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Real Madridvs.Barcelona

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 April 2024, 08:25
Barcelona will be without the services of two key players for Sunday night's La Liga clash against Real Madrid.

The squad has been boosted by the returns of Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto, who were both suspended for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain last week.

However, Gavi and Alejandro Balde are still on the sidelines, with the pair missing for the remainder of the season due to severe knee and hamstring issues respectively.

Barcelona lost 4-1 to PSG on Tuesday evening in the second leg of their last-eight Champions League contest to exit the competition courtesy of a 6-4 aggregate defeat.

Ronald Araujo was sent off against Luis Enrique's side, but the Uruguay international's suspension only relates to European matches, so he will be available for selection here.

Gavi, Alejandro Balde will be missing for Barcelona in El Clasico

Barcelona boss Xavi has big decisions to make in the final third of the field, with Christensen's return potentially seeing Pedri moved into the front three.

Pau Cubarsi will again start in the middle of the defence, while Raphinha is in excellent form and is set to feature alongside Robert Lewandowski in the final third.

Lewandowski has scored 20 times for Barcelona this season, while he has eight career goals against Real Madrid for three seperate clubs.

Xavi's side are second in the La Liga table, eight points behind the leaders Real Madrid, and the Poland international is confident that his side can overcome Los Blancos this weekend.

"We know how to beat Real Madrid. We know them and we have analysed the mistakes we made the last time we faced each other," Mundo Deportivo quotes the experienced forward as saying.

"We know that if we minimise their virtues we can beat them at the Santiago Bernabeu. The euphoria for the qualifying against Manchester City can make Real Madrid mentally out of the Clasico."

Marc Casado and Marc Guiu are not in the squad, but Hector Fort and Diego Kochen have been selected.

Barcleona have not been beaten in Spain's top flight since the end of January, and they have been victorious in their last four league encounters against Mallorca, Atletico Madrid, Las Palmas and Cadiz.

Barcelona squad vs. Real Madrid:

Ter Stegen, Pena, Kochen; Cancelo, Araujo, Cubarsi, Fort, Kounde, Alonso, I Martinez, Christensen; Roberto, F de Jong, Gundogan, Pedri, Romeu, Fermin; Torres, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Felix, Roque, Yamal

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