Barcelona are back in the UEFA Champions League this week, as they face Benfica on Tuesday.
The Catalan giants are on the verge of sealing their place in the Round of 16 knockout stages with five wins already from their six games in 2024.
Hansi Flick’s men just want another win to book their place in the next phase, with Benfica the most likely to finish in the knockout zones having picked up just 10 points from their six games, so Array
The Sporting News takes a look at the latest team news for this match, with the line-ups now officially released for the match.
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Benfica head coach Bruno Lage has nearly a full squad to pick from as Benfica welcome Barcelona to Lisbon. The hosts are looking to chase down Sporting Lisbon in the Liga Portugal title race with a three-point gap at the top of the table, but turn their attention to European play today.
The only individuals who are absent today are Renato Sanches and Tiago Gouveia, with the former out until March with a thigh injury.
The veteran striker Ángel Di María is the attraction of the local attack, although he is not a starter, since the Turkish foreigner Kerem Akturkoglu comes out on the right opposite the young Norwegian Andreas SchjelderupArray.
Benfica Initial Formation (4-3-3, on the left): Trubin (goalkeeper) – T. Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras – Aursnes, Luis, Kokcu – Akturboglu, Cabral, Schjelderup.
Injured: Sanches (thigh), Gouveia (shoulder). Suspended: None.
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Barcelona drew 1-1 in La Liga at Getafe at the weekend, with Dani Olmo winning in the final stadiums.
The Spanish foreigner was discarded for Portugal, but Lamine Yamal has returned after minor muscle injury.
The surprise for Barca is the presence of Wojciech Szczesny in goal, replacing Inaki Pena as the Polish veteran begins to see more playing time after coming out of retirement.
Barcelona starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Szczesny (GK) — Kounde, R. Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde — Pedri, Casado, Gavi — Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Injured: I. Martínez (Ischio-Legs), Bernal (LCA), Ter Stegen (LCA). Suspended: none.
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Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta’s ‘Reds’ and Kenny’s Ireland ‘Greens’ and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.