At a glance
- FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is expected to make changes to his starting line up against Espanyol.
- With a six-point advantage at the top, his team can afford to rest key players ahead of the Champions League.
- But still the win is important, to make it nine points and put one hand on the La Liga title.
FC Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has the luxury of being able to make changes to his line up thanks to Real Madrid’s slip up against Girona on Friday.
Los Blancos could only draw 1-1 with Barca’s Catalan neighbours on Friday. If the Blaugrana beat Espanyol in the derby then, they have the chance to go nine points clear.
Atletico Madrid in the Champions League is on the horizon too. However, it is also important to rest some players that will be key in trying to overturn a 2-0 quarterfinal deficit at the Metropolitano.
Gavi returns to a Barcelona starting line up
The main thing to take away from Flick’s expected first XI is that for the first time in five months, Gavi starts a match for his club.
With Pedri rested, the number 6 partners fellow Andalusian Fermin Lopez with Marc Casado behind them as the pivot.
On the front line, Ferran Torres is the left winger in Marcus Rashford’s place and Lewandowski the central target man. Yet Lamine Yamal is not afforded a breather because Flick wants him to start on the right wing.
Not as much as in the RCDE Stadium in January. But many eyes will be on Joan Garcia starting against his old club and looking to keep a 13th clean sheet against his old club.
Pau Cubarsi is suspended at the Metropolitan because of his red card, so he can start in central defence partnered by Ronald Araujo.
Coming in for Joao Cancelo, Alejandro Balde is picked for the first time since his injury. On the other flank, Jules Kounde is a familiar face that has reclaimed his spot.
Above all, this means that key names such as Joao Cancelo, Pedri and Eric Garcia are all recharging. At some point, however, Frenkie de Jong will be introduced. He’s also been injured, and the aim is to get him earning minutes before partnering Pedri against Atleti.
