Xavi’s options for the eleven against Naples

Starting this Saturday, Barça prepares for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League to face Naples on Tuesday at 9 pm at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc. After 1-1 in the first leg at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the draw is open and Xavi Hernandez He will need to make the most of his available players as the Italian team has improved greatly with the arrival of Francesco Calzona going to the bench The Egarense coach cannot count on four players to be starters: Alejandro Balde and Gavilong-term damage, and Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, which fell a week ago in Bilbao. Three of the absences coincided with an average where the Barça coach had to balance between professional midfielders and converted midfielders. Yes, forward medical discharge is expected Ferran Torres and the defender Marcos Alonso, but not its ownership after its inactivity. These are the options of Xavi.

The purpose

Ter Stegen, without discussion

Had back surgery in early December 2023, Ter Stegen He reappeared two months later, on February 11, 2024, against Granada with some logical doubts due to his inactivity. After the 3-3 against the Andalusian team, the victory against Celta (1-2) and the draw with Naples (1-1), the German has gone three consecutive games without conceding a goal: 4- 0 against Getafe, 0-0 against Bilbao and 1-0 against Mallorca. Deal with the rising pulse.

2

The defense

Araujo came back and Cubarsí won to move on

Ronald Araujowho was suspended on Friday against Mallorca, is back to start and fight hand to hand Osimhen in a hot pulse of the giants that will be the key. From experience, as happened in the first leg, Inigo Martinez He has options to be his partner in the axis of defense, but in Naples, although he played a good game, the Basque appeared in the picture of the goal of the Nigerian striker. His game is great Pau Cubarsi Against Mallorca, I had to guarantee him possession, but his 17 years is always a call to caution. Xavi will decide without additional axis choices, because Koundé He is in good shape for the right back, where he needs to receive help from the right back foot to stop a Kvaratskhelia inspiration, and Christensen He will remain as a converted midfielder. Marcos Alonso He should be discharged, but there is no rhythm to choose the center of defense or the left side, which would be a right hand: João Cancelo.

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The center of the field

Fermín pushed Raphinha’s ‘invention’

Yes Xavi playing in a 4-3-3, there is only one position of midfielder to be decided due to the absences of Gavi, Pedri and De Jong. Christensenmidfielder, and Gundogan, from the interior, is safe in the eleven against Naples. Against Mallorca, the other interior is Raphinhaa converted winger, but the experiment didn’t work in the 37 minutes he was on the field before his minor injury didn’t stop him from playing on Tuesday. Xavi He has used the Brazilian in that position as a resource in a match, but not at the start. The entrance of Ferminnatural interior, gave consistency and feels its ownership. Oriol Romeudespite his clear signs of mental recovery, and Sergi Robertono minutes in the four games after his injury, has fewer options, unless Xavi bet on a fourth midfielder as a ‘false left-footed winger’, as he played Gavi. It cannot be denied.

4

front

Lamine, Lewy and Joao Félix, if it is 4-3-3

Robert Lewandowskimeasured against Mallorca and scorer of the goal in the first leg, will be the center forward, with two strikers as Vitor Roque and Marc Guiu waiting for his chance on the bench. On the right wing it will be a surprise if he doesn’t play Lamine Yamal, the only striker who can decide a game with genius, as seen against Mallorca, even though he is 16 years old. And on the left, praying that he is inspired, the most appropriate is João Felix. Because of his experience and speed in space, Raphinha He has options to start the youth squad, which is therefore destined to come in as a stimulus if needed. AND João Felix‘benefited’ from the injury of Ferranhe will only leave the eleven if a fourth midfielder comes in.