Barcelona will face Borussia Dortmund in their final UEFA Champions League match in 2024 on December 11.
The two sides have an identical points tally after five games in the new league phase of the competition with 12 points each.
Hansi Flick saw his lead in the La Liga name race reduced to two points at the weekend as they drew 2-2 at Real Betis, and Dortmund drew 1-1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga.
The team’s victory will likely secure their automatic position in the knockout stages in 2025, with two games left to play in January.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news for this fixture.
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Nuri Sahin struggles in defense against Barcelona, with Niklas Sule ruled out after being sent off through injury in Gladbach.
Emre Can is expected to enter defense with Waldemar Anton already out, however, striker Karim Adeyemi will return after two months with a torn muscle.
Dortmund predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Kobel (GK) — Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini — Nmecha, Gross — Malen, Sabitzer, Gittens — Guirassy
STANDING: Suule (ankle), Beier (Knee), Mane (calf), Anton (groin), Brandt (muscle, doubt) suspended: none
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Barcelona have defensive pairing Ronald Aujo and Andreas Christensen in the long-term and the former is expected to at least make the bench in Dortmund.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal are out for the rest of the season with Ansu Fati expected in action until January, but Pedri has shaken a minor blow.
Barcelona predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Pena (GK) — Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde — Pedri, Casado, De Jong — Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Injured: Ter Stegen (knee), Bernal (knee), Fati (muscle), Christensen (muscle, doubt)Suspended: None
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Feargal is a content maker for new sports. He has been running with TSN since early 2022 after stints at Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career through the football media pyramid. Always with a watchful eye on Arteta’s “Reds” and Kenny’s “Greens” and a one hundred percent penalty record at five.