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Barcelona team news vs Real Madrid: Predicted line up – Messi starts, Coutinho dropped
BARCELONA are set to field an attacking line-up as they look to overcome Real Madrid and book a place in the Copa del Rey final.
Barcelona need to go on the offensive when they face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Bernabeu.
The tie stands at 1-1 after the first encounter with a striker from Malcom cancelling out Lucas Vazquez’s opener at the Nou Camp.
However, the away goal means a 0-0 stalemate will be enough to see Real safely into the final against either Valencia or Real Betis.
Therefore, manager Ernesto Valverde is likely to field an adventurous line-up centred around Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
The Argentine started on the bench in the first leg but bagged a hat-trick last time out against Sevilla and will hope to get among the goals once more.
Messi is likely to be deployed in support of Luis Suarez while Ousmane Dembele should line up on the left flank.
The Frenchman is expected to be preferred to Philippe Coutinho, with the Brazilian starting the 4-2 win over Sevilla but struggling for form this season.
Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic will be joined by one of either Arturo Vidal or Carles Alena in midfield with Arthur still a doubt having just returned from a hamstring training.
In defence, Clement Lenglet could return alongside Gerard Pique at centre-back as a replacement for Samuel Umtiti.
The World Cup winner played 90 minutes on his comeback from injury at the weekend but is unlikely to be risked with so few minutes under his belt recently.
Meanwhile, Nelson Semedo could come in for Sergi Roberto at right-back and Jordi Alba is expected to line up on the other flank.
Jasper Cillessen is injured so Marc-Andre ter Stegen will continue between the sticks but Rafinha (knee) and Thomas Vermaelen (muscle) remain the only other absentees.
Barcelona predicted line-up vs Real Madrid – Copa del Rey
(4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Lenglet, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal; Messi, Dembele, Suarez