Alba, Busquets start in final home match: How Barcelona could line up against Mallorca

Barcelona will look to sign off on their final home game of the 2022/23 campaign with a victory when they lock horns with RCD Mallorca on Sunday night.

The match will be a momentous occasion for the La Liga champions as it will be the last time ever that they play at Spotify Camp Nou as we know it, with the arena set to undergo reconstruction over the next year or so.

It will also be the last time that Barça fans get to see two of their iconic players – Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets – step out at Camp Nou in the Blaugrana colours as the legendary duo will be leaving at the end of the season.

So, naturally, Sunday night promises to be an emotionally charged event at Barcelona’s home stadium and Xavi & co. will want to tie a bow on it with a triumphant win over Javier Aguirre’s side.

However, Barcelona will have to go through their last home match without the services of two of the most pivotal players in their title victory, in Pedri and Ronald Araujo, as they are yet to recover from their injuries.

Ahead of what promises to be a special night at Camp Nou, we take a look at how the champions will line up against Mallorca.

Starters

During his press conference, manager Xavi Hernandez made it abundantly clear that Barcelona want to do everything they can to help Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Robert Lewandowski win the Zamora and the Pichichi Trophies, respectively.

So, it is pretty much a given that the aforementioned duo will be starting against Mallorca at either end of the pitch.

Jules Kounde is back after recovering from his injury and should get reinstated to the starting XI, at his natural centre-back position instead of being deployed as a right-back. He will be partnered by the solid Andreas Christensen, who will be keen to put behind the memory of scoring an own goal in the last match.

Given this will be Jordi Alba’s last game at Camp Nou, he will, in all likelihood, start at left-back. It should see Alejandro Balde being moved to the right-back slot as was the case against Real Sociedad a week ago.

As is the case with Alba, Sergio Busquets is another certain starter for Barcelona as he prepares to bid goodbye to his home. The legendary captain will be partnered by the future of the team in Frenkie de Jong and Gavi in the middle of the park.

Moving into the attacking third, Lewandowski will likely be partnered by key forward Ousmane Dembele on the right flank. On the opposite side, academy graduate Ansu Fati, who is linked with a summer exit, could be given a chance to prove himself to Xavi & co.

Substitutes

It is likely that Xavi could decide to bring off Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at some point so that the fans can give them a rousing ovation off the pitch. It could see Franck Kessie and Sergi Roberto enter the field.

Ferran Torres has been a regular substitute for the Blaugrana this term and that will not change on Sunday while Raphinha could also come on in the latter stages. Pablo Torre is another candidate to receive minutes after impressing in his first league start vs Valladolid.