Tomorrow, FC Barcelona will play in their ninth El Clasico since Xavi took over as the head coach, and this match will have an increased importance as it is the Spanish Super Cup final, and the winner of this game will win an important piece of silverware in the middle of the season.
Barcelona put in an impressive shift against Osasuna in the semi-finals while keeping the three-forward system that he has used throughout this season. Furthermore, Pedri was also able to make his return from injury in this match, providing Xavi with an important piece in the midfield.
However, Mundo Deportivo reports that Xavi admits that his team will need a greater balance in the match against Real Madrid, and thus can choose to go with a four-man midfield system, which he patented in the same match a year ago.
This scheme not only helped Barcelona win the final against Real Madrid but also allowed Xavi’s men to put on their best displays of the last season.
Gundogan and Frenkie de Jong are sure starters for the final and can be accompanied by Pedri. While the latter will not be 100% sharp for this match, his presence can be key for Barcelona in this decisive match.
For now, the only doubt is about the fourth midfielder, with Sergi Roberto as one of the main options for Xavi. After a slow start to the season, the first captain of the team has been getting increased prominence in the last few weeks, playing an important part in three of the last four games.
With Raphinha’s injury, Lamine Yamal and Joao Felix are the two main options for Xavi to start along with Robert Lewandowski. Both of these players combined to score the second goal against Osasuna, and Felix has also proven his mettle in difficult matches, like the one against Atletico Madrid.
