Official: Barcelona starting XI against Athletic Club | Spanish Super Cup | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are set to take on Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final as the Catalan club looks to register their first silverware of the season. A lot of off-field uncertainty has clouded the environment surrounding the team in recent days.

Hansi Flick had the tough job of naming a strong starting XI keeping in mind the players returning and the German coach decided to go with what he tried against Atletico Madrid in La Liga, with a couple of small tweaks.

In goal, Wojciech Szczęsny has been handed his second start of the season, following up on the Copa del Rey game against UD Barbastro earlier this month. The Polish veteran displaces Inaki Pena with the latter being punished for being late to the morning activation session.

The backline is fairly on expected lines, with Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde manning the flanks and the center-back duo of Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez resuming their partnership at the expense of Ronald Araújo.

There is still some intrigue on whether Hansi Flick will set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 tonight, considering the same midfield trio played against Atletico Madrid with Marc Casadó operating as the lone pivot and Pedri and Gavi starting as interiors.

Alternatively, Hansi Flick could also use the same midfield with a double pivot, with Pedri and Marc Casadó playing deeper and Gavi using his intensity to press from the front and help out Robert Lewandowski.

The forward line has picked itself, with Raphinha starting from the left, the returning Lamine Yamal starting from the right and the Polish striker Robert Lewandowski starting as the number nine, hoping to add to his goal tally for the season.

Considering all the factors, this is arguably the strongest line-up that Hansi Flick could have put out for the game against the Basque side, and let’s wait and see if Barcelona can walk away with a victory from this game to book their place in the finals.