The big news for Barcelona is that coach Xavi can pick Jules Koundé, the central defender was signed from Sevilla earlier in the summer, but Barça’s financial problems meant he hadn’t been registered to play in LaLiga. That problem is now fixed, with the directors putting up personal guarantees to raise the salary cap.
Everything points to Xavi putting the French defender in his starting line-up, alongside Araújo in central defence, with Sergi Roberto and Alejandro Balde on the wings.
Lewandowski, who grabbed two in Barcelona’s impressive 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad last weekend will be starting up front and nobody would bet against him getting on the scoresheet having settled in well since his move from Bayern Munich.
Barcelona have won their last six games in LaLiga against Real Valladolid, and although the visitors picked up a decent point against Sevilla (1-1) last weekend, the expectation is that Barça at home will be too strong for a team who have just returned to the top flight.
Valladolid coach Juan José Rojo’s (known as Pacheta) side currently sit 17th in the Liga (they were soundly beaten by Villarreal on the opening day of the Liga, 0-3).
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