FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez will make some changes to his line up when the Catalans host Valencia at the Montjuic Stadium on Monday evening in La Liga.
Barca goes into the tie 14 points bitter rivals Real Madrid with a game in hand.
During his prematch press conference at the weekend, Xavi practically surrendered the top flight crown his men won in spring last year and set fresh objectives for the rest of the season.
After losing El Clasico and a Champions League quarterfinal second leg to Paris Saint-Germain, the Blaugrana’s goal is “to finish second and qualify for the Super Cup”.
Standing in Barca’s way of managing to do that in an immediate sense is Valencia, who Xavi described as a “very deserving opponent” which has enjoyed an “extraordinary” La Liga campaign while boasting “a lot of speed up front”, great work in transition and a punishing counter-attack.
To take them on, Xavi will make some changes compared to the outfit that lost 3-2 to Madrid in the Bernabeu.
Captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen keeps his place in goal and so does every member of the backline made up of Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde from left to right.
Center back Andreas Christensen is the pivot, but a season-ending injury to Frenkie de Jong means that it is Fermin Lopez who partners Ilkay Gundogan in the more advanced midfield positions.
For the second straight game, Pedri is overlooked by his head coach, but Xavi said that he is “100%!” ready to help his team which might mean minutes in the second half.
On the front line, Robert Lewandowski is the striker flanked by Lamine Yamal to his right and Ferran Torres who demotes Raphinha from the left wing to the bench.
With Girona away next weekend, this Valencia tie is a chance for Barca to get back to winning ways.
Considering torrential rain in Barcelona on Monday, however, and the fact that this fixture was changed from a family-friendly time of 14.00 Saturday afternoon to this evening at 21.00, just how many Culers turn out to cheer their team on remains to be seen.
FC Barcelona Starting XI Vs. Valencia: Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Cubarsi, Araujo, Kounde; Christensen, Gundogan, Fermin; Ferran, Lewandowski, Lamine
