FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will drop Lamine Yamal and make three changes to his side … More
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will drop Lamine Yamal and make four changes to his side overall when the Catalans host Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday.
Barca comes into the tie in Montjuic off the back of a 5-4 Copa del Rey semifinal aggregate win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The Catalans went into the decider at the Metropolitano tied 4-4, but a Ferran Torres winner set up by a sublime pass from Lamine consequentially booked an April 26 final showdown with bitter rival Real Madrid in Seville.
Speaking of the Andalusian city, one of its two big teams in Real Betis – who Barca thrashed 5-1 in the Copa last 16 on January 15 – travels to Catalonia on Saturday for a La Liga showdown which could be important in the title race.
Madrid kicks off a few hours earlier against Valencia at the Bernabeu, and could be equal on points with the Blaugrana providing it gets the win.
Because of their Champions League quarterfinal commitments next week, however, with Real Madrid travelling to Arsenal and Barca receiving Borussia Dortmund, both Spanish giants are expected to rest players.
“We have to manage this whole issue with so many games we have,” Flick explained at his prematch press conference on Friday.
“It’s normal. I spoke to the experts and we decided together what needs to be done and how many minutes they can play each game. We are not looking at Dortmund yet but at Betis. We must have fresh legs tomorrow on the pitch,” he added.
This results in a rare benching of Lamine, who loses his spot on the right wing to a much improved Ferran.
Because of that, though, Robert Lewandowski returns as the lone striker, while Gavi is the CAM against his boyhood club replacing Fermin.
Among the more attacking positions, only left winger Raphinha keeps his spot.
Further back, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong continue forming a double pivot in midfield. Back in defence, Ronald Araujo and Eric come in for Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez while the full backs are Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde.
FC Barcelona First XI Vs. Real Betis: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Eric, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Ferran, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
