Barcelona look for a strong start to their Champions League quarter-final tie against Atlético Madrid when they meet the Colchoneros in the first leg at Camp Nou just four days after their hard-fought La Liga clash at the capital.
Here’s how we think Hansi Flick will line up his troops for Wednesday’s battle:
Defense
Diego Simeone was able to rest most of his starters on Saturday, a luxury Hansi Flick was not afforded given the importance of a win for the title race. But the Barça coach is still going to pick
a strong lineup, and this is what we expect.
Barça had an injury scare at the back on Saturday when Ronald Araujo was forced off with a minor muscle issue, but the Uruguayan will be available for this one. We don’t think he’ll start, however, with Jules Kounde playing a solid half-hour at the weekend that should have him ready to go at right-back on Wednesday. Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín will remain the center-back pairing, and we think João Cancelo will continue at left-back ahead of Alejandro Balde.
Midfield
Frenkie de Jong remains a major doubt and is unlikely to start even if he makes the squad, while Marc Bernal won’t be available with a sprained ankle suffered in Madrid. That leaves Marc Casadó and Eric Garcia as realistic options to partner Pedri since Gavi is probably not ready to start, and we think Flick will choose Eric to have more defensive solidity in midfield. Dani Olmo was very good at the weekend while Fermín López struggled, so we think Olmo will start in the number 10 role in the first leg.
Attack
Flick decided to rest Robert Lewandowski after a busy international break, and the Pole came off the bench to score the winner and prove why he’s the man to lead the line on Wednesday ahead of the struggling Ferran Torres. Marcus Rashford also found the net at the weekend and has earned the chance to start this one on the left, while Lamine Yamal will start on the right and again look to dribble past the entire Atleti defense as he did on Saturday.
Possible XI: Joan; Kounde, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Eric, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Rashford; Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)
How do you think Barcelona should line up against Atlético? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!
