ON THE RETURN OF LALIGA
Xavi's surprises for Barça's eleven against Espanyol
Xavi Hernández begins to study his options for the line-up of FC Barcelona in the derby against Espanyol, on December 31, and will have several surprises
The FC Barcelona is to few days to return to the action in LaLiga Santander after the stop of selections by the World-wide of Qatar. The next 31 December, from the 14:00 hours (in Spain), the team trained by Xavi Hernández will receive to the RCD Espanyol in the Spotify Camp Nou, in the first derbi of the season.
One of the novelties for the crash is that Robert Lewandowski will not be present, by sanction, and the trainer egarense has the obligation to achieve the form in which his absence do not affect so much to the team, knowingly that the Pole has marked 40% of the goals of the Barça in what it goes of the course (18 of 45 targets). It is a very sensitive drop and will force to the rest of players to take big responsibilities.
Still they are many the doubts that there is on the alignment that will present Xavi against the Espanyol, by how will find the international (especially Dembélé and Koundé, the last in returning after playing the final with France), but according to a recent information of the newspaper 'ACE', Ansu Fati will be the big surprise and bet of the Barça in his XI in the return of LaLiga to the Camp Nou.
It will do it playing by where feels more comfortable, by the left extreme, leaving the debate on who will replace to Lewandowski between Ferran Torres and Memphis Depay. Both can play as '9' and would be the solutions of Xavi, but the one of Foios has more opportunities to go out of start because in the Barça do not have the Dutch, to the that look for him an exit.
The line of attack would complete it a Raphinha that has come training from the Wednesday and that it would have to be to 100% to occupy the right extreme. The picture of the City Condal wait that, after the varapalo with Brazil in the Glass of the World, the ex of the Leeds United was able to explode his best version and look for to redeem after a beginning of season in which it left more doubts that certainties.
Without a lot of surprises more
Of rest, foresees few (or any) change in the eleven of Xavi for the derbi. Marc-André ter Stegen will be the attendant to defend the Barcelona goal and would be backed by a defence formed by Héctor Bellerín in the right-handed side, the couple of head offices of Eric García and Marcos Alonso (to wait that Ronald Araújo achieve the 'OK' of the medical services) and Alejandro Balde or Jordi Alba by the left band.
In the centre of the field, it will be necessary to be very attentive to what choose Xavi Hernández, place before the stop of selections had opted for leaving to Gavi in the bench. In any case, Sergio Busquets and Pedri González seem indisputable and will keep on being it, by what the remaining place him it sortearán the midfield player sevillano and Frenkie of Jong.
