FC Barcelona vs. Espanyol: Flick makes rotations

FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make changes in midfield and defense when his team host city rivals Espanyol in a La Liga clash in Montjuic on Sunday.

In light of the tragic floods that claimed more than 200 lives in the Valencia region, Flick indicated at his pre-match press conference on Saturday afternoon that he would prefer to cancel the game in question.

“It's not easy to make a decision about what to do. This happened in Germany three years ago. We support everyone affected, but it is up to La Liga (to decide),” he said, addressing the issue for the first time.

However, at another point in his session in front of journalists and reporters, Flick became more decisive: “If I could make the decision, maybe I would, because it is a tragedy for Valencia and for Spain as a whole,” to cancel games across the country.

However, as things stand, Barca will actually take the field at 4.15pm local time, and Flick stressed that he knows “what a Barca-Espanyol derby entails”.

“It will definitely be a difficult game. After a fantastic week, it is important to be there 100 percent tomorrow, with intensity and maximum quality,” emphasized the German.

Although he has been very reserved when it comes to rotations, Flick is expected to make them in three games within 12 days before the next international break, at least in midfield.

This means that Dani Olmo will start even though neither Pedri nor Marc Casado are rested. Fermin Lopez, who has just signed a new contract, loses his place.

The rest of the team looks almost exactly like the team that beat Bayern Munich and Real Madrid 4-1 and 0-4 respectively last week.

It finds Inaki Pena in net, protected by a defensive line of Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi, but Jules Kounde is replaced by Hector Fort at right-back.

Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal continue to form one of the most dangerous attacking trios in club football.

It will be interesting to see how many minutes substitute De Jong has, with an impressive 45 at the Bernabeu, the most minutes he has played this season.

At some point, Gavi could also enjoy more time on the pitch after three brief cameo appearances in Barca's last three games.

FC Barcelona vs. Espanyol starting eleven: Pena; Balde, Inigo, Cubarsi, Fort; Casado, Pedri, Olmo; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Yamal