BARCELONA
Barcelona’s possible XI vs Real Valladolid, LaLiga 2022-23
We take a look at how Barcelona could line up against Valladolid on Tuesday.
LaLiga champions Barcelona travel to Valladolid on Tuesday with their 27th league title in the bag.
Xavi’s men lifted the trophy after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad at Camp Nou and with three games remaining in LaLiga 2022-23, they can still surpass the 90-point mark.
Messi talk
After their domestic success, the talk has once again turned to Lionel Messi’s future and if he will end up back at the club he loves.
Head coach Xavi was asked about the PSG forward in his press conference on Monday. “It’s up in the air, it depends on a lot of things,” the Blaugrana boss said.
“He’s a spectacular player - I’m friends with him - we’ll see if it happens or not.”
Gavi back
Gavi returns to the fold after missing the defeat to La Real through suspension. Pedri and Ronald Araújo, who have been suffering from muscle discomfort since the derby win over Espanyol, will both miss the trip to Valladolid.
Marc-André ter Stegen and Robert Lewandowski are in the squad. The German goalkeeper is targeting his 26th clean sheet of the LaLiga season. Lewandowski is locked in a battle with Karim Benzema for the Pichichi (LaLiga’s top scorer). The Polish frontman has 22 goals to the Frenchman’s 17 this season.
Xavi is likely to play Ousmane Dembélé, who is one card away from suspension, from the start. The main question mark, for now, is who will occupy the right-back position. Alejandro Balde featured there against Real Sociedad and could get the nod again with regular right-back Jules Koundé ruled out through muscle fatigue.
Possible Barcelona XI vs Valladolid
Ter Stegen; Balde, Christensen, Eric García, Alba; Busquets, De Jong, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembélé.