Barcelona are dealing with a significant injury crisis and it has led to them starting two left-backs for their trip to Real Mallorca.
After suffering five injuries during the international break, Xavi Hernandez has been left with just one right-back in Sergi Roberto. However the Catalan is still recovering from an Achilles tendon issue and as such is only fit enough for the bench.
🚨 Barça XI 🚨#MallorcaBarça pic.twitter.com/45e3aOlpR1
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 1, 2022
Both Ansu Fati and Gerard Pique are set to make just their second starts of the season. Partnering Pique is Andreas Christensen, saving Eric Garcia from the imposing Vedat Muriqi. It looks as if one of Jordi Alba or Alejandro Balde will start at right-back unless there is a change of formation for Barcelona.
Further up the field, Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele continue, while Franck Kessie also gets his third start of the season.
🖤👹❤️
𝐄𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐚.#RCDMallorcaBarça pic.twitter.com/cyflSnGZzy
— Real Mallorca (@RCD_Mallorca) October 1, 2022
Real Mallorca have lined up as they were expected to, with five at the back. Idrissu Baba has come into midfield instead of Clement Grenier, but otherwise Javier Aguirre has selected the same line up that has been paying off of late. The duo of Kang-In Lee and Vedat Muriqi will be the focus of their threat going forward.
