Barcelona captain set to be benched in favour of academy gem vs Atletico Madrid

Barcelona captain set to be benched in favour of academy gem vs Atletico Madrid

After securing a snug development via to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a win in opposition to Benfica, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona will now flip their focus to a decisive La Liga match vs. Atletico Madrid this Sunday.

The Blaugrana are set to sq. off in opposition to Los Rojiblancos two instances in two weeks – first within the league this weekend after which within the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on April 2.

Main change incoming

Now, based on SPORT, Barcelona supervisor Flick is about to make a significant change to the beginning lineup for Sunday’s La Liga encounter in opposition to Atletico Madrid.

Barring any surprises, the German tactician seems set to bench captain and key defender Ronald Araujo in favour of teenage prodigy Pau Cubarsi.

Cubarsi in for Araujo for Barça in opposition to Atleti. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)

The defensive partnership of Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez has excelled for Barça this season and has been Flick’s most well-liked mixture even after Araujo’s return from damage.

Nevertheless, in opposition to Benfica, the supervisor needed to make do with out Cubarsi, who was suspended after a purple card within the first leg, changing him with Araujo.

The Uruguayan worldwide delivered a strong all-round show, even trying comfy with Flick’s offside-trap techniques.

However with the massive sport in opposition to Atletico developing on Sunday, the Barcelona head coach is anticipated to revert to his first-choice centre-back pairing of Cubarsi and Martinez, who signed a brand new contract with the membership earlier this week.

Pairing the Spanish duo within the backline can be Jules Kounde and Inigo Martinez because the full-backs on the best and left sides, respectively.