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FC Barcelona Vs. Leganes Line Up: Flick Makes Two Big Changes

FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make a big change to his midfield when the La Liga leaders host Leganes in Montjuic on Sunday.

The Catalans could have been forgiven for thinking that they might go into the clash a point behind bitter rival Real Madrid - therefore blowing an advantage that was once as high as six points - because Carlo Ancelotti's men would've beaten Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

At one point leading 2-0 and managing to equalize after Rodrygo scored to make it 3-2, however, Rayo did Barca a huge favor by holding the reigning champions to a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Ahead of a mammoth showdown with Atletico Madrid in six days, Barca can therefore go four points clear with a win over Leganes.

"Leganes is tomorrow and we are not thinking about Atletico," Flick said, when asked about rotations to rest players for Diego Simeone's side at a prematch press conference on Saturday.

"You must decide with the same team, they have played together the last few games. We have players on the bench of great quality. It's good to do some rotations, but we haven't decided yet. There could be [some]," he further teased.

Unable to lead from the dugout because of a two-match ban, Flick said that he has told his team "it's up to us".

"We must play one hundred percent concentrated. All the rivals are looking for weaknesses, they will fight for points, but it will depend on us. We take the visit of Leganes with the utmost concentration," the German insisted.

Two major changes for Leganes see Ronald Araujo and Gavi come into the side.

While the former takes Pau Cubarsi's place to play his first minutes of the season, after finally receiving medical clearance ahead of the 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League midweek, the latter replaces Dani Olmo.

This means that protecting Inaki Pena's goal, Araujo partners up with Inigo Martinez as they are flanked by Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde to their left and right.

Gavi joins Marc Casado in the more retreated midfield positions, which allows Pedri to be advanced and holding the same line as left winger Lamine Yamal and right winger Raphinha.

In Flick's famed 4-2-3-1 from his Bayern Munich days, Robert Lewandowski - like back then in Bavaria at the turn of the decade - is the lone striker.

FC Barcelona Vs Leganes Starting XI: Inaki; Balde, Inigo, Araujo, Kounde; Casado, Gavi; Raphinha, Pedri, Lamine; Lewandowski

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