Possible Barcelona lineup for Osasuna clash with Gavi set for return

Hansi Flick will have to perform some juggling tonight in putting together a solid team as the Catalans face Osasuna (kick-off 4pm ET) in Montjuïc.

The German coach is without the injured: Marc André Ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó and Andreas Christensen, but the Barça coach will have to do without both Ronald Araújo and Raphinha with the two South American players arriving late on Wednesday on a direct flight from Buenos Aires, and ultimately omitted from the squad.

Pau Cubarsí is also expected to be sidelined having not recovered 100% from the injury he sustained when on duty with the Spanish international team.

Barça XI

Polish veteran keeper Wojciech Szczesny will start in goal, while Íñigo Martínez, who has recovered from the problems with his right knee that prevented him from playing for the national team, and Eric García will be in central defence flanked by Jules Kundé and Alejandro Balde.

Everything points to Gavi getting a start at the heart of the Barcelona midfield and should be fresh from missing out on international duty. Pedri and De Jong are both tipped to start, with Robert Lewandowski, Lamine and Ferran Torres set to be the attacking trident with the Polish striker looking to avail of the game in hand to pull away from Kylian Mbappé in the race for the ‘pichichi’ (top scorer), the Barça striker has found the target 22 times this season compared to the French striker’s tally of 20.

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