El Classico este fin de semana

Fresh from the amazing night in Manchester, we now have the small matter of Barcelona to play. The league really can be finished this weekend with a victory for us. Barcelona should be feeling down after their midweek champions league results and we should be buzzing. However Barcelona know they need a victory here which does make their approach simpler.

I would make a few rotations this weekend but not many. Carvajal had to come off against Manchester City, and whilst he seems to have trained normally this week, he’s far too important to risk getting injured and just for Lord Lucas Vasquez’s penalty in the shootout, he deserves a run out in this game. I’d also insert Tchouameni back into the starting 11 and I’d give Valverde a rest. He has played the most minutes of any of our players this season at 3.665 minutes, and I’m being sentimental but on what could be ( I hope its not) Luka Modric’s last El Classico, I’d like to see him start. The last player I’d rest is actually Vini Jr, he looked knackered against Manchester City, and he did have some injury problems earlier in the season, and he would be a great asset to have on the bench in case we need him in the 2nd half. I’m also a fan of Brahim Diaz so I like to see him start. Although I do think his better position is in Bellingham’s role.

My starting 11 would be

Lunin

Vasquez Rudiger Nacho Mendy

Tchouameni

Modric Camavinga

Bellingham

Diaz Rodrygo

Would be great to get the victory this weekend so we can really focus on Bayern Munich, although it does seem like the 9 days rest between the Athletic Bilbao game and the first leg of the Manchester City leg was a bit too long as the players actually seemed fitter throughout the 2nd leg. So we wouldn’t want to relax too much in the games leading up to Bayern Munich.

Sundays game kicks off at 21.00 local time.