Since the turn of the year, Barcelona remain unbeaten, and they now face one of their toughest challenges of the year. The team will meet Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg at the Metropolitano.
This clash is crucial for their hopes in the competition, and with a strong squad, they are determined to make it to the final.
Barcelona’s injury list is familiar, with a few notable absences. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen are all out of action and will not be available for selection.
In addition, Dani Olmo, who has been a key player for the team, is sidelined with an adductor injury. He is expected to be out for up to three weeks, which forces Flick to make some changes.
Despite these absences, Barcelona have remained solid throughout the season, and Hansi Flick will be hoping to keep their strong momentum going.
The coach is expected to make some adjustments to the starting line-up, especially considering the stakes of the match.
In the previous match against Girona, Flick made a few changes to his defensive setup, but against Atletico Madrid, he will likely opt for a more experienced squad, knowing the importance of this game.
Defence
Wojciech Szczesny has been a reliable figure in goal for Barcelona, and his place as the first-choice goalkeeper is secure.
The Polish international has yet to experience a defeat in the current season, earning him the trust of his manager and teammates. Given the importance of the upcoming match, he will continue to be a key figure in Barcelona’s defence.
In the defensive line, there are expected changes. Pau Cubarsi, who did not make it to the playing XI against Girona, and Inigo Martinez are likely to return to the starting XI for this high-stakes encounter.
This would result in Jules Kounde playing as the right-back and Alejandro Balde, who was also rested last weekend, returning to his usual left-back position, replacing Gerard Martin.
Midfield
Midfield is where Barcelona face the most interesting dilemma. In the previous match against Girona, Eric Garcia started in the pivot role, but tonight, Frenkie de Jong is expected to take that position.
De Jong has been one of the standout performers for Barcelona, and his return to the starting ...
