Barcelona faces a tough test against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey, but Hansi Flick’s squad is dealing with a grueling schedule and a growing injury list. Can Barça overcome these challenges and secure a place in the final?
A new Atlético de Madrid – FC Barcelona match is on the horizon for the 2024/25 season, and this time, a final is at stake. Hansi Flick’s team travels to Madrid this Wednesday to face Simeone’s side at the Metropolitano in a match that will define one of the finalists of the 2024-2025 Copa del Rey.
These have been tough weeks for Hansi Flick’s team. Last Thursday, Barça faced Osasuna, and on Sunday, they faced Girona, so the days of rest that the players have had have been non-existent. The players are noticing the load of minutes, and the German coach had to make changes in the starting eleven for the Catalan derby.
Raphinha did not play in any of the two league matches to be able to recover after, in the international break, he played 90 minutes with his national team against Colombia and Argentina. So, barring a surprise, the Brazilian will start against the “Colchoneros”.
On the other hand, Flick will not be able to count on Dani Olmo, who suffers a myofascial injury in the adductor of his right leg and will be out of the field for three weeks. The “Egarense” (from Terrassa, Flick’s birthplace) joins the casualties of Marc Casadó, Christensen, Ter Stegen, and Marc Bernal.
Simeone, for his part, only has one player in the infirmary, Koke. However, “El Cholo” will not have Ángel Correa available either. The Argentine must serve a five-game suspension after receiving a red card against Getafe for committing a dangerous foul and leaving the field seriously insulting Cuadra Fernández.
The player who does seem to be available is Le Normand. The player had to leave the field in the last league match of the “Rojiblancos” against Español after suffering a head clash with Roberto. Despite the history with the defender, who at the beginning of the season suffered a traumatic brain injury with subdural hematoma that left him without playing for two months, everything points to the fact that the Spaniard could get to have minutes. The official channels of the club shared the following message: “Maximum tranquility in our medical services after the medical tests performed on Le Normand, who does not suffer any serious injury.”
Predicted lineups for Atlétio de Madrid vs. Barcelona
- Atlético de Madrid: Musso; Llorente, Giménez, Lenglet, Reinildo; Giuliano, De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Griezmann, Julián.
- FC Barcelona: Szczesny; Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Pedri, De Jong, Gavi; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
