The Clasico XI Xavi is planning for Sunday
The Barcelona coach has one main issue to wait for
Xavi Hernandez is approaching the end of the week with clear ideas ahead of Sunday's Clasico. The FC Barcelona coach is only awaiting the confirmation of Pedri's recovery to be able to define the XI to face Real Madrid.
In principle, Pedri will be available. The Tenerife-born player has been feeling good in recent training sessions and, if he feels as good as he did beforehand, he will be in the squad with the intention of starting the game.
Pedri is a basic piece in the Barcelona team. If he is fit enough to start, there would be no doubts. Xavi would play with the formula of the four midfielders. That is to say, with Busquets, De Jong, Pedri and Gavi a bit more advanced on the left. The same midfield with which he crushed Los Blancos in the Spanish Super Cup final.
In front of them, Raphinha will take Dembele's place compared to the match in the Middle East, while Lewandowski will be the reference point at centre-forward. The Brazilian has scored Barcelona's last two goals in the narrow wins over Valencia and Athletic.
At the back, Ter Stegen, of course, will be in goal. His defensive wall will be made up of Araujo at right-back, having served his suspension, Kounde and Christensen at centre-back, while Balde will be at left-back.
Araujo will swap roles with Kounde, as usual in the Clasicos, as he is the player with the best characteristics to stop Vinicius. In addition, Kounde has shown in recent games that he is much better at centre-back. Christensen, with his consistency, is a key player.
On the left, Balde is destined to do a lot of damage with his forays forward. Madrid always suffer against the home-grown player, who is supported by Gavi, who swivels back to leave him free to go forward.
The plans would only change if Pedri is not fit. Xavi could continue with the four midfielders, with Kessie in place of the former Las Palmas player, to win the midfield battle.
In any case, it is also possible that Ferran Torres could be chosen to start on the left and only three midfielders selected given the good form that the Valencian has shown in recent games.
So, the eleven that Xavi will try to field against Real Madrid may well be as follows: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Busquets, De Jong, Pedri, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski.
