Barcelona XI vs. Atlético Madrid: Rashford Given Big Chance—Injury News, Predicted Lineup

The Catalan giants hope to strengthen their stranglehold on La Liga’s top spot on Saturday.

Barcelona are desperately hunting for victory on Saturday. | Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Barcelona play the fourth of six meetings with Atlético Madrid this season in a mouthwatering clash at the top of La Liga.

Barça have won two and lost one of their three contests to date, and will face the capital giants across two legs in the Champions League quarterfinals over the next fortnight. Fortunately for the Catalans, they have generally prospered in this fixture over recent years.

Four points clear of Real Madrid at La Liga’s summit, Barça must build on their strong record against Atléti to ensure they maintain—or widen—their buffer this weekend. Their Clásico rivals are in action earlier on Saturday when they visit struggling Mallorca.

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Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong Missing for Barcelona

Raphinha (right) has joined Frenkie de Jong in the treatment room. | Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images

Barcelona were dealt an agonizing blow over the international period as star winger Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury on Brazil duty. Absent until the beginning of May at the earliest, he seems likely to be replaced by Marcus Rashford on Saturday.

Frenkie de Jong is another sizable absentee in Hansi Flick’s side—the Dutchman is close to a return but still likely to miss out this weekend. Marc Bernal is his obvious replacement.

Andreas Christensen is a long-term absentee, but has recently been left behind by Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde in the treatment room after the full back duo returned to team training. They could be involved in the squad on Saturday, but might not be ready to start—especially with Flick having one eye on Wednesday’s European tie with Atléti.

• ⚠️ Key injuries, absentees, doubts: Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong, Andreas Christensen.
• 🔢 Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

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Barcelona Predicted Lineup vs. Atlético Madrid (4-2-3-1)

Barcelona will miss Raphinha and De Jong. | FotMob

GK: Joan García—The Barcelona stopper was rewarded for his excellent form this season by earning his first senior Spain appearance in the goalless draw with Egypt. A half-hour cameo will have boosted his confidence.

RB: Eric García—With Koundé unlikely to start, García will compete with Ronald Araújo for a spot in Flick’s starting lineup at right back. After a disastrous performance in the recent 4–0 defeat to Atléti, in which he scored an own goal and was sent off, the Spaniard’s looking for redemption.

CB: Pau Cubarsí—Cubarsí was also in action over the international period, keeping a clean sheet and grabbing an assist in Spain’s 3–0 friendly victory over Serbia.

CB: Gerard Martín—The left back by trade has been readily used at center half this season and could feature alongside Cubarsí up against some tricky Atléti forwards—chiefly Barcelona transfer target Julián Alvarez.

LB: João Cancelo—With Balde likely to be eased back into the action, Cancelo should start against Atléti. The Portugal international has been in eye-catching form during his recent spell in the team.

DM: Pedri—Barça’s chief playmaker will be responsible for slicing open a typically stubborn Atléti defensive line—the Spaniard’s presence particularly significant with De Jong absent in the engine room.

DM: Marc Bernal—Bernal has been a surprise provider of regular strikes for Barça since the start of February, and two of his five goals came in the 3–0 Copa del Rey semifinal second leg victory over Atléti.

RW: Lamine Yamal—After a traumatic evening for Yamal and many others following racist chanting by Spain supporters in the stalemate with Egypt, the youngster returns to Barça duty looking for his first goal against Atléti.

AM: Fermín López—López’s form is simply too good to ignore. The Spaniard has two goals and five assists across his last 10 matches for club and country, and the youngster’s importance to Flick’s team is growing with each passing week.

LW: Marcus Rashford—Raphinha was crucial to Barcelona’s return to their prolific best prior to the internationals, but his ailment means Rashford will shoulder the creative and goalscoring burden from the left wing over the coming weeks.

ST: Robert Lewandowski—After playoff heartache with Poland, Lewandowski is one of the stars missing for this summer’s World Cup. The veteran striker is now solely focusing on finishing what could be his final season with Barcelona on a high.

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