29-year-old Barcelona defender can get a rare start tonight against Espanyol | OneFootball

Tonight could be a memorable night for FC Barcelona as they are set to play against their local rivals, RCD Espanyol, in a game that can confirm the Catalans as the champions of Spain.

The Blaugranes would definitely want to put an end to the league race and celebrate their achievement in their rivals’ stadium. As a result, Hansi Flick has announced quite a strong squad for this game.

Andreas Christensen can start tonight

However, some changes are expected in the Catalan team’s backline, as Jules Kounde is still out with an injury and Inigo Martinez is suspended for this game. Similarly, Pau Cubarsi suffered an accident in the last training session, and Flick might decide to rest him for this match.

In such circumstances, Mundo Deportivo notes that the Danish centre-back Andreas Christensen can return to the starting lineup, even though he has played in only four games in total this season.

In the match against Real Madrid, Hansi Flick decided to bring in Christensen ahead of Ronald Araujo, who had received a yellow card while on the bench. The Dane played 33 minutes in this game and showcased his good level by making at least one crucial intervention to keep the Merengues from tying the scores.

Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen playing against Real Madrid. [Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images]

Important player under Xavi Hernandez

The former Chelsea centre-back had been a key part of the backline for two seasons prior to this one. He played an integral part in the campaign in which Barcelona won La Liga under Xavi Hernandez. In his first season at the Catalan club, he played 42 games, while in the second season, he played 32 games.

Christensen’s presence in the backline would particularly help the team in building up play from the back and winning duels in the air. This latter aspect can be particularly helpful for the team as it has struggled in defending from set-pieces lately.

Furthermore, his versatility is also valuable, as in addition to the centre-back position, Andreas Christensen can also play well as a midfield pivot, a role that Eric Garcia has also played this season.