2023-10-26 15:39:01
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez faces a lack of options; Due to absences and injuries, while his team prepares to host arch-rival Real Madrid in the Spanish Premier League summit next Saturday.
According to Archyde.com, Xavi was forced to summon 8 players from the Catalan club’s academy before his team’s Champions League match (Wednesday) against Shakhtar Donetsk, while the team is suffering due to the injury of 8 key players, including the famous Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.
Hard-fought, Barcelona won 2-1 over Shakhtar thanks to an outstanding performance by young Fermin Lopez (20 years old), who began to consolidate his presence in the first team squad.
Despite previous reports that spoke of the imminent return of Lewandowski, the top scorer in the Spanish League last season, and his fellow midfielder Frenkie de Jong to the team due to the speed of recovery from injury, they are still in a struggle against time to catch the summit match.
It has already been confirmed that defender Jules Kounde and midfielders Pedri and Sergi Roberto will be absent from Saturday’s match.
Barcelona hopes that winger Rafinha will be able to participate in the match, which Barcelona expects to attract a large crowd, and which will be held in an alternative stadium during the repairs its Camp Nou stadium is undergoing.
Xavi said we must be 100% ready for the confrontation (EPA)
Barcelona suffered from other concerns; Due to injury during his match against Shakhtar, as his striker Joao Felix left the field; Due to what appeared to be a thigh injury in the second half, but the Portuguese striker later said on social media that he was “fine.”
Xavi said, in a press conference (Wednesday), “We will not put pressure on anyone. It is a match in which we must participate with our 100 percent readiness.”
He added: “It is about how each player feels. Everyone is keen to participate and contribute. “Everyone is doing their part to participate in El Clásico.”
He stressed: “We will be 100 percent ready, but we have to rest and separate because some players participated for many minutes, and a lot of work falls on their shoulders now.”
Leaders Real Madrid are not in a very good position either, in light of the absence of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Eder Militao this season. Due to a tear in the knee ligaments, newcomer Arda Guler has not appeared with the team yet.
Englishman Jude Bellingham was forced to leave during the match in which Real Madrid won over Sporting Braga in the Champions League (Tuesday). Due to a sprain in the thigh, but coach Carlo Ancelotti said that the player should be ready in time.
Bellingham is the best player in the royal team this season, with 11 goals in 12 matches in all competitions since he joined before the start of the season from Borussia Dortmund.
Real Madrid tops the Spanish League standings equally with Girona, the surprise of the season so far, with 25 points from 10 matches, and Barcelona occupies third place with 24 points, two points behind Atletico Madrid, which has a game in hand.
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