Barcelona (AFP)

French striker and world champion Antoine Griezmann is replacing for the clasico of La Liga matchday 7 against Real Madrid this Saturday (4:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. GMT), according to the official composition announced by Barça.

After having already replaced against the Hungarian club Ferencvaros on Tuesday in the Champions League (Barça victory 5-1), Griezmann will start on the bench for the first clasico of the 2020-2021 season.

He gives way to the young Pedri (17 years old) on the right flank of the blaugrana attack, who will surround with Ansu Fati (18 years old on October 31) the superstar Lionel Messi.

Friday at a press conference, the Dutch coach of Barça Ronald Koeman had nevertheless declared that "Grizi" had "chances of playing" the clasico.

"Like any player, he has chances to play. But it is not good to discuss his position in every game. There are other players than him. Of course, he is an important player, and we want that all the players are at the best possible level ... But the most important thing is the team. We will play the best to get the best possible result, "Koeman said at a pre-match press conference on Friday. .

No other surprise in Barça's eleven: Jordi Alba, recovered from his right thigh injury, is well established at the left-back position.

Miralem Pjanic will start on the bench.

On the Real Madrid side, only one surprise: Marco Asensio is a good holder to the right of the Merengue attack to assist Karim Benzema and Vinicius.

Captain Sergio Ramos, hit in the left knee and absent on Wednesday during Real's defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk (3-2), is well established in central defense with Raphaël Varane.

Ferland Mendy recovers his left-back position and leaves the right-back position to Nacho, who comes to compensate for the injury absence of Dani Carvajal.

Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Federico Valverde will form the midfielder, leaving Luka Modric on the bench.

The eleven of FC Barcelona:

Neto - Dest, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba - Busquets, De Jong - Pedri, Coutinho, Fati - Messi

Coach: Ronald Koeman (NED)

Real Madrid's eleven:

Courtois - Nacho, Ramos, Varane, Mendy - Casemiro, Kroos, Valverde - Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius

Trainer: Zinédine Zidane (FRA)

Referee: Jose Luis Munuera Montero (ESP)

© 2020 AFP