Official: Barcelona starting lineup against Atletico Madrid | Copa del Rey

Riyadh Air Metropolitano will stage tonight’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and Hansi Flick has unveiled the XI charged with securing a first-leg advantage.

The headline selection is the return of Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder missed the weekend win over Mallorca as a precaution but has been declared fit to start alongside academy graduate Marc Casado, pushing teenage pivot Marc Bernal to the sidelines. With Bernal dropping out, De Jong’s experience will be pivotal against the combative Atleti engine room.

Further forward, Dani Olmo has been handed the central playmaker’s role, operating just behind a re-shaped front three. Fermín López earns a surprise start on the left wing in the continued absence of Raphinha and on-loan forward Marcus Rashford, while teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal retains his customary berth on the right. Leading the line is Ferran Torres, preferred to veteran Robert Lewandowski for the high-stakes cup clash.

At the back, Joan García continues between the posts, shielded by a back four that sees Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde stationed as full-backs. The centre-half pairing is composed of home-grown duo Pau Cubarsí and Eric García, with first-choice stopper Ronald Araújo among the substitutes as a precautionary measure.

Kickoff is little more than an hour away as both camps look to seize the initiative before the return leg at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Barcelona starting XI: Joan García; Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, Alejandro Balde; Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casado; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Fermín López; Ferran Torres.

Barcelona substitutes include: Ronald Araújo, Robert Lewandowski, Marc Bernal, among others.