After months of experimenting after the summer transfer window, Xavi has finally found his ‘gala’ starting lineup at Barcelona. It’s his go-to, and the most straightforward choice for big games across all competitions.
It features Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen in central defence, with Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde flanking them on the left and right, respectively.
The trio of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Sergio Busquets start in midfield, with Gavi on the left-wing as a pseudo-attacker. Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski are the forwards, playing on the right side and centrally, respectively.
However, with a jam-packed schedule on their end, Xavi has not had too many opportunities to rotate and give time to all players. This includes players like Eric Garcia, Ferran Torres, and Ansu Fati, all three of whom were starters not too long ago.
Mundo Deportivo says the Spanish trio is expected to start tonight as Barcelona take on Cadiz in the league. Rotations are imminent, given the Catalans will travel to Old Trafford on Thursday to face Manchester United.
However, these minutes are crucial for all three, especially considering how little they have played. Garcia, in particular, has been demoted to fifth-choice centre-back in a team with four centre-halves by trade.
Xavi prefers the services of Marcos Alonso in the backline over the 22-year-old, presumably because of the left foot.
As for Ferran, the former Manchester City man has started just six games in the league this season, and a combined total of just 648 minutes. He has been competing with Dembele, Raphinha, Gavi, and Fati for a spot on the wing.
A lot of his lack of game time is due to his poor form in front of goal. The Spaniard has scored two goals in La Liga, but has missed six big chances.
Finally, playing in every single game this season, Fati is almost definitely expected to start tonight. He just just 772 minutes to his name, during which he has scored three goals and given three assists.
