Barcelona play one of the biggest games of their season on Wednesday night when they travel to the Spanish capital for the second leg of their _Copa del Rey_ semi-final tie against Atlético Madrid at the _Estadio Metropolitano_.
Hansi Flick spoke in a press conference on Tuesday and was asked about his plans for the lineup against Atleti, and the coach revealed that Raphinha and Pau Cubarsí will both be ready to play after missing the last two matches with slight injury issues.
> “\[Raphinha\] is already recovered to play tomorrow. Absolutely. \[Cubarsí\] is ready to start, just like Raphinha. We’ve given him time to recover, and I think it was the right decision. He’ll be ready tomorrow.”
The German boss was also asked about who will replace the injured Dani Olmo in the number 10 position, with Gavi and Fermín López likely fighting for that place in the lineup. Flick did not commit to a name but explained what he wants from the player he chooses in that spot, and the ability to press high up the pitch with intensity will prove key in his decision.
> “It’s always the same: we have to find the player who knows how to defend because we have to defend from the top, also in the offense. We have several options and I trust all the players we have, so you know: we’ll see. There are small differences: I will not decide today. We haven’t trained very hard: we talked a lot in the dressing room. We decide tomorrow.”
Both Fermín and Gavi fit the profile of a high-intensity, high-pressing player, but Gavi offers more on the defensive side which could work in his favor when it comes to choosing a lineup for a big road game. Fermín’s attacking profile is perfect for a super sub to change the pace of the match away from home, but there’s really no wrong choice between the two given their form.