Photo: LLUIS GENE / AFP
Champions League: Barcelona vs Bayern – Predicted starting XIs
The Friday night Champions League clash between Barcelona and Bayern is bound to be enthralling and we bring you team news and predicted starting XIs.
Photo: LLUIS GENE / AFP
In a blockbuster Friday night Champions League clash Barcelona face Bayern Munich in a heavyweight bout, here we bring you predicted starting XIs and team news.
Champions League team news: Barcelona vs Bayern
The match has been billed as Robert Lewandowski vs Lionel Messi but there are plenty of enticing potential matchups.
Barcelona
Barcelona have a full squad at their disposal having come through the last 16 unschathed.
Their only injury absence is a long-term one with defender Samuel Umtiti has suffered another knee injury. The centre-back has been blighted by persistent knee problems over the past couple of years and was put back on the sidelines in early July.
Ousmane Dembele has recovered from injury but is unlikely to feature from the start.
Barca manager Quique Setien said that the striker’s time will be managed carefully with Roberto likely to take his place in the front three alongside Messi and Luis Suarez.
Setien told a pre-match news conference: “We have arrived in good spirits. This is the game we are waiting for. We have prepared well.
“It is a satisfaction for all of us that Dembele is in the squad and I think he will be in a position to participate for a few minutes if we consider it appropriate. We are excited that he can play and get it right.”
The coach downplayed the importance of Messi.
“Leo can help win the game, obviously, but I have always believed in the strength of the team,” Setien said. “We will have to assist Leo because both Messi, like any other outstanding player, is weaker without the strength of the team.”
Bayern
Bayern are still without French defender Benjamin Parvard but otherwise appear to be operating with a full crew.
The Bundesliga champions looked good in seeing off Chelsea in the last 16 but they will be expecting a greater challenge from Barcelona.
Manager Hansi Flick is well aware of the threat of the rest of the Barcelona team in their Champions League quarter-final and will not place undue focus on Messi.
“It’s not Bayern Munich against Messi, but against Barcelona,” he said. “Of course we have thought about how we will play against him.
“It is possible that we will play together to counter him as a team. We have to recognise the spaces, put him under pressure and try to win the one-on-one duels.”
Teenage left-back Alphonso Davies will be tasked with keeping Messi quiet, and he has no doubt watched Liverpool’s Andy Robertson’s efforts in last year’s semi-final.
Champions League team news: Predicted starting XIs
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Vidal; Messi, Suárez, Roberto
Out: Umtiti (knee)
Bayern: Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Thiago, Goretzka; Coman, Müller, Gnabry; Lewandowski
Out: Pavard (ankle)
Doubtful: Zirkzee (foot)
