Ronald Araújo, scorer of the goal that gave Barcelona the victory in San Sebastián, is a substitute against Real Sociedad in Montjuïc, where the Blaugrana are seeking to move into second place in the standings after Girona’s defeat on Friday. Xavi has decided to do without the Uruguayan, pointed out for some defensive error due to excess momentum, who rests in a key duel to achieve runners-up.
Barcelona had played the last four games with the same defense: Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí and Cancelo. A month after Cádiz, where the French, the Uruguayan and the Portuguese did not start, Xavi introduces a variation. And the Uruguayan leaves his place to Iñigo Martínez, starter against what was his first team in the elite, Real Sociedad.
With Christensen and Gündogan fixed in the midfield, the coach turns to Pedri to try to dominate possession against the San Sebastian team. The Canary Islands player had not been a starter since PSG’s visit, which ended with their elimination from the Champions League. After three games starting from the bench, Pedri returns to an eleven where Fermín and Sergi Roberto are not there, after his mistake that cost Girona 2-2 in Montilivi.
Up front, Raphinha regains his place on the left wing while on the right Lamine Yamal plays his 47th game of the season. The winger has not seen the net in the last two months, when with his goal in Montjuïc he knocked down Mallorca.
As a reference, Lewandowski will make the most of his last opportunities to be top scorer. The Pole, who has scored four goals in the last two days, still has four games to try to hunt down Dovbyk, who right now has three goals ahead of him (17 for the Blaugrana compared to 20 for the Ukrainian from Girona).
For Ter Stegen, who will be the captain, it is a special day. The goalkeeper equals Zubizarreta’s 410 games defending the Barcelona goal. The German only has another goalkeeper ahead of him, Víctor Valdés (535).
Ter Stegen, Koundé, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Cancelo, Christensen, Gündogan, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski will be available to welcome Real Sociedad.