Predicted Barcelona lineup against Boca Juniors

Barcelona fell to a 2-2 draw against Osasuna in La Liga on the weekend courtesy of a late equaliser from Chimy Avila.

In an ideal situation, Barcelona would have liked Xavi to have an entire week with his players after the rough patch. Three winless games in a row can damage the player’s mental resilience, but it also comes with the understanding that there is a positive change in the side’s displays.

Though the club do not have any official games scheduled midweek in the league, Barcelona will travel to Saudi Arabia to face off against Boca Juniors in the Maradona Cup.

While indeed a week of training could have helped the team move forward, a win on Tuesday can certainly lift Barcelona’s spirits. Given the friendly and mostly heartfelt nature of the tie, here is how those in garnet and blue will line up.

Defence

Marc Andre ter Stegen was once again beaten twice at the weekend and is likely to be rested in the upcoming clash. It would appear that Neto emerges as the first choice to don the gloves on the night as Barcelona look to taste silverware.

In defence, Samuel Umtiti and Eric Garcia are expected to start. The Frenchman started at El Sadar but looked rusty against the Osasuna attack. Meanwhile, Garcia has been largely frozen out of action over the past weeks owing to a dip in form. It would be an ideal opportunity for the duo to prove their mettle.

At the full-back position, wholesale changes are expected. Dani Alves will likely make his Barcelona debut after his signing last month in what will be a moment to savour for fans. At left-back, Jordi Alba’s absence could imply a start for Alejandro Balde who has shown promise in his appearances off the bench.

Midfield

The mainstays in midfield are all expected to start on the bench on the night. Xavi could provide a chance to the younger La Masia players and also to Riqui Puig, who has found it challenging to find minutes this season. Puig will be the most experienced player in the middle of the park and will have to step up on the night.

The youngster will likely be supported by Alvaro Sanz and Matheus Pereira. Sanz has impressed with his performances at the B team, typically as a central midfielder. However, he is expected to be deployed in the defensive midfield role in Riyadh. Pereira, on the other hand, will play as an attacking presence in midfield to link with the forwards.

Forward

Yusuf Demir and Ilias Akomach have not received many minutes under Xavi since their good displays last time around. That said, Tuesday provides the perfect platform for the youngsters to display their skills to the manager. They will start on the wings.

The striker on the night will be Luuk de Jong. While the Dutch forward has not impressed so far, the lack of options guarantees him a start on the night.