FC Barcelona faces FC Porto this Tuesday evening, for the 5th day of the Champions League group stage (9 p.m.). Here is the expected line-up for the Catalan club.
It is in an atmosphere of crisis that FC Barcelona will face FC Porto for their penultimate outing of this Champions League group stage, this Tuesday evening (kick-off at 9 p.m.). Leader of its group thanks to a better goal difference than Porto, the Catalan club is in first place in this match, which Xavi describes as “ vital“.
“It’s a very important, vital match. In case of victory we would ensure that we finish first, after two years without being able to qualify for the eighth,” launched the Barça coach at a press conference on Monday evening. A clear speech whose gravity also derives from the dynamics. Because for several weeks, Barça has been completely at a standstill.
In this context, Xavi’s position seems weakened – a scenario still unimaginable at the start of the season. The 2010 world champion repeated that his president Joan Laporta “gave him all (his) confidence”, but his choices will be scrutinized this Tuesday evening.
Once again, Xavi will have to deal with major absences, including those of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gavi. Lewandowski, Joao Felix, Pedri, De Jong and Gündogan are all expected at kick-off while Iñaki Peña will be lined up in goal.
The expected lineup of FC Barcelona : Iñaki Peña – Cancelo, Ronald Araujo, Koundé, Balde – Pedri, De Jong, Gündogan – Raphinha, Lewandowski, Joao Félix.
