Barcelona predicted lineup vs Real Betis - La Liga
- Barcelona will drop to fifth in La Liga if they lose to Betis and Atletico Madrid win
- Xavi has a number of important players out injured such as Gavi and Raphinha
- Multiple changes expected from Copa del Rey win over Unionistas de Salamanca
By Euan Burns
Barcelona's season is at risk of going down a dark path with Xavi's future the major talking point around the La Liga champions right now. They will try to change the narrative with a win away at Real Betis on Sunday.
The league table doesn't look as pretty as Barca fans would have hoped when the campaign began. They can climb back into third with a win in Seville, but a loss could see them end up in fifth by the time Atletico Madrid finish their match against Granada.
There are quite a few fitness concerns for Barca with a number of important squad players out injured like Inigo Martinez, Joao Cancelo and Marcos Alonso, while regular starters Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Raphinha and Gavi are also injured.
With that in mind, here's the starting lineup Xavi may choose when Barca face Real Betis.
Barcelona predicted starting lineup vs Real Betis (4-3-3)
GK: Inaki Pena - Pena is enjoying a great run of games in both La Liga and the Copa del Rey with Ter Stegen out injured and fans seem pleased with his efforts so far.
RB: Sergi Roberto - Many different players have been right-back for Barca so far this season and Roberto is likely to play here on Sunday, with Cancelo injured and Jules Kounde used at centre-back.
CB: Jules Kounde - The Frenchman's versatility has been really important for Xavi but he is at his best playing in the centre of defence.
CB: Ronald Araujo - Araujo has also done the odd stint at right-back for Barca but this is the centre-back pairing Barca should look to keep together going forward.
LB: Alejandro Balde - The left-back's performances have underwhelmed this season and fans think it is down to the lack of competition for his place, given Marcos Alonso has been injured for so much of the campaign.
CM: Frenkie de Jong - Played the entire cup tie against Unionistas in midweek but De Jong is a key part of the midfield and is expected to start again here.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan - Got something of a rest in the cup so there is little doubt he will take Oriol Romeu's place in the starting XI and try to dictate the match.
CM: Pedri - Fermin Lopez was given a midfield start instead of Pedri on Thursday but the latter will certainly take the place back against Betis.
RW: Lamine Yamal - Having missed the Unionistas match through suspension, academy graduate Lamine Yamal is back and even more likely to get minutes given the absence of Raphinha.
ST: Robert Lewandowski - Many expected Vitor Roque to start against Unionistas but Marc Guiu got the nod. It will be Lewandowski - scorer of eight La Liga goals this season - against Betis.
LW: Ferran Torres - Having netted in the cup, Xavi is expected to stick with Torres to see if he can build a run of form.
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