"Trying to figure out Barça's starting lineup for the first Copa del Rey game of the season against a lower-level team is an impossible task because we don't know which players need a rest and who Flick wants to give a chance to play more minutes. So here's our best guess, and don't hold it against us if we're wrong."
"We think Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are locks to get a rest in the full-back positions, with young Jofre Torrents almost guaranteed to start this one at left-back. We also think Gerard 'Maldini' Martín, who is a starter these days, will get the night off, and Andreas Christensen will finally get a chance to start at center-back. This would be a perfect game for Ronald Araujo to start in a low-pressure situation, but the Uruguayan is unfortunately still not ready to return,"
Barcelona begin their Copa del Rey defense against CD Guadalajara in the Round of 32 in Castilla-La Mancha with a place in the last 16 at stake. Barcelona are heavy favorites against a Guadalajara side fighting relegation. Manager Hansi Flick is expected to rotate the squad, likely resting Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde at full-back. Jofre Torrents is likely to start at left-back while Andreas Christensen could start at center-back. Ronald Araujo remains unavailable, creating uncertainty over Christensen's partner. Eric Garcia may fill in at right-back and goalkeeping selection between Marc-André ter Stegen and Wojciech Szczesny remains unresolved.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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