FC Barcelona Vs. Athletic Bilbao Preview: Forced Lineup Changes

Head coach Xavi Hernandez will be forced to make changes to his FC Barcelona lineup when the Catalans host Athletic Club in La Liga on Sunday.

With Real Madrid slipping up at Sevilla with a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening, the Blaugrana have a chance to cut the lead at the top of the table to just one point ahead of El Clasico.

From his Bilbao-based opposition, however, Xavi expects a a “difficult match as always” against an outfit who are “very strong physically and technically well endowed”.

“[Ernesto] Valverde is a great coach and he likes to press high. I’m expecting a tough opponent, we’ve got some players [out] but that’s no excuse. We need our people, there’s a great atmosphere at the Montjuic [Stadium],” Xavi explained at his prematch press conference Friday.

As Xavi implied, the Blagurana have been depleted thanks to injuries picked up by numerous members of his squad.

And while Raphinha, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong still need time to recover, the manager confirmed that a group who were also sidelined in Ronald Araujo, Ilkay Gundogan, Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal will all be available for the fixture at hand.

Of the quarter, three of them make their way into the starting lineup. In central defense, it is instead Inigo Martinez – playing against the club of his life since joining Barca on a free transfer in the summer – and Andreas Christensen who get the nod ahead of Ronald Araujo, who excelled on international duty for Uruguay against Brazil midweek.

At left back, Alejandro Balde will help the duo in trying to guarantee a clean sheet for Marc-Andre ter Stegen as Joao Cancelo mans the other wing.

Midfield sees Oriol Romeu deployed at pivot behind Gundogan and a Gavi looking to build on his excellent form standing in for Pedri in a more attacking role.

On the front line, Ferran Torres has one of his last chances to impress as a striker in Lewandowski’s absence, and is flanked on the wings by Joao Felix and Lamine Yamal.

FC Barcelona Starting XI vs. Athletic Club: Ter Stegen; Balde, Inigo Martinez, Andreas Christensen, Joao Cancelo; Romeu, Gavi, Gundogan; Felix, Ferran, Lamine Yamal