Barça News

Official: Barcelona starting lineup against RCD Espanyol

Published

4 years ago

31/12/2022

Michel Durant

Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images

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Barcelona will play their first match in close to two months when they battle it out against neighbours RCD Espanyol at Spotify Camp Nou in a matter of minutes.

The Catalans will be locking horns with their local rivals in the Catalan derby in their first game after the World Cup break. And ahead of this much-anticipated contest, manager Xavi Hernandez has released the starting lineup that will be taking the field.

As expected, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who was named Barcelona’s fourth captain recently, will line up in goal and hope to secure another clean sheet this season.

There had been a lot of interest in seeing the backline that Xavi would deploy on the afternoon.

In the end, he has opted to go with Sergi Roberto at right-back while Marcos Alonso and Andreas Christensen slot in as the centre-halves, with Jordi Alba starting on the left to make his 300th La Liga appearance for Barcelona.

Moving into the midfield department, captain Sergio Busquets does not start, with Frenkie de Jong getting the nod in the pivot position while he is partnered by Pedri and Gavi in the interior roles.

Robert Lewandowski, who became available for the tie after his three-match ban was temporarily lifted, lines up as the centre-forward. The Poland captain is flanked by Brazilian winger Raphinha on one side and Ansu Fati on the other.

Ronald Araujo is on the bench and could get some minutes, while Eric Garcia is also named among the subs despite a minor injury scare yesterday. French duo Jules Kounde and Ousmane Dembele are also among the substitutes.