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How will Barcelona line-up against Real Madrid?

By Sarah Salahpour

(L-R) Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembele, and Barcelona's French defender Lucas Digne take part in a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on December 22, 2017 on the eve of the Spanish League 'Clasico' football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona. / AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)
(L-R) Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, Barcelona's French forward Ousmane Dembele, and Barcelona's French defender Lucas Digne take part in a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on December 22, 2017 on the eve of the Spanish League 'Clasico' football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona. / AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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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.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 17: Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona (L) celebrates his goal with teammates during the La Liga 2017-18 match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna at Camp Nou Stadium on 17 December 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 17: Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona (L) celebrates his goal with teammates during the La Liga 2017-18 match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna at Camp Nou Stadium on 17 December 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images) /

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.

Sergi Roberto during the spanish league match between FC Barcelona and Deporitvo de La Coruña at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain on December 17,2017 (Photo by Miquel Llop/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Sergi Roberto during the spanish league match between FC Barcelona and Deporitvo de La Coruña at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain on December 17,2017 (Photo by Miquel Llop/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

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)

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