Barcelona face rotation dilemma ahead of Espanyol derby and return Atletico leg

[p]With the champions seven points clear of second-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] at the top of the table, Flick may be tempted to rotate heavily ahead of Tuesday's crucial second leg visit to face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a], trailing 2-0.[/p][p]Alvaro Arbeloa's Madrid host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/girona/nNNpcUSL/"]Girona[/a] on Friday and could cut the gap down to four points with a victory, which would make Flick's choice harder.[/p][p]Los Blancos are also in a tough spot following their 2-1 defeat by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] in the Champions League, but have a bigger gap between the Girona game and the second leg in Bavaria next Wednesday.[/p][p][b]"We have also a derby in three days on Saturday, our next match, it's also important for us to win," said Flick.[/b][/p][p][b]"We will see, we will analyse everything, what kind of options we have."[/b][/p][image alt="LaLiga's weekend fixtures" id="aad61afd-6e8e-478b-af64-d6449c2d0cdc" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="c9a34eb1-7398-4911-9e95-4375e412c888" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]The worst-case scenario would be suffering a first league defeat at Camp Nou since its reopening before being eliminated from the Champions League anyway in the Spanish capital.[/p][p]With the league Clasico against Real Madrid on May 10th appearing on the horizon, Flick is keen to maintain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barca[/a]'s lead, but the Champions League may take precedence.[/p][p]Several players who have been reserves for much of the season, like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/araujo-ronald/M3sbJix9/"]Ronald Araujo[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/casado-marc/tAhLmeJb/"]Marc Casado[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bardagji-roony/YgzDTaqN/"]Roony Bardghji[/a], could come into the side to take on an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/espanyol/QFfPdh1J/"]Espanyol[/a] team in free-fall.[/p][p]After a strong start to the season, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Manolo Gonzalez[/a]'s team have failed to win in 2026, which began with a 2-0 home defeat by Barca that set off their slump.[/p][p]Midfielder Pedri is fundamental for Barca but came off at half-time in the defeat by Atletico, with a minor physical issue.[/p][p][b]"Pedri had some problems. No big problems but in this situation, we need him (going forwards) - so we made the decision to take him off the pitch," said Flick.[/b][/p][p]Flick will hope to have midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-jong-frenkie/A1F3rz9c/"]Frenkie de Jong[/a] available for the second leg at Atletico, and the Dutchman returned to training this week after a hamstring injury.[/p][p]The Dutchman has a chance of being included in the squad to face Espanyol, while Barca can also find encouragement in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gavi/xrV9v8CU/"]Gavi[/a]'s performance against Atletico as a substitute.[/p][p][b]It could buy the 21-year-old more game time at the weekend as he continues to find fitness following a long injury lay-off. "Gavi had a fantastic game," said Flick.[/b][/p][p]Atletico Madrid visit Sevilla on Saturday, and Diego Simeone is certain to rest several key players.[/p][p]The Argentine coach has been focused on the cup competitions in recent weeks, with his team fourth in La Liga and unlikely to slip with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/betis/vJbTeCGP/"]Real Betis[/a] 12 points behind in fifth.[/p][h2]Player to watch: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/muriqi-vedat/CjwNDgqi/"]Vedat Muriqi[/a][/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mallorca/4jDQxrbf/"]Mallorca[/a]'s Kosovan target man, Muriqi, scored a vital goal last week to help the team beat Real Madrid and boost their chances of avoiding relegation. The forward has 19 goals this season, trailing only LaLiga's top goalscorer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a] and will look to add to his tally against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rayo-vallecano/8bcjFy6O/"]Rayo Vallecano[/a] on Sunday in another important game.[/p][h2]Key stats[/h2][p]0 - shots on target for struggling Sevilla last weekend against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-oviedo/SzYzw34K/"]Real Oviedo[/a].[/p][p]12 - no goalkeeper has more clean sheets than Barca's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garcia-joan/vuAlEqes/"]Joan Garcia[/a].[/p][p]58 - fouls committed by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-sociedad/jNvak2f3/"]Real Sociedad[/a] defender Jon Aramburu, the most in the top flight.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/spain/laliga/"]Follow LaLiga with Flashscore.[/a][/p]