BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández is maintaining his playing cards near his chest earlier than the primary “clasico” of the season.

The defending champions have been taking part in with out main scorer Robert Lewandowksi and common starters Frenkie de Jong, Pedri González and Jules Koundé for the previous month due to accidents. They all returned to coaching Friday, a day earlier than Madrid arrives with a one-point lead within the Spanish league standings.

Xavi, nonetheless, wouldn't say if any of them will likely be able to play, a lot much less begin, for one of the watched matches on the earth.

“I will play my best players, those that are 100% ready,” the Barcelona coach mentioned. “We cannot make a mistake and play someone who is not 100%. They all want to play, but my staff won’t take any risks.”

The distinction is between taking part in with a world-class scorer in Lewandowski, who regardless of lacking the final three video games for his membership leads the staff with six targets, and asking forwards Ferran Torres or João Félix to play at striker. The two have been taking part in properly rather than the Poland star with eight targets between them, however neither may be thought of a scientific finisher.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned he wasn’t fearful who performed for Barcelona so long as Jude Bellingham was able to go. Bellingham had given his coach a scare on the finish of a win at Braga within the Champions League this week when he skilled muscle ache in a leg. But Ancelotti mentioned Friday he was good to go.

PHOTOS: Xavi coy on whether or not Lewandowski and different Barcelona gamers are match sufficient to face Real Madrid

“For us, the most important thing is that Bellingham plays, and that I pick the best possible lineup,” the Italian coach mentioned.

Regardless of who performs for the host staff, Xavi has an enormous process find a solution to cease Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.

While Vinícius’ pace and dribbling expertise have for a number of seasons been the primary headache for Madrid’s rivals, Bellingham has remodeled right into a high scorer since his arrival within the offseason.

In previous “clasicos,” Xavi has used central defender Ronald Araújo as a stopper on the proper flank of his backline to cope with Vinícius. If he repeats that formulation, then the extra attack-minded João Cancelo might transfer into midfield, or be saved as a possibility off the bench.

“We have Cancelo, whose natural position is right back, but he can play on the left or in midfield. He is versatile,” Xavi mentioned in regards to the participant who's on mortgage from Manchester City.

Marking Bellingham, nonetheless, must be a gaggle effort, beginning with a midfield filled with doubts due to the questionable health ranges of gamers like Pedri and De Jong. Holding midfielder Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan seem like shoo-ins for Xavi’s beginning midfield, which might additionally embrace tackler Gavi Paéz.

“Oriol and the other midfielders will have to be on guard,” Xavi mentioned. “We have to be careful with the quick transitions and counterattacks by Madrid … But we will be brave. We won’t change our playing style or our strategy. We want to go for the game and try to dominate possession.”

Bellingham has helped fill the scoring void left by Karim Benzema’s departure to Saudi Arabia and has scored a team-high 11 targets in 12 matches. That features a competition-high eight targets within the league.

Bellingham has scored by becoming a member of the assault in a second wave, poached well timed winners by figuring out the place to be within the field, and created his personal targets after gliding previous defenders and discovering the online with well-placed photographs.

So Madrid seems to have the slight benefit in midfield - an space Barcelona used to dominate when Xavi was a participant - the place Ancelotti usually places Bellingham alongside Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, and holder Aurélien Tchouaméni. That leaves Madrid with the posh of utilizing Luka Modric as a second-half substitute to place video games away.

The doubt Ancelotti might have is the place to place Eduardo Camavinga, who can play as a extra defensive midfielder, maybe rather than Tchouaméni, or at left again as an alternative of Ferland Mendy.

“Camavinga has played well, but Mendy has the advantage because he rested the last game,” Ancelotti mentioned, hinting he might use one to substitute the opposite. “It is difficult for a player to play the entire match, so those who start on the bench know they can still contribute.”

Ancelotti can even should plan options to cope with the gems that Xavi has found at La Masia academy over latest months.

A brand new crop of younger skills have emerged from Barcelona’s coaching academy, led by 16-year-old ahead Lamine Yamal, who has damaged information for the youngest participant to attain for each Barcelona and Spain, and 20-year-old midfielder Fermín López, who was the staff’s finest participant in its Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk this week.

“Playing with homegrown players is a bonus,” Xavi mentioned. “Players who came up through La Masia know how important this game is. It is fundamental.”

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