Ahead of the monumental match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, how will manager Ernesto Valverde line up his team against their biggest rivals?
Time is ticking down until the biggest game of the year occurs at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and Ernesto Valverde will need to place a strong squad in front of Real Madrid’s lethal men.
The injuries of Ousmane Dembele, Gerard Deulofeu, and Paco Alcacer have given Barca some frustration, as Valverde will only have two designated forwards available: Lionel Messi and the in-form Luis Suarez.
However, many are doubting the Catalans will come out on the field with a 4-4-2 formation to face Zinedine Zidane’s team in the highly anticipated El Clasico. Barcelona need to have players up front in order to score goals, claim the three points and possibly sentence LaLiga. Therefore, the media based in Catalonia is betting on their regular 4-3-3 system with Sergi Roberto alongside Suarez and Messi.
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Barcelona’s matchday squad to face Madrid is as follows: Ter Stegen, Cillessen, Semedo, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Mascherano, Alba, Digne, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Andre Gomes, Paulinho, Messi, Luis Suarez, Aleix Vidal, Denis Suarez.
Despite Dembele already completing full training sessions with the first team, the coach has left him out the matchday squad, not wanting to take any risks on the Frenchman.
Deulofeu will also miss out on El Clasico, even though the former Everton man received the medical green light on Friday.
With Sergi Roberto up front, Nelson Semedo is the most favored to occupy the right side of the defense. Given Sergi’s incredible performance in the past two seasons, he will be the perfect replacement up front in the attack.
Next: Ernesto Valverde's adjustments for Clasico rematch
The Predicted Starting Eleven:
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto (Attack)
Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, and Ivan Rakitic (Midfield)
Jordi Alba, Thomas Vermaelen, Gerard Pique, and Nelson Semedo (Defense)