadó will start for Frenkie, with De Jong then replacing Pedri in the second half if the game situation allows it.
Attack
We are expecting one more change up front for this one: Robert Lewandowski started the last two games in a row and played all 90 minutes at the weekend, so we think the Pole will get a rest in this one and the in-form Ferran Torres will start up top, opening the door for Marcus Rashford to return to the lineup. Lamine Yamal is back in training but still not ready to return, so Raphinha will keep his place on the right wing.
Possible XI: Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martín; Casadó, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Rashford; Ferran (4-2-3-1)
How do you think Barcelona should line up against Oviedo? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!
