On Sunday, Barcelona host Real Madrid in La Liga. Compared to the previous El Clasico, Xavi is expected to have 3 changes in the squad.
First in the fall, this is how Barca lined up last time.
Barca XI:
Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Alonso, Balde; Kessie, Busquets, De Jong; Raphinha, Ferran, Gavi.
This time, Andreas Christensen is expected to replace Marcos Alonso, Pedri will replace Franck Kessie and Robert Lewandowski will start before Ferran Torres. The only doubt is that Pedri is still recovering from injury. According to Diario Sport, if the youngster is not ready to play, Kessie will continue his work.
"They will share a role":
Fans explain how Messi and Pedri can play together, we draw the lineup
Barca fan and Reddit user Satrustegui wrote: "Pedri and Messi will share roles shortly after the attack.
"Messi is not as fast as he used to be and can't dribble past every opponent to score. But he has the vision, the passing ability, the skill, the danger element, everything else. Pedri needs reinforcements and Messi can't play everything anymore," Cule added.
Basically, Xavi can keep the four midfield squad if Leo Messi returns to the club. He and Pedri will be the main builders behind Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski while Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong will form a dual axis.
The main problem is that Gavi will see his game time decrease - however, this could be resolved if Busquets is rested more often than usual.
Messi has made 47 appearances alongside Pedri. Together, the two players scored three goals.
Top sources assessing the chances of Barca bringing Messi back:
surprisingly tall
Speaking on Twitch, reliable writer Gerard Romero (5 stars) said he rates the possibility of Leo Messi returning to Barcelona this summer as 60%. This is the most likely scenario mathematically.
Romero is often reliable in Barca related news. For example, he was the first to report that Leo's renewal talks with Paris Saint-Germain were not going perfectly. The 60% claim was made on the same day Jorge and Rodrigo Messi, Leo's father (agent) and brother, were spotted arriving at Barcelona airport. However, they made no statement, so the reason for their visit remains unknown.
It seems that Messi does not want to continue another season in Paris. However, Barca's financial situation is still problematic.
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Brothers Khephren and Marcus Thuram were called up by France coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against the Netherlands and Ireland, along with star Kylian Mbappe.
They are the sons of former France defender Lilian Thuram, who was with Deschamps when France won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
- Stream on ESPN+:
LaLiga, Bundesliga, plus (USA)
This is the second time Deschamps has selected brothers for his squad, with Lucas and Theo Hernandez featuring for France at the World Cup in Qatar last year alongside striker Marcus Thuram.
Marcus Thuram is the brother of 21-year-old midfielder Khephren, who was called up for the first time after impressing with French club Nice this season.
France will host the Netherlands at the Stade de France on March 24 and meet Ireland in Dublin three days later. France lost the 2022 World Cup final on penalties after a 3-3 draw with Argentina, who beat the Netherlands on penalties in a tense quarter-final.
Veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and centre-back Raphaël Varane, both 2018 World Cup winners, have retired from the national team after losing to Argentina.
Deschamps is somewhat rebuilding his squad and has called up Lensois goalkeeper Brice Samba and Chelsea midfielder Wesley Fofana for the first time.
With Lloris retired, Deschamps must choose a new captain with Paris Saint-Germain striker Mbappe among his main suitors. Mbappe became the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final as France lost to Argentina. Deschamps declined to answer questions about Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, who as expected will not be on the team following a rift between them.
Benzema left the World Cup in Qatar with a leg injury. Since then, he has opposed Deschamps' version of events in a newspaper interview with cryptic messages and emojis online.
"I don't watch social media," Deschamps said, adding that he would not comment further on Benzema.
The entire French team:
Guard:
Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Alphonse Areola (West Ham United), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defender:
Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), William Saliba (Arsenal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), ))
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