FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has been forced to make a number of last-minute changes to his line up which will face Barbastro in the Copa del Rey on Sunday.
The likes of Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde were expected to start the potential banana skin fixture in the Huesca region, but a couple of unexpected set backs have put paid to that.
With Lamine, his red card in the Copa del Rey juvenil competition last season means that he has a two-match suspension to serve.
And as for Balde, a last minute knock has resulted in him not travelling with the first team for the match with a view to getting right for the Spanish Super Cup midweek.
As a consequence of these developments, Hector Fort is expected to start at left back while Raphinha mans the right wing in Lamine’s place.
To see Inaki Pena standing between the sticks in Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s place is nothing uncommon these days given the German’s recovery from back surgery.
Against Barbastro, though, Pena should also be replaced by Ander Astralaga as Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen complete the backline alongside Fort and Kounde.
After getting a surprise green light for the squad list, though, Inigo Martinez might get a few minutes at some stage in the proceedings.
With Ilkay Gundogan and Frenkie de Jong rested, Oriol Romeu is handed a rare start as pivot behind skipper Sergi Roberto – who has been impressive as of late – and the injured Gavi’s close friend Fermin Lopez.
Up top, Vitor Roque does not get the start that AS predicted as Ferran Torres is the lone striker with Joao Felix to his left and Raphinha to his right.
“I think physically he needs rhythm and minutes, and tomorrow he will have them. We’ll see how many,” Xavi said at his pre-match press conference of Vitor Roque.
“But yes, it’s a game for the less usual [starters to play]. It’s not an easy game. We know the precedents,” the under-pressure head coach added.
FC Barcelona Versus Barbastro Starting XI: Astralaga; Fort, Christensen, Araujo, Kounde; Romeu, Roberto, Fermin; Felix, Ferran, Raphinha
