Xavi Hernández’s team says goodbye to the year in a hot derby after the precautionary measure against Lewandowski
The Pole will start at the tip of the attack
FC Barcelona says goodbye to 2022 with a derby that was intended to be calm, but which has heated up in the last few hours both in sporting and institutional terms. The precautionary to Lewandowski Yesterday it has raised a lot of controversy, but now only what happens on the Camp Nou pitch is valid. Barça wants to say goodbye to the year in style and will seek to recover the leadership lost after the victory of Real Madrid.
To do this, and after seeing the physical state of the squad, Xavi Hernández has opted for an eleven with many surprises, with the presence of Robert Lewandowski at the tip of the attack. After the precautionary, the Pole goes directly to eleven. He will be shielded up front by Raphinha and Ansu Fati. They are not the only novelties. Sergi Roberto will start from the right-back, Marcos Alonso from the central position and Frenkie de Jong will play Busquets in the pivot, escorted by Gavi and Pedri.
Ronald Araujo, another of the proper names in the previous game for returning to a call after many weeks injured, will have to wait on the bench. Xavi Hernández already confirmed it at a press conference. If the game goes head to head, the Uruguayan could have minutes.This is Barça’s eleven to face Espanyol in the derby: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba; Gavi, De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski and Ansu Fati.