FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make no changes to his starting line up when facing eternal … More
Getty ImagesFC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make no changes to his starting line up when facing eternal rival Real Madrid, in what is essentially a La Liga title-deciding edition of El Clasico on Sunday in Montjuic.
The Catalans are reeling after hopes of a historic quadruple were dashed by Inter Milan midweek.
Flick’s men went to the San Siro with the score of a Champions League semifinal tied 3-3. Once more, they came back from 2-0 down to the Italians to end up tying, and even went 3-2 ahead thanks to Raphinha’s goal near the death of regular time.
In a controversial incident, however, Gerard Martin was robbed of the ball and Francesco Acerbi equalized on 93 minutes. That came ahead of Davide Frattesi putting Simeone Inzaghi’s side through to a second final since 2023 with a 99th minute winner, and it remains to be seen how a young side reacts to that heartbreak against Madrid.
Rather than ring the changes for a clash that Barca goes into with a four-point advantage over Los Blancos, however, Flick will choose the same side once more.
That means Wojciech Szczesny starts in goal, with Gerard the left back and Eric Garcia on the opposite flank while Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez form a central defensive partnership.
Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are the midfielders, with CAM Dani Olmo in front of them while having Lamine Yamal and Raphinha by his side.
As Robert Lewandowski still isn’t 100% fit, Ferran Torres remains the central number 9.
On the opposite side of the ball for Madrid, in what is probably head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s last Clasico in the dugout, Thibaut Courtois starts in goal supported by a back four of Fran Garcia, Raul Asencio, Aurelien Tchouameni and Lucas Vazquez.
Dani Ceballos and Fede Valverde team up in the center of the park, with Jude Bellingham – who memorably scored a Barca-sinking brace in Montjuic in this fixture last term – the CAM.
With Rodrygo snubbed, Arda Guler replaces him on the right wing while Vinicius Jr. is on the left.
Kylian Mbappe is the target man, and like Bellingham will look to repeat his brace-scoring feat for PSG at this ground in the UCL quarterfinals in 2023/2024.
FC Barcelona Starting XI Vs. Real Madrid: Szczesny; Gerard, Inigo, Cubarsi, Eric; Pedri, De Jong; Lamine, Olmo, Raphinha; Ferran
Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. FC Barcelona: Courtois; Fran Garcia, Asencio, Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez; Valverde, Ceballos; Vinicius, Bellingham, Guler; Ferran
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