Friday, May 18th, 2012
Real Madrid
With Ricardo Carvalho suspended, presuming Jose Mourinho goes with the same formula that won the Copa Del Rey last midweek, Raul Albiol will be drafted in to partner Sergio Ramos at centre-back.
In midfield Sami Khedira’s injury should also mean a place for Lassana Diarra alongside Pepe and Xabi Alonso in a midfield three.
Up front is where the Portuguese coach has real options. The consensus of opinion appears to be that Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil will again partner Cristiano Ronaldo like they did in Valencia last week. However, with Barcelona’s backline appearing makeshift at best and stellar performances from Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema at the weekend, this may be the time for Mourinho to put his best foot forward.
Probable Line-up (4-3-3): Casillas; Marcelo, Albiol, Ramos, Arbeloa; Diarra, Pepe, Alonso; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo
Barcelona
A number of injury problems have left Pep Guardiola with almost no room for maneuver in his selection.
The return of Carles Puyol was designed to bring added options to the centre of defence but instead injuries to Maxwell and Adriano mean that the Barca captain will line up at left-back. Javier Mascherano will again partner Gerard Pique at the heart of the defence.
Andres Iniesta’s injury also means a place for Seydou Keita in midifeld and nullifies any possiblilty of a rotation of the front three.
Probable line-up (4-3-3): Valdes; Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves; Busquets, Xavi, Keita; Pedro, Messi, Villa
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