Hansi Flick prepares for the 'final' against Atlético with his star XI

FC Barcelona will visit Atlético de Madrid this Sunday with their best weapons available for a true title final. The team led by Hansi Flick will only have the three absences it has carried throughout most of the season (Ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen) ahead of a match that the squad arrives at with enough rest after qualifying for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League against Benfica (3-1).

Pau Cubarsí, absent for the rematch against the 'eagles' due to suspension, will return this Sunday along with Alejandro Balde, who rested in the last league match (against Real Sociedad) and was not going to start against Osasuna due to an ankle injury suffered in the first leg of the Champions round of 16. In this sense, the manager will have the opportunity to field what, in theory, will be his star XI for the final stretch of the season.

Flick could repeat the XI from the first leg against Benfica

Initially, everything points to Barça stepping onto the Metropolitano with the same eleven that faced Benfica last Tuesday in Montjuïc, with the exception of Cubarsí in place of Ronald Araujo, meaning the same lineup that took the field at Estádio Da Luz. However, the good performance of the 'charrúa' against the Portuguese may give Flick enough reasons to keep him in the XI, although the duo Iñigo-Cubarsí has been the most reliable throughout the season. Additionally, both scored headers against the 'colchoneros' in the thrilling first leg of the 'semis' Cup (4-4).

The other doubts in the XI revolve around whether to start Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo. Both the Dutchman and the Catalan have gained ground in the head-to-head with Marc Casadó and Gavi, respectively, in recent weeks. Frenkie did not have his best night in the first cup semifinal, but he performed very well against Benfica. Olmo, for his part, has also delivered very good performances in his recent appearances as a starter, taking advantage of Gavi and Fermín López's drop in form.

In any case, the manager will have all his arsenal at his disposal, hoping that, unlike the last match against Atlético, the changes he makes in the second half will have a positive impact. That day, Robert Lewandowski was the only substitute who contributed something significant (a goal) after coming on for Ferran Torres.

• Probable lineup for Barça against Atlético: Szczesny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo, Balde; De Jong, Pedri, Dani Olmo; Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Lewandowski.
• Bench: Iñaki Peña; Kochen; Araujo; Eric García; Héctor Fort; Gerard Martín; Casadó; Gavi; Fermín; Pablo Torre; Ferran Torres; Pau Víctor.