Koundé debuts as a starter with Barça

Barely 24 hours after being registered in LaLiga, Barça taking advantage of an article in the fair play regulations, Jules Koundé will make his Barça debut in an official match this Sunday against Valladolid.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
28 August 2022 Sunday 12:33
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Koundé debuts as a starter with Barça

Barely 24 hours after being registered in LaLiga, Barça taking advantage of an article in the fair play regulations, Jules Koundé will make his Barça debut in an official match this Sunday against Valladolid. The French central defender will start in the match on matchday three against the Valladolid team at the Camp Nou.

The former Sevilla player had played with the Barcelona jersey in the friendlies against Pumas (6-0) in the Joan Gamper Trophy and in the charity match against ELA last Wednesday that Barça played against Manchester City (3-3). Koundé came off the bench against the Mexicans and from the start against Guardiola's men.

Against Pacheta's pupils, the 23-year-old defender will share the axis of defense with Eric Garcia, while in principle Ronald Araújo will once again occupy the right side. On the left, coach Xavi Hernández once again bets on the young youth squad player Alejandro Balde, who was already a starter against Real Sociedad to the detriment of Jordi Alba.

Andreas Christensen, starter in the match against San Sebastian, is out at the last minute due to a feverish process. In the attacking plot, the novelty is the Brazilian Raphinha, who takes the place from Ferran Torres, while Sergio Busquets returns in midfield, sanctioned in Anoeta, instead of Frenkie de Jong.

In this way, the Barcelona team will start with the following line-up to achieve the first victory at home after the tie on the first day against Rayo Vallecano: Ter Stegen, Ronald Araújo, Jules Koundé, Eric Garcia, Alejandro Balde, Sergio Busquets, Gavi , Pedri, Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski

For its part, Valladolid, who have started the season with a defeat against Villarreal (0-3) and a draw against Sevilla (1-1), will try to cause a surprise at the Camp Nou with the following eleven players: Masip , Luis Pérez, Joaquín Fernández, Javi Sánchez, Escudero, Monchu, Aguado, Kike Pérez, Anuar, Iván Sánchez and Sergi Guardiola.