What kind of lineup will Ernesto Valverde field in the curtain-raiser?
Barcelona will be facing Sevilla in the season curtain-riser, at the Supercopa de España, for the third time in the history of the tournament. The last two times, Barça emerged as winners. But this time, it will be different, with a much-changed side.
Ernesto Valverde is expected to field a mixture of the first-team and the benchwarmers in the first one-legged game in the history of the Supercopa. Many first-team players are tired from the World Cup and deserve a rest before the start of the La Liga season.
Expected Starting XI (4-4-2) :
Goalkeeper: Marc-André ter Stegen
Right-back: Sergi Roberto
Centre-back (right): Gerard Piqué
Centre-back (left): Clément Lenglet
Left-back: Jordi Alba
Right winger: Ousmane Dembélé
Central playmaker: Arthur Melo
Holding midfielder: Sergio Busquets
Wide left midfielder: Philippe Coutinho
Shadow striker: Lionel Messi
Centre forward: Luis Suárez
Having not starred in a single game for Germany and returned after elimination in the group-stages, German international Marc-André ter Stegen will be refreshed and ready to play. He will be displacing second-choice Jasper Cillessen, who started in the International Champions Cup.
At right-back, Sergi Roberto will be starting after a good pre-season, which followed a prolonged vacation due to his strange absence from the Spain squad for the World Cup. His compatriots, Gerard Piqué and Jordi Alba will join him in defence after returning following an early exit in Russia.
Clément Lenglet is expected to make his competitive debut, with Samuel Umtiti playing almost every game in France’s World Cup-winning campaign in Russia. The 22-year old defender was impressive during pre-season, and he will now be the third-choice centre-back.
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In midfield, Arthur Melo is expected to be cover for the tired Ivan Rakitić, who was a crucial player for Croatia up to their first appearance in a World Cup final. He would be joined by experienced defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets in central midfield.
After returning to training early after a largely disappointing World Cup, Ousmane Dembélé has a point to prove at the Stade Ibn Batuta, especially with the arrival of competition in the form of Brazilian speedster Malcom.
On the left, Philippe Coutinho’s presence in the team sheet is tentative. He carried Brazil in most of the games in Russia, and was the sole performer for his national team in an otherwise poor campaign for the Seleção. He deserves a rest.
But Brazil were eliminated at the quarter-final stage, and he should fit to start. Regardless, Ernesto Valverde may choose to field Denis Suárez in his place. And up front, the South American duo of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez is set to return, recharged and raring to go.
New signings Arturo Vidal and Malcom may be brought on as substitutes for Arthur and Dembélé respectively. But that depends on the side’s performance in the first-half.