Pedri is expected to start for FC Barcelona against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semfinal second leg at Camp Nou.
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FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will take a gamble on Pedri by giving the midfielder his first start since January in Tuesday’s Copa del Rey semifinal second leg clash with Atletico Madrid.
The Catalans trail 4-0 in the last four tie, and are at grave risk of ceding the title they won against Real Madrid last season.
Culers believe their team can pull off a remontada for the ages, however, and are boosted by the fact that at least 750 fans will be allowed to form a Grada d’Animació (Animation Stand) charged with creating a more boisterous atmosphere than has been seen in the Spotify Camp Nou since it reopened.
Injured during a Champions League clash with Sparta Prague in the Champions League in early 2026, Pedri only recently returned to action with short cameos against Levante and Villarreal over the past two weekends.
It was in the latter match, a 4-1 win, that he set up Lamine Yamal so that the youngster could bag his first career hat trick, which gave both men and the rest of the team confidence that collectively they can net a number of goals at Atletico’s expense.
With Frenkie de Jong now sidelined, Fermin Lopez is expected to be by Pedri’s side while Marc Bernal is the lone defensive pivot behind them.
Not getting caught out by one of Atleti’s devastating counter attacks when trying to score will be key here, and defending Joan Garcia’s net are Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martin, Pau Cubarsi and the winning goalscorer in the final last term, Jules Kounde.
Robert Lewandowski has been ruled out and wasn’t expected to play in any event, meaning Ferran Torres is the central ‘9’ flanked by Raphinha and a Lamine in blistering form.
What FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said
“We are four goals behind and we have to make the impossible possible. That is the objective. It’s not easy. However, we will not give up. It is important to keep a clean sheet, but we must believe in our strength and that we can achieve it … You must always believe. For example, in each half we need to score two goals.
“We have to be smart. We must press them, win the duels and make things difficult for them. We cannot lose possession, as they are very dangerous in transitions … We have to play as one, especially tomorrow.”
FC Barcelona Starting XI Vs. Atletico Madrid: Joan Garcia; Balde, Gerard Martin, Cubarsi, Kounde; Bernal, Fermin, Pedri; Raphinha, Ferran, Lamine.
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