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Barcelona’s possible starting line-up vs Athletic in LaLiga week 25

Robert Lewandowski is set to return to the Barça XI as the Catalans seek to reassert their lead over Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga.

Robert Lewandowski is set to return to the Barça XI as the Catalans seek to reassert their lead over Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga.
Rodolfo MolinaDiarioAS

Xavi Hernández is expected to make four changes to his Barcelona side at Athletic Club on Sunday, as the LaLiga leaders bid to re-establish their nine-point advantage over Real Madrid.

Madrid stay in touch ahead of Clásico

On Saturday, second-placed Madrid cut the gap to a provisional six points, goals by Vinícius Júnior, Éder Militão and Marco Asensio earning Los Blancos a 3-1 win over Espanyol at the Bernabéu.

Barça and Madrid meet at the Camp Nou next weekend in a crunch top-of-the-table Clásico.

Barça to welcome Lewandowski, Gavi back against Athletic

Central defender Ronald Araújo misses Barça’s trip to Bilbao after his sending-off in last Sunday’s 1-0 win at Valencia, so Marcos Alonso is set to come in for the Uruguayan at San Mamés. Alonso would operate as the left-hand centre-back, with Andreas Christensen switching to Araújo’s right-sided role.

Franck Kessié is likely to replace Sergio Roberto in midfield against Athletic, and Robert Lewandowski is poised to return at centre-forward after sitting out Barça’s last two games with a hamstring injury. Ferran Torres is expected to make way for the Pole.

Having served a one-match ban against Valencia, Gavi is also set to come back into the Barça line-up, the 18-year-old replacing Ansu Fati.

Barcelona’s possible line-up against Athletic Club:

Ter Stegen; Koundé, Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Balde; Kessié, Busquets, De Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi.

Substitutes:

Arnau Tenas, Iñaki Peña, Sergi Roberto, Alba, Eric, Alarcón, Pablo Torre, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati.

See also:

Video - Lewandowski: “Now I understand the meaning of ‘mes que un club’”

Barcelona’s possible starting line-up vs Athletic in LaLiga week 25