Ilkay Gündogan set for key Barcelona role

Over the coming weeks, Ilkay Gündogan will be in charge of the Barcelona engine room, with the invaluable help of Gavi and Oriol Romeu. Sergi Roberto and Fermín López are also expected to have minutes in the next few games due to the busy fixture schedule.

Midfield concerns for Xavi

Barcelona will play two games in just over 48 hours this week. On Tuesday, they take on Mallorca and on Friday they will play against Sevilla in Montjuïc. The main concern is in midfield with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong both unavailable. Only two players in the Blaugrana squad have played in every game this season: Jules Koundé and Ter Stegen. With the return of Ronald Araújo, the French centre-back could be rested.

Lewandowski to feature

Robert Lewandowski is not likely to be rested, however, especially after his brace against Celta, which saw him become the league’s joint-top goalscorer along with Jude Bellingham. The big question mark will be whether Lamine Yamal returns to the starting line-up on Tuesday after three consecutive games on the bench.

The squad that will travel to Mallorca for the league clash on Tuesday is as follows: Ter Stegen, Iñaki Peña, Sergi Roberto, Cancelo, Araújo, Koundé, Christensen, Íñigo, Marcos Alonso, Balde, Romeu, Gavi, Gündogan, Joao Felix, Ferran, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Astrálaga.