Official: Barcelona starting lineup against Elche | OneFootball

Barcelona will gear up to take on Elche in the first game immediately after the international break tonight. With Real Madrid playing tomorrow, the Catalans could temporarily go 15 points clear on top of the table.

With several injuries in the squad, Xavi has been forced into some rotations tonight in the starting lineup.

Ronald Araujo is coming back from a hamstring knock, but starts in central defence. Marcos Alonso partners him in the absence of Andreas Christensen.

Jules Kounde starts as the right-back, while Jordi Alba comes in as the left-back. This back-four will screen Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the German looks for his 20th clean sheet of the league season.

Frenkie de Jong and Pedri did not travel with the team due to injuries, and have been replaced by Sergi Roberto and Gavi in midfield, with Eric Garcia guarding the backline as the pivot in place of captain Sergio Busquets, while Franch Kessie is also not part of the team.

Robert Lewandowski spearheads the attack, hoping to put his three-game club scoring drought to bed.

With Raphinha suspended, Ferran Torres gets the nod as the right-winger, while Ansu Fati is given another chance at left-wing.