FC Barcelona has been hit with a last minute injury blow on the morning of its La Liga clash with … [+]
FC Barcelona has been hit with a last minute double injury blow on the morning of its La Liga clash with Atletico Madrid as confirmed by the publishing of the squad list.
The Catalans travel to the Metropolitano on Sunday night in what could be a preview for a potential Champions League semifinal clash later this spring.
Before the weekend, at an official draw in Switzerland, FC Barcelona was pitted against what Xavi Hernandez called “one of the worst” teams his men could hope to meet in Paris Saint-Germain.
In the same ceremony, Atletico Madrid was scheduled to face Borussia Dortmund with the winner of those two fixtures later meeting for a place in the final.
Barca can take courage to the Metropolitano considering it beat Atleti 1-0 at the Montjuic Stadium.
On loan from the Rojiblancos, Joao Felix netted the only goal of the game and expects a hostile reception that will be “worse” for him than others in the late evening partidazo.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a very difficult environment for the whole team. Of course it’s going to be a little worse against me, but I’m a football player, I have to be used to this kind of thing,” he told DAZN Espana on Friday.
“All of this motivates me more. I like these important matches, the matches that are spicy. I like that, it gives me extra motivation. It’s going to be a very good game,” Felix expects.
As has been confirmed on the morning of the match, however, Felix will line up without his fellow loanee and compatriot Joao Cancelo.
Providing cover for Alejandro Balde, as has been a constant since the turn of the year when the La Masia graduate had to undergo season-ending surgery, the Manchester City-owned star was expected to start in a back four with Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde.
That won’t be the case now, however, with Marcos Alonso now included in the trip and a possible candidate to head straight into the starting XI.
Given the veteran’s lack of freshness, however, it is more likely that Hector Fort is given a high-level assignment where success for the team can see Barca seal second place in La Liga ahead of the international break.
Simultaneously, Ferran Torres has also suffered another setback after again failing to make the squad despite Xavi stating he would make his comeback from a late January knock.
