Barcelona will take on Girona in the first ever Catalan Derby between the two sides
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Barcelona are experiencing a purple patch. The team has maintained a perfect start to the season, winning all 5 games. But the squad will be facing a different sort of challenge. One that it has never faced before, but is likely to face again.
The likes of Barcelona and Espanyol have dominated the footballing scene in Catalonia for years. But this season, the entry of Girona into the La Liga will spice things up. Barcelona have dominated Espanyol for a long time and the Catalan Derby had become stale.
But this season, Barcelona will also be taking on Girona in the Derby.
Squad : Marc-André Ter Stegen, Jasper Cillessen, Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Lucas Digne, Aleix Vidal, Samuel Umtiti, Ivan Rakitić, Sergio Busquets, Denis Suárez, Andrés Iniesta, Paulinho, Sergi Roberto, André Gomes, Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi, Paco Alcácer
Expected starting XI :-
Goalkeeper : Marc-André ter Stegen
Right-back : Aleix Vidal
Centre-back(left) : Samuel Umtiti
Centre-back(right) : Gerard Piqué(vice-captain)
Left-back : Jordi Alba
Defensive midfielder : Sergio Busquets
Playmaker(left) : André Gomes
Playmaker(right) : Ivan Rakitić
Left forward : Paco Alcácer
Centre forward : Luis Suárez
Right forward : Lionel Messi(captain)
Notable exclusions : Gerard Deulofeu, Nélson Semedo, Thomas Vermaelen(rested), Ousmane Dembélé, Rafinha(injured)
Ernesto Valverde included many fringe players in the starting XI against Eibar, and it paid off. But most of the first-team members will be back for the Derby. Most probably, Javier Mascherano, Paulinho, Lucas Digne and Denis Suárez will drop back down to the bench.
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It is very likely that the players replacing them will be Samuel Umtiti, Ivan Rakitić, Jordi Alba and Paco Alcácer. But André Gomes should be getting an opportunity ahead of Andrés Iniesta. Iniesta needs some rest and Gomes deserves a chance.