There are two doubts about Barcelona’s line-up for the match against Real Madrid. The first is to look for an ‘anti-Vinicius’ and the second is to see if it is better to exchange blows with Ancelotti’s men with three strikers or to populate the midfield more and gain control of the ball.
Let’s go by parts. In goal, Ter Stegen is untouchable, but from then on everything in defense depends on the ‘anti-Vinicius’ plan. Everything points to Alexander Baldethe player with the most legs at Barça will change bands to keep an eye on the white star. Araújowho would be the chosen one, is injured and the second option, Koundé, comes out of injury too soon. The Frenchman points more to the center with Eric than to the side. On the left wing, Marcos Alonso is the favorite.
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In the center of the field there two safe players: Pedri and De Jong. Oddly enough, ownership of Busquets is questioned. If he didn’t play, De Jong would be a midfielder, but it seems difficult for Xavi to make such a drastic decision. And if what he wants, as he pointed out in the previous press conference, is to populate the midfield, Gavi could come out as false left winger in the way that Andrés Iniesta did for many seasons.
If Busquets, opedri, De Jong and Gavi come together in midfieldthere are only two places left in attack, which would clearly be for Lewandowski, while Dembélé and Raphinha would fight to accompany him. The French, in these cases, always starts with an advantage.
