Official: Barcelona starting lineup to face Espanyol

It’s Xavi day in Barcelona and Camp Nou has fully delivered. With a packed stadium, Barça get ready to host Espanyol for the first derby of the season and the first since the 2019/20 season when the Catalan side were relegated.

Xavi has chosen a rather interesting lineup for his first game as manager. It features Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal, with Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia headlining the defence. Oscar Mingueza continues as the right-back while Jordi Alba provides width on the left.

Sergio Busquets will wear the captain’s armband in defensive midfield, flanked by Nico Gonzalez and Frenkie de Jong. Gavi also starts, but it is possible that he features on the right wing instead of the midfield.

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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Memphis Depay will partner Akhomach who gets his Barcelona debut. It is likely to be a 4-3-3, but will not be surprising if it turns out to be a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-1-2. All aboard the Xavi train!

Confirmed Barça XI: ter Stegen; Mingueza, Pique, Eric, Alba; de Jong, Busquets, Nico; Gavi, Memphis, Akhomach