Two ways Barcelona can lineup against Mallorca with 16 players missing

Life has not been kind for Xavi since he took over the management responsibilities at Barcelona. Injury, contract issues, and the lack of proper funding have marred his (admittedly short) tenure so far.

Ahead of their next game vs Mallorca on the 2nd of January 2022, Barcelona will probably have as many as 16(!) players missing.

Seven — Dani Alves, Jordi Alba, Alejandro Balde, Samuel Umtiti, Ousmane Dembele, Gavi, and Clement Lenglet — have tested positive for COVID. Six — Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite, Pedri, Sergino Dest, and Sergi Roberto — are injured.

The rest three are Ferran Torres — will be unavailable due to registration issues —, Yusuf Demir — secluded to sort out his future —, and Sergio Busquets — suspended.

In the light of the same, coming up with a starting lineup becomes increasingly tricky for Xavi. The Spaniard can pursue two solutions as such. The first one is if the situation involving youth team players does not change – both in terms of La Liga rules and registration.

In that event, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start in goal as he does, protected by a backline of four centre-backs. Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo will take up responsibility in the heart of the defence, while Eric Garcia and Oscar Mingueza act as de facto fullbacks on the right and left, respectively.

Suggested read: Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s decline at Barcelona – A statistical look

Since neither of Frenkie de Jong or Nico Gonzalez are sitting 6’s, they can and should be used together in a double pivot. While it is a makeshift solution, the presence of four central defenders behind them could help. Riqui Puig could start in his most preferred role as the attacking midfielder in this 4-2-3-1.

Ez Abde’s temporary future stays sceptical with regard to the AFCON, but we assume he will be available for his game, at least. He starts on the left, with Ferran Jutgla taking up the right-wing. Luuk de Jong starts as the sole striker.

Barça XI scenario 1 (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Eric, Araujo, Pique, Mingueza; de Jong, Nico; Jutgla, Puig, Abde; Luuk

La Liga rules say that if a first-team player is red-carded when a team has more than three youth players in the starting XI, the match will be forfeited, awarding the win to the opposition. Nico was benched against Sevilla and Elche because of the same reason.

However, there have been reports claiming that Barça will look to officially promote Nico and Gavi to the senior squad to dodge this rule. If they are able to make that happen as early as the first day of the year, a player from the youth ranks could join Xavi’s XI.

Oscar Mingueza will be dropped to the bench for presumably, one of Ilias Akhomach or Guillem Jaime could slot in at right-wingback. Abde will assume responsibility on the left, flanking Pique, Araujo, and Garcia. The Moroccan’s work ethic will be especially useful in this offensive setup.

All three midfielders retain their positions — Nico and de Jong start as the double pivot, while Puig will be the no. 10.

Luuk de Jong has to continue in any case due to the lack of players, while Jutgla partners him in a twin striker partnership.

A 3-4-1-2 with two inverted wingers is quite risky, but Xavi has shown that he is willing to take risks in order to get results. Moreover, de Jong and Nico’s work rate, coupled with some extra effort on Ilias’ and Abde’s part, could get the wheels perfectly in motion.

Barça XI scenario 2 (3-4-1-2): ter Stegen; Araujo, Pique, Eric; Ilias, de Jong, Nico, Abde; Puig; Jutgla, Luuk