FERMÍN, CASADÓ AND ROMEU, XAVI'S OPTIONS
'War' of three? Xavi's alternatives to replace Pedri and De Jong
Xavi Hernández will have to come off the bench for Barça-Almería. Frenkie de Jong is suspended and Pedri has recently been injured and will not be there for the match either. Oriol Romeu, Fermín López and Marc Casadó are fighting for positions, although there could be a final surprise
Frenkie Of Jong and Pedri will not be able to play the FC Barcelona-Almería with which the culés, to fault of the friendly in front of the America, will close the 2023. The Dutch saw his fifth yellow card against Valencia, by what will have to witness the crash of this Wednesday from the terracing. By his part, Pedri has lesionado in the training of this Tuesday and neither will be able to be available, for misfortune of Xavi Hernández.
Oriol Romeu, Fermín López and Marc Casadó are in principle the three players that aspire to go out of start in front of the picture almeriense. The favourites seems that they are Romeu and Fermín, but the technician already has mentioned in press conference that Casadó has options, by what can not descartar at all. Besides, although it is much less likely, there is another alternative more in addition to the mentioned with which the míster could surprise. These are the pros and contras of all the footballers:
Oriol Romeu
The one of Ulldecona is to 'priori' by role and experience the best planted to relieve to Frenkie. It is the only mediocentro pure of the first team and his presence would allow to Gündogan position further up, where is used to to do more damage. Also it fits to say that it would be a good party so that it recover the stray confidence in Amberes, where gave two goals, and in general in the last two months, where has not been especially fine.
The main problem that offers Oriol is precisely his confidence, that is by the floors. Although it is true that give him this opportunity could be positive to recover him for the cause, there is risk that it go back to be bad and prejudice to the team with some grave error that can finish in goal. This is the big 'handicap' to put him of start and Xavi will have to decide what compensates him more.
Fermín López
The Andalusian is not playing too much from the recovery of Frenkie and neither can say that it have stood out in the few minutes that has played since. The '32' exhibited in several duels does some months, but from the recovery of Pedri grieve has done at all. Nevertheless, without the Canarian antoja like the best possible substitute for the place by style of game and qualities.
Marc Casadó
The player of the Barça Atlètic is the one who less 'ballots' has to play to title definitely. In LaLiga not even has debuted, by what antoja very complicated that his première was in a party in which the Barcelona has so many needs as against the Almería. His only minutes with the first team this course have been in Champions, with 8' in the gone against the Shakhtar and other 14' in the turn, with everything already decided.
However, in spite of all this, is unquestionable that Casadó could be a very good option in the futbolístico. It is pivote, like Romeu, by what Gündogan and Fermín could follow of pure interiors. Besides, on the contrary that Oriol, is a mediocentro much more dynamic, keeping the good touch of ball and the tactical intelligence that it has to have a '5' of the Masia. It is risky to bet by him, but Xavi has showed that from time to time it likes him the risk.
Raphinha, the 'covered'
Finally, although it seems that it is almost impossible that suceda, can not descartar to 100% that the míster of Terrassa bet by Romeu beside Gündogan in the half and by Raphinha like mediapunta or an interior something distinct. The Brazilian already has played some meeting inside, especially going out from the bench, and could give him a distinct profile to attack the spaces and contribute more danger near of the area. Never it has played here of start and does not seem a crash for 'invent', but there is a minimum option to see him here to play with Lamine Yamal in the right.