A key task for Barcelona: How to stop Vinícius? Xavi will try to surprise the 18-year-old

El Clásico is knocking on the door, the biggest game in the world will be played on Sunday from 16:15. Real Madrid’s star Vinícius Junior is currently shining brightly and is playing in tremendous form. Stopping him will be a key task for Barcelona.

Barcelona are well aware of the danger of Vinícius Junior. That’s why Xavi tried to eliminate him last season by moving stopper Ronaldo Araujo to right-back. But the Uruguayan defender is currently out with an injury.

Jules Kounde, who started the season at right-back, should return from injury, his speed and experience could work. But Xavi needs to solidify the stopper pairing of Eric García – Gerard Piqué, which burned like paper against Inter, so the 23-year-old Frenchman will move to the centre of defence.

According to the Spanish media, Xavi is trying to come up with an emergency solution. Only 18-year-old left-back Alejandro Balde is expected to start at right-back. He is showing great qualities this season, but now he will play through the leg, where he has made only one appearance, against Celta Vigo.

Xavi seems to be banking on the fact that Balde’s speed will somewhat eliminate the strengths of Vinícius. He probably doesn’t want to send Sergi Roberto, who is not fully equipped with speed, against the Brazilian speedster.

So the whole composition of the defensive line should be as follows: Balde – Koundé – García – Marcos Alonso. It’s a very emergency defensive setup, with Araujo, Christensen and Bellerín missing, and Koundé’s health is uncertain.

The question of how to stop Vinícius was also faced by Xavi at the press conference. “Stop Vinícius? We have to stop Real Madrid,” the Barcelona coach did not want to pay much attention to the Brazilian youngster.

Source: Diario AS, MARCA