Ernesto Valverde has a selection dilemma with Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho available

Andy West 21:47 20/04/2018
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  • Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho

    Barcelona will attempt to secure the Copa del Rey trophy for the fourth consecutive season with Saturday night’s clash against Sevilla, but the Catalan team’s recent form has been far from convincing.

    Here are the main storylines ahead of the game at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

    VALVERDE’S MIDFIELD SELECTION DILEMMA

    Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta

    Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta

    The biggest problem area for Barca in recent weeks has been midfield, with the fatigue of key players such as Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta preventing the team from establishing their usual control over possession and tempo.

    Busquets and Iniesta – who is set to announce his departure for a lucrative move to China – are almost certain to start after being rested from the midweek draw at Celta Vigo. But who will join them?

    Manager Ernesto Valverde has plenty of options, especially after Ivan Rakitic was given the all-clear following a brief spell on the sidelines with a hand injury.

    Big-money signings Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele are also available, along with the greater physical presence of Paulinho and outside bets Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez, and Sergi Roberto unless he is selected at right-back.

    It’s likely to be Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic plus one, but if his Plan A isn’t working Valverde will be under pressure to react much more quickly with substitutions than has sometimes been the case.

    WILL CILLESSEN BE RUSTY?

    Barcelona's Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen

    Barcelona’s Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen

    Whatever decisions Valverde makes with his outfield players, it is certain that the team’s goalkeeper will be Jasper Cillessen, who serves as the back-up to Marc-Andre ter Stegen in normal circumstances but is promoted to first-choice in the Copa del Rey.

    Dutch international Cillessen has performed admirably whenever he has been called upon and is unfortunate to have been denied more regular outings by the excellent form of ter Stegen.

    Cillessen last played in a friendly for the Netherlands last months, impressing in a 3-0 victory over Portugal, but that doesn’t compare to the high stakes occasion of a cup final.

    And the fact remains that he has not played a minute of competitive football since Barca’s semi-final Copa win against Valencia more than two months ago, and he is therefore in danger of being extremely rusty for this weekend’s showpiece occasion.

    The demands on a Barca keeper are considerable, both in terms of maintaining concentration during his team’s long periods of possession and in playing out with his feet from the back, and if Cillessen makes a high-profile mistake it will call into question Valverde’s goalkeeper selection policy.

    BEN YEDDER OR MURIEL UP FRONT?

    Luis Muriel celebrates scoring against Barcelona in March

    Luis Muriel celebrates scoring against Barcelona in March

    Sevilla have been extremely unpredictable this season, equally capable of winning against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League and suffering an embarrassing 5-1 hammering at tiny Eibar.

    However, there are unlucky to be any surprises in the starting eleven named by Italian coach Vincenzo Montella, with rumoured Barcelona target Clement Lenglet anchoring the defence behind a midfield which relies heavily upon the passing skills of Argentine international Ever Banega.

    The one big dilemma facing Montella, whose future at the Andalusian club is believed to be under threat following a disappointing league campaign, is the identity of his centre forward.

    Colombian international Luis Muriel is one option, with his pace causing Barca all sorts of problems in the recent 2-2 league draw between the teams.

    But he has competition from Frenchman Wissam Ben Yedder, who has been Sevilla’s cup-king this season with 13 goals in the Copa del Rey and Champions League – including both in the 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

    Muriel is likely to get the nod from the start, but Ben Yedder will be a dangerous option from the bench.

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