How Koeman's Barcelona could line up in Clasico against Madrid

This Saturday's Clasico at Valdebebas will be crucial for both Barcelona and Real Madrid's title aspirations. Barça have cut the gap to leaders Atletico Madrid to one point in recent weeks, with Madrid just two points back from the Blaugrana.

Ronald Koeman will pick his strongest available team and will stick to the formation that, until now, has best served him, with a back three with Jordi Alba and Sergiño Dest as wing backs. Frenkie de Jong and Lionel Messi, who weren't booked against Real Valladolid on Monday, will be available for Koeman, although they're still a suspension risk moving forward.

The only doubt for Koeman is the possible return of Gerard Pique, along with that of Sergi Roberto. Pique is pushing to be involved despite not being cleared fit and risk are unlikely to be taken to preserve his knee.

Without Pique, the dilemma is whether to start Oscar Mingueza or Ronald Araujo, who has recently returned from injury. But everything suggests Koeman will stick with Mingueza, alongside De Jong and Clement Lenglet.

Sergio Busquets and Pedri will be the two central midfielders, flanked by Alba and Dest, with Ousmane Dembele, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in attack -- and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, of course, in goal.

Probable Barça side: Ter Stegen; Lenglet, De Jong, Mingueza; Alba, Pedri, Busquets, Dest; Griezmann, Messi, Dembélé.

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