Xavi faces winger difficulty but he’s also keeping an eye on a 16-year-old talent.
FC Barcelona will take on Cadiz CF in the second game of their La Liga 2023/2024 season, following a goalless draw against Getafe in the season’s opening match. Barca will be looking to capture all three points from their home match.
However, certain repercussions from the previous game will transfer over to this one as well. The red card shown to Brazilian winger Raphinha will result in a two-game suspension, leaving Xavi with the difficult decision of selecting his replacement for the match against Cadiz.
According to SPORT, Xavi weighs his various alternatives, and among those options, the possibility of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal starting will not be ruled out, although Ferran Torres seems most likely to start.
The Spaniard is arguably the most comfortable first-team player on the right wing, and his participation may automatically become significant if Xavi chooses to adhere to his preferred formation and system, having previously played on the right wing.
The Catalan coach could also end up relying on Ez Abde, but the notion of Lamine Yamal, who is naturally left-footed and a right winger, could be appealing given that he realistically replaces Raphinha trait for trait with his own unique skills on top.
Moreover, the fact that Xavi relied on him before bringing on Ansu Fati or Gavi demonstrates the Barcelona coach’s confidence in the youngster’s abilities.
While Fati and Gavi also have a chance to start, particularly since Gavi’s inclusion could be on the left wing as a false winger if Xavi chooses to rely on his familiarity with that position.
In addition to Raphinha, Xavi will be absent from the technical area due to suspension, and Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo will miss nearly a month of action for Barcelona due to injury.
Xavi faces winger difficulty but he’s also keeping an eye on a 16-year-old talent.