Xavi has already decided Barcelona’s starting lineup for PSG game – report
Despite club football being on a two-week hiatus, Xavi continues to work behind the shadows for FC Barcelona. The Spanish tactician is busy strategising for the first leg against PSG in the UCL quarterfinals, a game scheduled to take place in three weeks.
The clash at Parc des Princes, in many ways, is Barcelona’s most important game of the season.
A win would put the team in the driver’s seat to progress to the final four, and even the final of the event but a defeat could crush any hopes of progressing.
Who will be available?
According to AS, Xavi already has a clear picture of the starting lineup he will field for the first leg, and his decision has been helped by a clear update from the medical team regarding the players who will be available.
For starters, Ferran Torres is expected to be back fit after the international break, almost guaranteeing his participation against the Parisiens. Frenkie de Jong is likely to make the cut as well, given that his recovery is going on track.
Pedri’s participation on the night is still unclear, especially considering that the club will be extra-cautious with his return given his poor fitness record.
The final update concerns the players who were unavailable against Atletico Madrid – Joao Cancelo and Andreas Christensen, both of whom are expected to be for the big clash.
The manager’s XI
The Spanish outlet thus relays that Xavi will deploy Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in goal in Paris, guarding his posts with Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi in central defence.
Joao Cancelo and Jules Kounde, unsurprisingly, will continue to start at left-back and right-back respectively. Notably, Xavi does not appear pressed to field Araujo on the right to combat Mbappe.
The midfield will be constituted by Andreas Christensen as the pivot with Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan placed as the interiors.
Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal are guaranteed places in the XI at centre-forward and right-wing respectively. The only dilemma in Xavi’s head is around the player on the left wing as he vacillates between Ferran Torres and Raphinha.
With a well-poised balance of youth and veterans, the manager hopes to undo PSG at home and take an advantage back to the Montjuic.
