FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make two changes to his team when it faces Las Palmas for a … [+]
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make three changes to his team when it faces Las Palmas for a vital La Liga clash on Saturday.
After Real Madrid failed to win across three matches yet Barca continued to rack up victories, the Catalans finally topped La Liga on goal difference once more.
With a win away at Las Palmas, Flick’s men can take a three point advantage ahead of Carlo Ancelotti and Co. taking on Girona on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking at his prematch press conference on Friday, Flick said that the last meeting between the two teams was a “very difficult game at home” meaning his team has “focused on being prepared and showing our strength”.
“It is a match that will serve to decide the champion,” he added, before saying at a later point of his sitdown with the media that “at home they showed that they are a great team and that they know how to play”.
With all due respect to Las Palmas, Barca has a much tougher game ahead of it against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
To this end, Flick was asked if he would make rotations, and answered: “Today we will train and decide later. We always focus on the next game, yet we also have to think about Atletico.
“But the most important game now is against Las Palmas,” he stressed.
Having said that, though, Flick will make at least three notable changes. Starting in defence, he’ll give Pau Cubarsi a rest as the 18-year-old is replaced by Ronald Araujo to partner Inigo Martinez.
Punished last time out for lateness, and both publicly criticized and reportedly given an ultimatum by Flick behind closed doors, Jules Kounde returns to the fold at right back benching Hector Fort, as Alejandro Balde continues at left back.
With Frenkie de Jong the lone pivot behind them, Fermin Lopez comes in for his close friend Gavi to form a midfield duo with Pedri, who makes his first appearance as a Barca player at the ground of his boyhood club Las Palmas.
The attack is the only line not tinkered with, as Raphinha and Lamine Yamal are the left and right wingers on either side of striker Robert Lewandowski.
FC Barcelona Starting XI VS. Las Palmas: Szczesny; Balde, Araujo, Inigo, Kounde; De Jong; Fermin, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine
