FC Barcelona has a ‘luxury reinforcement’ for Saturday’s away assignment at Alaves, according to SPORT.
This is because Inigo Martinez has returned to match fitness and has made the first team squad for the trip to the Basque Region.
The ex-Athletic Club man won’t make the starting XI, however, with a back line of Joao Cancelo at left back, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde preferred by Xavi Hernandez.
Inaki Pena is in goal of course, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen recovers from back surgery that has him in a race against time to make the Catalans’ Champions last 16 double header with Napoli that begins with a February 21 first leg in Italy.
With Gavi ruled out for the rest of the season, Xavi fields his strongest possible center of the park trio that has Frenkie de Jong as pivot providing support to Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri.
Considering that Joao Felix and Ferran Torres are on the sick list, Gavi returns to his system of four midfielders with Fermin Lopez a ‘false’ left winger.
He is picked over the winning goalscorer against Osasuna last time out, Vitor Roque, who is still yet to get his maiden start since joining from Athletico Paranaense in a deal that could be worth of $60 million one day.
Completing the front line, 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal is on the other wing to the right of striker Robert Lewandowski.
From Alaves, Xavi expects “a game similar to the one in Montjuic” when Barca won 2-1 thanks to two second half goals from Lewandowski after conceding in the first minute.
“You have to minimise their counter-attacks, but they have very fast players. We have to attack well, but be very attentive after losing the ball, because at home it cost us a lot,” the outgoing coach stressed.
With Girona and Real Madrid playing later, Barca can cut their leads to five and seven points respectively through a win at the Estadio de Mendizorroza.
“The first thing is to beat Alaves, because they’re a difficult opponent,” Xavi pointed out.
“From there, it’s time to wait. Madrid and Girona have done better and that’s the reality. There are 16 games left to compete, but I want to take it step by step.”
FC Barcelona First XI Versus Deportivo Alaves: Pena; Cancelo, Christensen, Araujo, Kounde; De Jong, Pedri, Gundogan; Fermin, Lewandowski, Lamine