How Barcelona could line up against Arsenal

Barcelona head coach Xavi could be without several first-team players for Wednesday's pre-season friendly against Arsenal at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The Catalan giants had their friendly with Juventus last Saturday called off just nine hours before kickoff after a "a significant part of the Blaugrana squad" were diagnosed with the stomach illness viral gastroenteritis.

Defender Jules Kounde emerged as a doubt due to illness before the game was cancelled, while the likes of Alejandro Balde – who is also nursing an ankle injury – Eric Garcia and summer signing Oriol Romeu are also understood to be among the 15 players affected by the stomach bug.

Pending a late fitness check, Xavi will be hoping to give minutes to his new summer signings Romeu, Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez, who are all hoping to make their non-competitive debut.

Franck Kessie was on the scoresheet in Barca's 2-0 friendly opener against Vissel Kobe last month, and the Ivorian will continue to battle for a place in midfield with the likes of Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Pedri and youngster Pau Prim for a starting spot.

De Jong in fact began Barca's last friendly at centre-back, but the Dutchman is likely to move up into midfield, with Martinez, Garcia, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen potentially available to compete for a spot in the heart of the defence.

Robert Lewandowski, who scored 33 goals in 46 games in his debut campaign for Barca in 2022-23, could start again as the central striker, while Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres are among the wingers who could feature in the front three.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Christensen, Martinez, Alonso; Gundogan, Kessie, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Fati

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