Rotations, wear and injuries: Xavi's 'mess' with the XI for Barça-Athletic

The FC Barcelona has to do the things very well after the stop of selections and part with too much disadvantage. They are a few the injuries in the changing room of the first team and few the alternatives to cover the absences. Xavi Hernández goes with the just in the next parties and wait that do not fall more players in the infirmary, because it would be an authentic drama for the blaugrana in the middle of a demanding calendar and that will not give time to the rest.

To the trainer egarense (and many in Europe) will touch him do malabares and find the pertinent solutions to all the fires that present . In the previous of the visit of the Athletic Club, this Sunday to the 21:00 hours, and waiting for the confirmation of some high medical, there are eight players in the infirmary: Sergi Roberto, Frenkie of Jong, Jules Koundé, Robert Lewandowski, Pedri González, Raphinha, Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal. The forecast is that, at least the two last, can go in in the announcement.

Doubts with the wear of the international of the Barça

In addition to the injuries, that already is a quite important problem, is the subject of the wear of the players after the stop of selections. Ílkay Gündogan, Marc-André ter Stegen, Ronald Araújo and Joao Cancel have gone back to the City Condal with 180 minutes of action with his countries. It is unlikely that can rest against the bilbaínos, place are key pieces in the approach of the trainer egarense and neither there is with what replace them.

There are not doubts that Xavi and his technical body have taken out his blackboard to define which are the options. In normal conditions and explaining that Balde and Lamine will be recovered for the appointment, the alignment would be conformed by Ter Stegen low sticks, a defence of four with Joao Cancel, Araújo, Christensen and Balde, with Romeu, Gavi and Gündogan in the medullary and the offensive trident of Joao Félix, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal.

However, it is not a party any one. It is the anteroom of two key duels for the Barça, that in less than four days will confront to the Shakhtar, by the third date of the phase of groups of the Champions League, and Real Madrid in the first big Classical of the season. It is not something 'small', because it goes in the debate of if they would have to rest the players that come more demanded so that they can arrive in better conditions to the two parties 'nail'.

The possible rotations of the Barça

In case of the rotations, Araújo could remain in the bench to give entrance to Iñigo Martínez in the axis of the defensive saga, whereas Alejandro Balde could be substituted so that Marcos Alonso split by the left band. In the centre of the field, the big benefited would be Gündogan for the titularity of Fermín López. In the forward there would be a lot that do, because there is not more alternative. The wrap that has by in front Xavi is very big... And it will be necessary to see which decisions takes to take care his staff and keep (or elevate) the level of the team. The challenge is capital.