Sun Nov 03 22:45:42 UTC 2024: ## Barcelona Coach Flick to Rotate Midfield Ahead of Espanyol Derby Amidst Valencia Flooding Tragedy

**Barcelona, Spain -** FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is expected to make changes to his midfield lineup for Sunday’s La Liga derby against Espanyol at Montjuic, despite the recent devastating floods in the Valencia region.

Flick addressed the tragedy during his pre-match press conference on Saturday, expressing his concerns about the appropriateness of holding the match. While he acknowledged the gravity of the situation, with over 200 fatalities reported, he ultimately deferred the decision to La Liga.

“It isn’t easy to make a decision about what to do. It already happened three years ago in Germany. We support all those affected, but it is a matter for La Liga to decide,” he stated.

However, Flick also expressed a personal view on the matter, saying, “If I could make the decision, maybe I would do it because it is a tragedy for Valencia and for Spain as a whole.”

Despite the ongoing tragedy, the match is scheduled to go ahead as planned, kicking off at 16:15 local time. Flick acknowledged the significance of the derby, emphasizing the importance of a strong performance. “It will be a tough game, for sure. After a fantastic week, it’s important to be one hundred percent tomorrow, with intensity and maximum quality,” he stated.

While Flick remained tight-lipped about the specific changes he intends to make, it is anticipated that he will rotate his midfield options throughout the next three matches before the international break. Dani Olmo and Frenkie de Jong are expected to start, allowing Pedri and Marc Casado to rest. Fermin Lopez, who recently signed a new contract, will retain his place in the midfield.

The rest of the starting lineup is expected to mirror the team that secured impressive victories over Bayern Munich (4-1) and Real Madrid (4-0) last week. Inaki Pena will be in goal, with a backline featuring Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, and Jules Kounde. Upfront, the attacking trio of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal will continue to lead the line.

It remains to be seen how many minutes De Jong will receive, as his 45-minute performance at the Bernabeu was his longest stint this season. Gavi is also expected to see increased playing time after making three brief appearances in recent matches.

**FC Barcelona Starting XI:** Pena; Balde, Inigo, Cubarsi, Kounde; De Jong, Olmo, Fermin; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Yamal.

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