Atlético de Madrid - FC Barcelona: Confirmed Lineups - LaLiga 24/25

OFFICIAL: The starting lineups of FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick and Atlético de Madrid under Diego Simeone for the match of matchday 28 of LaLiga 2024/25 are now confirmed.

In order to head into the international break as leaders of the championship, Hansi Flick put all his chips on the table, although with a big surprise in the XI. Pau Cubarsí returns to the center of defense to partner with  Iñigo Martínez, while Marc Casadó recovers the starting position in midfield alongside Pedri and Dani Olmo. The offensive trident, on the other hand, remains intact. The rest of the lineup will consist of the coach's 'untouchables'.

FC Barcelona Lineup

• Starting XI: Szczesny (G); Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, Balde; Casadó, Pedri, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski.
• Bench: Iñaki Peña (G); Araujo; Gavi; Ferran Torres; Pablo Torre; Fermín López; Pau Víctor; Eric García; Kochen (G); Héctor Fort; Gerard Martín.
• Injured: Ter Stegen; Marc Bernal; Andreas Christensen.
• Out due to illness: Frenkie de Jong.
• Suspended: None.

Significant changes in the eleven that played against Benfica in the return leg of the Champions League Round of 16:

1. Pau Cubarsí will form a central duo with Iñigo Martínez, Ronald Araujo returns to the bench.
2. Marc Casadó will be a starter in the pivot position instead of Frenkie de Jong.

The Barça aims to go into the international break on a high note. The culés remain undefeated in 2025, with a record of 14 wins and 3 draws, after defeating Benfica with a brutal superiority to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The team is second in the league championship with 57 points, the same as Real Madrid and one ahead of Atlético (56) but with one game less, so a victory this Sunday will allow them to take a considerable lead in the table and exponentially increase their chances of lifting the title at the end of the season.

For that reason, Flick has come out with all his 'heavy artillery', including a novelty in his lineup. Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí will form a central duo, while Marc Casadó returns to the pivot position and will accompany Dani Olmo and Pedri in midfield. In attack, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski are untouchable. Injured are Ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen and Marc Bernal  and due to technical decision Ansu Fati.

Atlético de Madrid Lineup

• Starting XI: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Reinildo; Giuliano Simeone, De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Samu Lino; Griezmann, Julián Álvarez.
• Bench: (coming soon).