Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez will be fit for Thursday’s rescheduled La Liga clash against Osasuna, although Pau Cubarsi faces a battle to prove his fitness in time for the home fixture.
Martinez withdrew from Luis de la Fuente‘s Spain squad after picking up a knee injury in the 4-2 win over Atletico Madrid before the international break.
However, the defender has since returned to training and should be ready to feature in the starting lineup at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
As for Cubarsi, he is trying to recover from an ankle injury he sustained in the first leg of Spain’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands.
If Cubarsi is unable to start, Hansi Flick could utilise Eric Garcia as Martinez’s centre-back partner, with Ronald Araujo unlikely to start due to the fact the Uruguayan has to travel back from Bolivia following Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier.
Jules Kounde will marshal the right side of the back four, while Alejandro Balde will operate as the left-back for Thursday’s home fixture.
Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are set to line up in the middle of the park, and they could feature just behind Dani Olmo, who could get the nod to play as the number 10.
Raphinha is travelling back following Brazil’s game against Argentina on Tuesday, and as a result, he will have to settle for a place on the bench.
That could give Fermin Lopez the chance to provide the attacking threat from the left flank, while Lamine Yamal will take up his usual position on the right wing for Barcelona.
Robert Lewandowski is likely to spearhead the Barcelona attack, although Flick has the option to use Ferran Torres if he wants to rest the Poland international.
Barcelona will definitely be without the services of long-term absentees Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal, while Marc Casado is unlikely to play again this season after he sustained a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament against Atletico.
Barcelona possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Kounde, Garcia, Martinez, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Olmo, Fermin; Lewandowski
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