Barcelona predicted lineup vs Atletico Madrid - La Liga

Champions League chasing Barcelona welcome Atletico Madrid to Camp Nou for a La Liga meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Incredibly, this match in the first week of February is Barcelona's first home game of 2022. The Catalan giants haven't been treated to the sparsely attended, crumbling home comforts since a 3-2 win over Elche 50 days ago.

Here's the XI Xavi may deploy for their long awaited homecoming.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Atletico Madrid - La Liga

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) - In the midst of the worst shot-stopping form of his career, Ter Stegen is even reluctant to charge out of his goal with the regularity that first attracted Barcelona.

Sergino Dest (RB) - After the 38-year-old Dani Alves played the full 90 minutes for Brazil a 14 hour flight away on Wednesday, Xavi may reluctantly turn to the younger Dest.

Gerard Pique (CB) - The newly minted 35-year-old needs just one more La Liga appearance to better the tally he amassed across the entirety of last season (18).

Ronald Araujo (CB) - Another member of Barcelona's jet-setting internationals, Araujo's unique skillset among the squad's centre backs all but ensures a swift ushering back into the side.

Jordi Alba (LB) - According to the defender himself, Alba is "one of the most hated players in football". A stance clearly not shared by his former teammate and current manager given his repeated selection when fit.

2. Midfielders

Pedri (CM) - The reigning Golden Boy will be presented with a stark reminder of the stuttering progress that can follow that honour in the form of Atletico's 2019 winner Joao Felix - if the Portuguese forward is even selected that is.

Sergio Busquets (CM) - Atletico Madrid's win in this season's reverse fixture broke a personal sequence of 20 La Liga games unbeaten against the Rojiblancos for the iconic pivot.

Frenkie de Jong (CM) - Once rated as 'a footballer that can mark an era at Barcelona' by Xavi, De Jong has barely been able to significantly influence a game since arriving with much promise from Ajax.

3. Forwards

Adama Traore (RW) - The latest in a lengthy list of former Masia products to return to Camp Nou, Traore's arrival has briefly shifted the focus off the shunned Ousmane Dembele.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) - One of the numerous forwards Barcelona are stockpiling hasn't played a competitive club game since a five minute cameo in a December defeat against Everton.

Ferran Torres (LW) - The first of three players pilfered from the Premier League by Barcelona this winter already has two direct goal involvements from his first trio of matches for the Catalans.

You can read 90min's preview of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid here.

You can read Atletico's predicted lineup here.