Cubarsi, Pedri And Lopez To Start | 4-2-3-1 Barcelona Predicted Lineup Vs Villarreal

Barcelona return to the Nou Camp on Saturday aiming to build on last weekend’s commanding 3-0 victory over Levante when they welcome Villarreal for a La Liga encounter that could prove pivotal in the race for European places. Hansi Flick, buoyed by that result, is expected to retain the 4-2-3-1 shape that served his side so well, yet the German coach is poised to shuffle his personnel in a bid to keep energy levels high across a congested calendar.

Teenage defender Pau Cubarsi is set to be promoted from the substitutes’ bench and handed a starting role alongside Eric Garcia at centre-back. The pair will be tasked with organising a back line that kept Levante at bay last time out and will hope to extend that run against a Villarreal attack that has shown flashes of potency away from home. Jules Kounde retains the right-back slot, while Joao Cancelo is tipped to continue on the opposite flank, with both full-backs expected to contribute selectively in the final third.

Between the posts, Joan Garcia will make his second consecutive start after recording a clean sheet in his previous outing. Ronald Araujo, meanwhile, will provide experienced cover from the bench should Flick require a late defensive switch.

In midfield, the axis of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri is anticipated to remain intact. The Dutchman’s ball progression and the Spaniard’s vision were instrumental in dictating tempo against Levante, and the duo will look to impose similar control versus a Yellow Submarine midfield that can be pressed into errors.

Ahead of them, creativity will be supplied by an attacking trident of Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal. Lopez, fresh from eye-catching cameos, is in line for his first league start of the campaign, charged with linking play between the lines and timing late runs into the box. Brazilian winger Raphinha will hug the right touchline, while 16-year-old prodigy Yamal is expected to drift infield from the left to combine with Ferran Torres, the lone striker.

Torres, leading the line in place of regular hit-man Robert Lewandowski, will be eager to reward his coach’s faith with a performance that yields goals. Lewandowski, rested after a heavy schedule, will be available off the bench alongside Marc Casado and new loan signing Marcus Rashford, each capable of altering the complexion of the match should Villarreal stay within striking distance.

Kick-off at the Nou Camp is scheduled for Saturday evening, where a victory would not only consolidate Barcelona’s upward momentum but also apply pressure on the sides above them in the table.

Barcelona predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Joao Cancelo; Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal; Ferran Torres.

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