MX23RW : Thursday, September 30 10:06:42| >> :60:374:374:
Sep 29, 2021 at 8pm UK at Estádio da Luz
BenficaBenfica
3-0
BarcelonaBarcelona
Nunez (3', 79' pen.), Silva (69')
Otamendi (33'), Silva (56'), Grimaldo (62'), Weigl (72')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Pique (12'), Garcia (54'), Dest (78'), Gonzalez (86')
Garcia (87')

How Barcelona could line up against Benfica

How Barcelona could line up against Benfica
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Barcelona could line up for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Benfica.

Barcelona will hope to welcome an integral player back to the fold for Wednesday's Champions League Group E battle with Benfica.

Ronald Koeman is already without long-term victims Sergio Aguero, Martin Braithwaite and Ousmane Dembele, while Jordi Alba is unlikely to be passed fit either.

Alejandro Balde and Sergi Roberto are also doubts with a back injury and gastroenteritis respectively, but reports have claimed that Pedri could make a rapid return from a thigh problem in time to feature, and Roberto is also in the squad.

Koeman will also welcome back Frenkie de Jong from a domestic suspension and could therefore have his first-choice midfield available with Sergio Busquets raring to go, meaning that youngsters Gavi and Nico Gonzalez are set to be demoted.

Oscar Mingueza and Sergino Dest seem set to occupy the full-back areas while Roberto, Balde and Alba remain uncertain, while one defensive change could see Ronald Araujo introduced in place of Eric Garcia.

Ansu Fati took all of 10 minutes to mark his return to action with a goal against Levante, but Koeman may be reluctant to start the 18-year-old on Wednesday after such a lengthy layoff.

As a result, an unchanged front three should see Philippe Coutinho, Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay all start at the Estadio da Luz, with the latter netting in back-to-back games for Lyon against Benfica in the 2019-20 tournament.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Pique, Araujo, Dest; F. de Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Coutinho, L. de Jong, Depay

ID:465652:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4238:

How you voted: Benfica vs Barcelona

Benfica
29.0%
Draw
19.6%
Barcelona
51.4%
593
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho pictured in October 2020
Read Next:
Barcelona 'looking to offload Coutinho in January'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid75202181317
2Real Sociedad7511106416
3Sevilla6420102814
4Atletico MadridAtletico742196314
5Rayo Vallecano7412137613
6Barcelona6330115612
7Real Betis7331117412
8Valencia7322128411
9Osasuna73221011-111
10Athletic Bilbao724164210
11Villarreal61506338
12Mallorca7223612-68
13Celta Vigo7214710-37
14Espanyol713347-36
15CadizCadiz7133711-46
16ElcheElche713348-46
17Levante7043612-64
18Granada7034512-73
19AlavesAlaves6105211-93
20Getafe7007212-100

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!