News on Xavi Hernández’s list for this classic in Montjuïc (4:15 p.m.). Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé and Raphinha have been discharged and included in the squad. The most unexpected of all has been that of the French footballer, who was considered ruled out for the match. On the other hand, caution is maintained with Frenkie de Jong and Pedri and Sergi Roberto, the last to fall, is also still out.
The Barça infirmary did not look good at all in the weeks before the classic, with up to six personnel injured. Furthermore, after the match against Shakhtar and Joao Felix’s scare, other players such as Gündogan, Oriol Romeo, Iñigo Martínez and Lamine Yamal ended up overloaded. A demanding schedule that has given headaches to the Catalan coach who, finally, has been able to recover three important pieces for the team such as Lewandowski, Koundé and Raphinha.
The most surprising news is that of Jules Koundé, who was injured at the beginning of the month. He had to be substituted against Granada due to knee problems and his presence in the classic was not expected. The return of the Polish striker and Raphinha did enter into the plans, who yesterday was the only one of the six injured who did part of the work with the group.
The case of Pedri is different. The Canary Islands footballer has been in dry dock since the end of August due to a tear in the rectus femoris of his right leg. It seemed that he could reappear against Shakhtar in the Champions League, but his feelings were not good and he opted for caution. The same happens with Sergi Roberto, injured ten days ago during training and who suffers a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg,
The list of 23 players called up by Xavi Hernández also includes youth players Marc Casadó, Marc Guiu, Pau Cubarsí and Héctor Fort. The presence of up to four footballers under 17 years old stands out, such as Lamine Yamal (16), Cubarsí (16), Fort (17) and Guiu (17).
These are the ones chosen to face Real Madrid this afternoon in Montjuïc:
Ter Stegen, Joao Cancelo, Balde, Ronald Araujo, Iñigo Martínez, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Iñaki Peña, Joao Félix, Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Romeu, Gündogan, Kounde, Astralaga, Lamine Yamal, Marc Casadó, Fermín, Cubarsí, Marc Guiu and Héctor Fort.
