The FC Barcelona plays a lot in the first party of LaLiga in 2023. The visit to Atlético de Madrid, this Sunday from 9:00 p.m., is worth much more than three points: Xavi Hernández’s men, after Real Madrid’s defeat against Villarreal (2-1), have the opportunity to get the solo lead.
The blaugrana are obliged to overcome a golden challenge in the Cívitas Metropolitano against an Atleti in which irregularities have reigned so far this season. For the appointment, Xavi Hernández will not be able to count on Robert Lewandowski or Jordi Alba, who are serving their respective sanctions. Next, our forecast of the lineups:
Probable alignments of the Athletic-FC Barcelona
- XI of Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Molina, Gimenez, Savic, Reinildo; Llorente, Koke, Kondogbia, Carrasco; Griezmann and Joao Felix.
- XI of the FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; De Jong, Pedri, Gavi; Dembele, Ansu Fati and Raphinha.
Ter Stegen
The German goalkeeper wants to continue demonstrating his good form and at the Cívitas Metropolitano he will have a golden opportunity, although he will have to be very attentive, mainly, to Antonie Griezmann or João Félix who are in sensational shape and that can be a real danger facing the goal.
Koundé-Araujo-Christensen-Balde
Everything seems to indicate that, with Araújo recovered, Xavi will shape what will probably be his starting defensive back, with Jules Koundé on the right side and Alejandro Balde on the left, to replace the suspended Jordi Alba. In the axis, the central Uruguayan may appear accompanied by Andreas Christensen. Eric García and Marcos Alonso will wait from the bench.
Gavi-De Jong-Pedri
Frenkie de Jong has many opportunities to start as a defensive midfielder because it will be a very physical duel in which he can give added value, although it is not ruled out that Sergio Busquets will start from the start. He would be accompanied by Gavi and Pedri González as interiors.
Raphinha-Ansu Fati-Dembele
With the absence of Robert Lewandowski, suspended for the next three games, everything seems to indicate that it will be Absu Fati who will assume the responsibility of being the team’s starting center forward, accompanied at the ends by an indisputable Ousmane Dembélé and a Raphinha who still has a lot to prove.
