FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make just one change but alter his tactical system when the … [+]
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make two changes and alter his tactical system when the Catalans host Rayo Vallecano in Montjuic on Monday.
Barca was as many as 10 points behind bitter rival Real Madrid in the title race, after leading themselves by six yet squandering the advantage with a string of bad results across November and December.
In February, however, it has been a winless in three Los Blancos’ turn to slip up and let the Blaugrana head back to the top with a win – though Flick insisted at his prematch press conference on Sunday that “many times we don’t look at the standings”.
“It’s important to look at them, but there’s still a long way to go. We want to show the performance we have had since the New Year, I trust the team, they have fun training and playing. Rayo is doing an extraordinary job and their coach is incredible. They already warned me when I arrived, they are doing very, very well,” the German explained.
“I have the feeling that the team wants to show how good it is. For us coaches, it’s extraordinary to be able to see it. They love to train and improve. That is what we can see. Regarding the championship, they have the confidence, which comes from training and game after game. We tell ourselves that every day we want to improve. We have to keep moving forward,” he also insisted, at another point of his sitdown with the media.
For this home encounter, which follows a much-needed eight days’ rest, Flick makes two notable changes from the 4-1 win over Sevilla last time out.
Wojciech Szczesny starts in goal, with Pau Cubarsi replacing Ronald Araujo to partner Inigo Martinez while Alejandro Balde and Hector Fort – coming in for Jules Kounde – are the left and right backs.
As opposed to the usual two, there is just one pivot – Frenkie de Jong – who provides support to a more attacking Pedri and Gavi.
Up front, we will enjoy the usual trident of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal hoping to fire Barca back to the top of La Liga.
FC Barcelona Starting XI Vs. Rayo Vallecano: Szczesny; Balde, Cubarsi, Inigo, Fort; De Jong; Pedri, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine
