Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Xavi's Supercopa clasico lineup in Saudi Arabia
Barça have gone with four midfielders against Madrid in Riyadh on Sunday
FC Barcelona want to start 2023 by lifting a trophy. Xavi Hernandez's side play the final of the Spanish Supercopa against Real Madrid at 8:00 p.m CET., a Superclásico that will decide who starts the year with the first piece of silverware available in Spain.
And Xavi has gone with his most competitive XI. The Barça coach has picked four midfielders, with Pedri acting as a false left winger, with Gavi, Busquets and Frenkie de Jong in the engine room.
A similar formation, by the way, to the one that Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti will use, with Valverde acting as a false right-handed winger.
Barça's attack will be Lewandowski and Dembélé, who has just come off a great performance against Real Betis in the semifinal.
Xavi's most notable 'surprise' comes in the defensive zone. In theory, Araujo will act on the right side to stop Vinicius, while Koundé and Christensen will form the axis of the defence. Balde will be on the left side -- in defence and attack.
BARÇA XI:
Ter Stegen; Araujo, Koundé, Christensen, Balde; Busquets, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Dembélé & Lewandowski.
MADRID XI:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Mendy; Kroos, Modric, Camavinga; Fede Valverde, Vinicius & Benzema.
