FC Barcelona could be boosted by the returns of previously injured players such as Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong for El Clasico against Real Madrid on Saturday, as teased by head coach Xavi Hernandez in his pre-match press conference.
With Girona beating Celta Vigo 1-0 on Friday evening, Barca overcoming their bitter rivals at the Montjuic Stadium does not guarantee they will top La Liga.
It could put them two points ahead of Los Blancos, however, and a victory might have considerable influence on where the title ends up at the end of the season in late May.
For the tie that will be watched by a TV audience of hundreds of millions worldwide, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start in goal looking to keep his second consecutive clean sheet in the league.
In defense, it is Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez, Andreas Christensen, and central defender Ronald Araujo, who will be deployed at right back for his usual assignment of trying to contain dangerous winger Vinicius Jr.
In a midfield three, Ilkay Gundogan is the pivot in favor of Oriol Romeu, who has been struggling as of late and is not trusted to keep Jude Bellingham under wraps.
Joining the ex-Manchester City captain in the center of the park is Gavi, plus a Fermin Lopez who will want to repeat the screamer he scored against Carlo Ancelotti’s men during a Dallas preseason friendly held in the summer.
In a radical decision, Xavi will deploy right back Joao Cancelo as the right winger on the front line with 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal benched.
Ferran Torres is the striker, despite a last minute decision on Robert Lewandowski’s fitness that sees the Pole at least make the matchday squad.
On the left wing, Joao Felix seeks to damage a foe he knows only too well from his days on the other side of the capital divide at Atletico Madrid.
As for Real Madrid, Kepa starts in goal and has a defensive line of Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal in front of him.
In what looks to be a 4-4-2 on paper, Ancelotti opts for Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
With no natural number 9 other than Joselu on the bench, Brazilians Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo pair up looking to wreak havoc on the depleted Catalans.
