Barcelona travel to relegation threatened Real Valladolid on Tuesday night looking to finish their successful title winning season in style.
Xavi’s side were beaten last time out at Camp Nou as Real Sociedad secured a 2-1 win and the manager may consider a few changes to his starting XI with only three games remaining.
His lineup will take on a Valladolid side that has lost its last five games in a row, the second time they have put together such a sequence this season.
Here’s the Barça team Xavi could deploy at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla.
GK: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – Still needs another clean sheet to overtake Petr Cech and Jan Oblak for the most shutouts in one season in the 21st century in Europe’s top five leagues.
RB: Sergi Roberto – Busquets recently recorded his ninth La Liga title with Barça but Roberto has a decent collection himself with seven.
CB: Marcos Alonso – Replaced Jules Kounde against Sociedad and may be thrown in at centre back from the start.
CB: Andreas Christensen – Has adapted to surroundings at Barça brilliantly this season and his partnership with Ronaldo Araujo – absent here due to injury – should only continue to develop.
LB: Alejandro Balde – May swap flanks having featured at right back against Sociedad. Has contributed six assists as well as a goal in La Liga this season.
CM: Gavi – Was suspended for the defeat to Sociedad but will return to the starting lineup, most likely at Franck Kessie’s expense.
CM: Sergio Busquets – Has won 12 of his 13 clashes with Valladolid in his career, losing once in 2013/14.
CM: Frenkie de Jong – Has opened up on Manchester United’s previous transfer interest and again indicated he wants to stay at Barça for a long time. Xavi has confirmed the club will hunt for a new elite midfielder in the market this summer.
RW: Raphinha – Has had to talk a lot recently to quieten chatter about a potential exit from Catalonia this summer.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – Now has 22 La Liga goals and looks like a shoo-in for the Pichichi.
LW: Ferran Torres – Ousmane Dembele is back but another start might not be the wisest move given his track record. Ansu Fati hasn’t always been in favour, so Torres could benefit.
