Barcelona missing three players for Porto clash

Barcelona will be without the services of three first-team players for Wednesday's Champions League contest with Porto in Portugal.

Pedri is making progress in his recovery from a thigh issue, but this match has come too soon for the Spain international, while Frenkie de Jong remains unavailable due to an ankle problem.

Barcelona will also be missing Raphinha due to the hamstring injury that he picked up in the 1-0 win over Sevilla on Friday evening.

The midfield absentees mean that there is a spot in the squad for Marc Casado, but it is otherwise a first-team group, with Fermin Lopez now regarded as an important member of the squad.

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"He (Lopez) is part of the first team, he has earned it, he is dynamic, I like him a lot and he is a surprise for everyone. I think he can help us a lot, he has a lot of level and if he believes it he can be a Barca player for many years. He is ready," said Barcelona boss Xavi during his pre-match press conference.

Barcelona remain unbeaten in all competitions this season, and they recorded a 5-0 victory over Royal Antwerp in their opening match in the Champions League on September 19.

Xavi's side have picked up 20 points from eight La Liga matches, meanwhile, which has left them second in the table, one point behind the leaders Real Madrid.

'The team taking a step forward in Europe? We have many players who are a year older, with more experience, who have already won titles. We have strengthened ourselves well and in this competition we hope to be at the level that Barca requires," Xavi added on Tuesday.

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"I don't think about being first or second. I think about going through and the three points. You don't have to look further. It's the most important because it's the immediate one. Tough, tough opponent, historic, in a spectacular stadium.

"We are ready if Porto plays with five defenders tomorrow. Playing with four midfielders? Last year it gave us stability and confidence and we can see it again this season, we didn't discover anything... you can see a team with four midfielders at any time."

Barcelona have failed to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League in their last two seasons, with Xavi bidding to reach the knockout round of the competition for the first time as a head coach.

Barcelona squad vs. Porto:

Ter Stegen, Pena, Astralaga; Cancelo, Balde, Araujo, Martinez, Christensen, Alonso, Kounde; Gavi, Romeu, Roberto, Gundogan, Casado, Fermin; F Torres, Lewandowski, Felix, Yamal