Flick plans to spring a surprise in Barcelona starting XI for cup final vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

FC Barcelona held their final training session yesterday afternoon before facing Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, which will take place tonight at Estadio de La Cartuja.

The team led by Hansi Flick will face Carlo Ancelotti’s side, in what will be a replay of the Spanish Super Cup final from last January in Saudi Arabia which the Blaugrana won 5-2.

A surprise at left-back?

Heading into tonight’s clash, one of the uncertainties in Barcelona’s lineup to face Real Madrid at La Cartuja will be who occupies the left-back position.

With Alejandro Balde injured and absent, everything pointed towards Gerard Martin starting in his usual spot as Barcelona’s left-back in the Copa del Rey final.

However, according to SPORT, Flick could spring a surprise by positioning Hector Fort at left-back for the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, just as he did in the last La Liga match against Mallorca, with hints being dropped in yesterday’s training session.

Set to start vs Real Madrid? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

During the first part of the training session held on Saturday afternoon, Flick organised rondos and several possession exercises, mixing potential substitutes and starters.

On previous occasions, the German coach had distinguished between the two groups, separating those who would start the match from those who would begin on the bench.

However, after the fifteen minutes of training that are open to the media, the Blaugrana coach tested an exercise with a line of four defenders that included Fort at left-back alongside Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, and Inigo Martinez.

The full-back, a product of La Masia, has had a very limited role this season following Flick’s arrival on the bench, in contrast to the involvement he had under Xavi Hernandez last season.

So far this season, Fort has accumulated 485 minutes across 15 matches – 13 in La Liga, one in the Champions League, and one in the Copa del Rey; with a total of four starts.

However, after impressing against Mallorca earlier in the week, there may be a strong possibility that Fort could start in what would be the biggest game of his career till date.