The wounded Barcelona look to return to winning ways when they host the newly promoted Elche on Sunday night.
A poor showing at the Santiago Bernabéu saw Barcelona lose to Real Madrid in the first El Clásico of the term. After setting a record by winning all four clashes against their arch rivals a season ago, Barcelona’s defeat against Los Blancos confirmed their challenging reality.
Coming off three defeats in their last five matches, Hansi Flick’s men must bounce back. They’ve won their last 10 games against Elche and have never lost at home to the Alicante-based club.
Elche have impressed so far this term, though. The newly promoted side are sitting 9th in the standings after going seven unbeaten to start the term in their return to the Spanish top-flight.
Flick will return to the touchline after serving his one game suspension during El Clásico. The German has a difficult job ahead of him, with a lengthy list of absences due to injury, with Pedri, the only player that’s started every game this season, the latest to land in the infirmary room
The midfield maestro was already going to miss the clash against Elche due to his red card in El Clásico, though, and Marc Casadó is the favorite to partner Frenkie de Jong moving forward.
The Catalans could be boosted by the returns of Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo, though they’re involvement would almost certainly come from the bench.
Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres will lead the line, while Ronald Araújo has a strong chance to get another chance to impress at center back following Barça’s poor defensive showing at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Barcelona Predicted Lineup vs. Elche (4-2-3-1): Szczęsny; Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Balde; Casadó, De Jong; Yamal, López, Rashford; Torres.
Elche were triumphant midweek in their Copa del Rey season debut to snap a three-game winless streak. The visitors will likely make wholesale changes to the side that took the pitch on Wednesday.
Barcelona loanees Héctor Fort and Iñaki Peña will return to face their childhood club; however, only the latter is expected to feature from the start.
Up front, André Silva and Rafa Mir will lead the line hoping to guide Elche to their first ever victory away at Barcelona.
