Gavi handed first Barcelona start as Koeman fights for job against Cadiz

Every game is a final now for Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman and there was a lot of expectation about who he would pick against Cadiz on Thursday.

Against Granada on Monday he turned to youngsters Alejandro Balde and Yusuf Demir and against Cadiz he's selected 17-year-old Gavi in midfield, who will make his first senior start for Barça.

Gavi started friendlies against Stuttgart and Salzburg but has only been used as a substitute in LaLiga and the Champions League so far.

Balde drops out of the side after injuring his back in the 1-1 draw with Granada but Demir keeps his place on the right of Barça's front three.

Elsewhere, Gerard Pique returns to the side at the expense of Eric Garcia and Luuk de Jong comes back into the XI, with Philippe Coutinho dropping to the bench.

For the injured Balde, Oscar Mingueza comes in and will play at right-back, with Sergiño Dest switching to the left.

Barça side: Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Pique, Araujo, Dest; Busquets, Gavi, De Jong; Demir, De Jong, Memphis