The upcoming clash against Villarreal will be a true test for FC Barcelona as the Catalan giants are expected to take part in a La Liga match without the help of some of their most important names who will be unavailable for selection due to various reasons.
Brazilian winger Raphinha will be set to miss out this game due to an ongoing suspension still being active, while Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo and Golden Boy winner Pedri will both be unavailable due to injuries that were recently sustained.
The loss of Pedri in particular comes at an unfortunate time, as he was just recently ruled to be out for several weeks due to an injury sustained during a training session. As a result, Xavi will have to rely on alternative options to replace the influence of arguably his most important midfielder.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, there are various players that could be seen as potential alternatives for the 20-year-old. The likes of new German arrival Ilkay Gundogan will be the prime candidate to do so, as Xavi even mentions him by name in the press conference prior to the game against Villarreal:
“Pedri adds a lot of personality to our DNA. He’s a very important player who brings a lot of unique qualities to us, but now we have to find the best solution. We have Gundogan this year who will help us fill his role.”
Other players that could also look to replace the 20-year-old are two subsidiary midfielders, Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez, with both of them having impressed Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez at various points.
Simultaneously, Xavi also has the option of using Sergi Roberto as the man in midfield to accompany the others if he wishes to opt for a more mature player with experience under his belt.
Whatever the case may end up being in terms of selection, it is evident that Barcelona possesses a much more reliable and versatile depth in their squad than they did last season. As a result, Xavi should have the right profiles to help overcome Pedri’s deficit, at least for this upcoming clash.
