Frenkie de Jong out, €70m player in – Predicted Barcelona starting XI for La Liga clash against Girona | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are now set to take on Girona today in La Liga at the Montjuic Stadium. The Catalan derby is now here, and both sides will want to make sure that they end up winning. However, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona side know that they simply cannot afford to drop points.

For La Blaugrana, this is yet another game that they get to play in front of their home supporters and they will need to put up a good display. However, it is also an encounter that could potentially force Hansi Flick to make some rotations.

Here is how Barcelona could line up for this fixture.

Expected Line-up:

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny

The Polish goalkeeper’s place in the starting lineup is simply beyond question, and the veteran is likely to start this game as well. His presence has definitely instilled a level of confidence in the team and it shows up in the mere fact that the team is still unbeaten with him starting.

Right-back: Hector Fort

With Jules Kounde having played a lot of minutes this season for both club and country, it might now be time to give Hector Fort a chance to play as well. The Frenchman definitely needs some rest, and Fort is talented enough to cover for him in this game.

Centre-back: Pau Cubarsi

Now fully recovered from his injury and back in action, Pau Cubarsi seems like a guarantee for Hansi Flick. His ball-playing ability is simply on a world-class level, and with him in the team there are so many more options for the team to progress the ball and add defensive quality as well.

Centre-back: Inigo Martinez

A true warrior for Barcelona, the veteran has earned his place as one of the team’s starters this season. His leadership, defensive quality, and technical ability are just a few of the traits that make him a guarantee for Hansi Flick.

Left-back: Alejandro Balde

The electric full-back has simply reached a new level this season in terms of his sharpness and quality on the ball. Making better decisions and showcasing a version of himself that never been this consistent before, Alejandro Balde is a real threat on that left flank for opponents to deal with.

CDM: Gavi

With Frenkie de Jong having felt some discomfort in the last game, it might be best to start him on the bench rather than on the pitch. In his stead, Gavi is proven that he is both talented enough and versatile enough to essentially play anywhere on the pitch and his last performance was simply sublime as well against Osasuna.

That would mean that De Jong could come into the game later in the second half if needed as well. Until then, the €70 million-rated Spanish midfielder, as per his Transfermarkt valuation, can handle this game and has proven time and time again that he has the quality to do so.

CDM: Pedri

The true maestro of this Barcelona side, the young Spaniard is the only who dictates and control the tempo of the game. Moreover, he has the ability to create incredible chances out of nothing as well.

RAM: Lamine Yamal

Despite the amount of minutes he has played already this season, Lamine Yamal shows no signs of slowing down. Even when asked about his minutes, Hansi Flick simply commended the player and gave him the chance to make those decisions for himself.

CAM: Fermin Lopez

With Dani Olmo now injured, Fermin Lopez is one of the primary candidates to replace him in the starting eleven until he returns. Thanks to his dynamism and threat in front of goal, Lopez is a valuable asset in this Barcelona team.

Finally, it seems time for Raphinha to return back to club duty. After having missed the last game to recover and get refreshed following the international break, the Brazilian forward should now be back in action for this Catalan derby.