Casado, Cubarsi start in a 4-3-3: Barcelona predicted lineup against Club America

Coming off a scrappy 3-2 win against last-placed Almeria, Barcelona will be dejected as they travel to Dallas, USA in the middle of the season to play against Club America for a friendly.

While the idea is as bad as it sounds given the sheer number of injuries, fatigue, and scheduling this season, Barcelona will earn around €5 million in revenue from the fixture through sponsorships and ticket revenue.

That said, it is the last game they will place for the next two weeks before returning in 2024 for a game against Las Palmas, where Vitor Roque is expected to make his official debut, as well.

Ronald Araujo is the only first-team player to have been rested, with the rest of the senior squad making the trip to the US for the game, along with a host of youngsters. And while some first-team players will start, they are not expected to play more than 30-45 minutes.

First Half

Barcelona will likely start with a few first-team players – those who have been playing relentlessly will get some rest, like Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Joao Cancelo, among others. There will be some starters, though, given the obscene amount of money involved.

Inaki Pena is expected to start the game and will be guarded by a back-four that will most likely feature Jules Kounde at the back in central defence. Highly-rated Pau Cubarsi will join him.

Hector Fort made his Barcelona debut vs Royal Antwerp and will hold the right-back spot, while Alejandro Balde starts the game as the left-back.

Oriol Romeu is one of the players definitely expected to start the game given his lack of playing time of late. Fermin Lopez might join him in the trident, alongside Marc Casado, who has been in and out of the senior squad a lot this season.

In attack, Ferran Torres will most probably be given the nod to start as the striker. He has been in solid form, but has not been able to find a place over Lewandowski and Joao Felix.

Lamine Yamal could start the game on the right-wing, but will likely not continue beyond first-half, anyway. We expect Joao Felix to be the final piece of the starting lineup, slotting in on the left.

Second Half

There will be multiple changes at either the 45th or 50th-minute mark. An entirely new lineup, in fact, will most likely enter the pitch.

Pena, if he starts, will be replaced by Ander Astralaga. The 19-year-old is already taller than Pena and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and in the gunning to be the next big goalkeeper from La Masia.

Jules Kounde will be one of the first players off the pitch, with Mikayil Faye expected to come in alongside Mamadou Mbacke. Gerard Martin could make his debut at left-back, while Sergi Roberto could get some time at right-back with the captain’s armband.

The highly-rated 17-year-old Pau Prim will definitely get some time in the second half in midfield. Unai Hernandez, too, will finally get to make his debut, unofficially, for the club. Frenkie de Jong will join them as the senior head in the centre of the park.

Marc Guiu should be one of the first names off the bench, playing as a striker, and Xavi could also give some minutes to Angel Alarcon, who has already played for the senior team a couple of times.

Finally, Xavi could also look to bring on Lewandowksi in the hopes of giving the fans the chance to see the biggest name in the squad.