FC Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, is set to introduce a revamped defensive lineup when his squad faces Real Madrid in the highly anticipated El Clasico, scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Spain.

Flick, the German tactician, will miss this iconic clash due to a suspension. He was shown a red card during last weekend’s Catalan derby, where Barcelona secured a 2-1 victory over Girona.

Despite his absence, Flick maintains a significant role in selecting the starting lineup, which will be managed by his assistant, Marcus Sorg, in his stead.

To bolster the defense in front of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, Flick has opted for a fresh central defensive partnership, featuring Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi.

Eric Garcia, often utilized as a versatile player in defensive midfield or at right back, shifts to central defense, while Jules Kounde, now cleared to play, will take up the right back position. Alejandro Balde will operate on the opposite flank.

In midfield, Frenkie de Jong will anchor the play, providing support to Pedri and the more forward-positioned Fermin Lopez. Lopez, eager to score against Real Madrid, previously made headlines with a remarkable goal during Barcelona’s 2023 summer preseason tour in Dallas.

As the anchor in the centre of the park, Frenkie de Jong provides support to Pedri and a more advanced Fermin Lopez, who will look to finally have a goal allowed against Real Madrid after his sensational breakthrough strike in Dallas during the preseason tour of the summer of 2023.

FC Barcelona’s attack is also adapted

Raphinha is out as we know, and could be sidelined for another month, meaning Marcus Rashford is the left winger.

Lamine Yamal has put fire into the build up of the clash by saying that Madrid “robs and complains”, and he will be on the right wing looking to feed striker Ferran Torres and repeat his goalscoring exploits that saw Barca win 4-0 in this ground a year ago.

Real Madrid will look to revert four Clasico losses to FC Barcelona

As for Madrid, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has a back line of Alvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen and Eder Militao in front of him, with coach Xabi Alonso going for Fede Valverde at right back as opposed to Dani Carvajal while Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured.

Aurelien Tchoumanei is the pivot, with a duo of Jude Bellingham and Eder Guler looking to contain Pedri but also feed the attack.

With Rodrygo on the bench, a Kylian Mbappe in the form of his life is the central number 9 flanked by a Brazil-Argentina pairing of Vinicius Junior and Franco Mastantuono striving to revert four losses in El Clasico to FC Barcelona last season.