After a brilliant win over Benfica to begin their journey in the Champions League knockouts on Wednesday, Barcelona are back home looking to maintain their spot at the top of the La Liga table as they welcome Osasuna to the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on Saturday night.

The Catalans are in the middle of a monster set of fixtures in March, and will decide their European fate in the second leg against the Portuguese giants on Tuesday evening. But winning this weekend is also crucial to stay in control of the title race, and Osasuna deseve plenty of respect having already beaten Barça earlier this season with a tough, talented squad that could easily cause another upset.

Here’s how we think Hansi Flick will line up his troops for Saturday’s battle.

Defense

Barça had to play with 10 men for 70 minutes in midweek and didn’t have a ton of recovery time for this one, and next week brings the second leg against Benfica and a gigantic game away to Atlético Madrid. Expect quite a few rotations this weekend, as Flick has no choice but to rest some of his key players.

We will probably see the most change at the back, with Alejandro Balde dealing with a knock in his ankle and both Ronald Araujo and Iñigo Martínez expected to be rested for Benfica. Pau Cubarsí is suspended for Tuesday’s game so his place in the lineup is guaranteed here, and Eric García will likely be his center-back partner if Araujo and Iñigo are indeed rested.

Gerard Martín will probably take Balde’s place at left-back, and even though Jules Kounde would also benefit from a night off, the Frenchman is likely to stay in the lineup at right-back since he’s a physical freak that very rarely needs to rest. If it does happen, though, Héctor Fort will be ready to take his place in the back four.

Midfield

Midfield will also see some rotation with Pedri looking exhausted at the end and definitely needing a rest on Saturday. It wouldn’t hurt to have Frenkie de Jong sit this one out either, so a double pivot of Marc Casadó and Gavi could be given a rare start together provided that Gavi is recovered from the illness that’s forced him to miss the last two games.

Dani Olmo was sacrificed after Cubarsí’s red card and played only 20 minutes in midweek, so expect him to stay in the lineup as the number 10 hoping to play the entire match this time.

Attack

Two other players who gave everything to the cause against Benfica were Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, and the two attackers are also possibly getting a rest against Osasuna. Ferran Torres and Fermin López would take their spots if that’s the case, with Lamine Yamal likely starting again on the right wing after playing just 55 minutes in midweek.

Possible XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsí, Eric, Martín; Casadó, Gavi; Yamal, Olmo, Fermín; Ferran (4-2-3-1)

How do you think Barcelona should line up against Osasuna? Let us know your thoughts, predictions and teams in the comments below!