One change expected in Xavi’s 4-3-3: How Barcelona could line up against Sevilla

Cancel your plans, lock your room and get ready to binge Spanish football for six hours tomorrow as La Liga bring back-to-back-to-back sensational games.

The Super Saturday kicks off at the Santiago Bernabeu, as the only two teams with a perfect record this season – Real Madrid and Real Betis – lock horns. Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid will surely feel the pressure to follow this, but one can expect fireworks at the Anoeta nonetheless.

Finally, we top it all off with Barcelona’s trip to none other than the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. There might be no better time to face Sevilla than now, but Julien Lopetegui’s side are no pushovers, either.

Ahead of Barcelona’s game, join Barça Universal as we take a shot at predicting Xavi’s potential lineup.

Defence

Jules Kounde returns home! He had a solid debut against Real Valladolid, creating two chance and making a clearance off the line. His clean sheet was more than deserved, and he should retain his spot at right-back.

Barcelona have completed the signing of Marcos Alonso, as was confirmed by Xavi today in the press conference. But the Spaniard is not expected to displace Alejandro Balde from the left side immediately. The teenager is in great form and will likely continue as the starting LB.

These two will form the wings of the back-four, with Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia on guard as the centre-backs. Both players are in brilliant form, with the latter really coming into his own this season.

The final, but definitely among the first names on the team sheet with his form will be Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The German is among Barcelona’s best players this season already, and will hope to add to his two clean sheets already this season.

Midfield

We only expect one change in the starting lineup, coming at right central midfield. Gavi has started all three games this season, but could be rested tomorrow. Frenkie de Jong had an impressive cameo against Valladolid, and has earned his spot in the trident.

He is expected to join the usual suspects, Pedri and Sergio Busquets in the centre of the park. The latter added a ton of control last weekend to Barcelona after missing the Real Sociedad game due to suspension.

Franck Kessie is in contention to start as well, following three solid appearances off the bench. However, we do not expect Xavi to change an awful lot in such a big game.

Attack

Raphinha ran riot vs Valladolid. He created six chances in 60 minutes, and was arguably the best player on the pitch despite just one assist to his name. He should get the nod again as the right-winger.

On the other side, his partner in crime, Ousmane Dembele was class as ever, too, assisting two goals. While both of them are better on the right, the Frenchman’s ambidexterity makes him the better candidate for the left-wing.

With four goals in three games, Robert Lewandowski is the joint-top scorer in La Liga. He will, unless something unexpected happens, start as the striker for Barcelona tomorrow.

Dembele · Lewandowski · Raphinha
Pedri · Busquets · de Jong
Balde · Garcia · Araujo · Kounde
ter Stegen

Substitutes

There has been a pattern to Xavi’s substitutes this season, and we are expected to see much of the same tomorrow, too.

Xavi had confirmed that it is risky to give Ansu Fati more than 30 minutes of action right now, and therefore, the Spaniard gets called up on the hour mark. He will likely be one of the first players off the bench vs Sevilla.

Similarly, if Gavi does indeed, start on the bench, we expect to see him to see in action for at least a quarter of the game, replacing one of the central midfielders. Kessie has been reduced to scarce minutes due to the competition, and, therefore, will come off the bench, in all likelihood.

Hector Bellerin could get the nod for his debut tomorrow, especially if Barcelona are in a comfortable place. The Spaniard could be called on for one of the three CBs in our starting XI.

Finally, we predict Ferran Torres to be subbed in at some point during the game. The Spaniard has not been given enough game time, but Xavi needs him match fit for the crazy schedule this season.