After 40 games this season, Barcelona will risk its future in the Champions League with a lineup that was unthinkable when it was planned in the summer. Napoli’s visit to Montjuïc tomorrow opposes the most important match of the year and Xavi may end up using an unprecedented lineup. Without Balde, nor Gavi, nor Pedri and without De Jong, it will also be difficult for them to have Ferran Torres, who has been out since January 31. It will be an eleven of circumstances with two teenagers, among those chosen there will be few pure midfielders and several starters will forcefully act outside their natural position.
The goalkeeper is the only one who has started in a Champions League final with Barcelona. Only he and Sergi Roberto remain from the squad that reached the sky in Berlin in 2015. The German played 400 games against Mallorca and against Naples he reached 100 games in European competitions. He hasn’t conceded in three games… since the first leg.
Very irregular season, he has lived on a slide. In fact, he started as a center back and has returned to the right side after making some fatal mistakes that have not taken their toll since he has 33 starts, only behind Gündogan (34). He will have to stop a Kvaratskhelia on a roll.
The youth player has not yet made his debut in the Champions League and could do so in the second leg of the round of 16. In Naples they wanted to protect him but now it would not be understood that he was not there for the temper and criteria that he has taught with just 17 years of age. He has more than demonstrated that he defends big forwards well.
The Uruguayan is going to have to deal with Osimhen in a very physical marking. He was attentive in Naples and is a certainty in correction. In the Champions League he reached 34.5 km/h and with Cubarsi at his side he plays less in length.
His loan is running out and he has been playing on the left wing for days although he barely uses his left foot. He has alternated games with very good offensive contributions with other days in which he adds little because he wants to do too many things too quickly. On important nights (Porto) he appeared.
It will be his eighth game as a defensive pivot, a tactical tweak that has given Barça a net, which suffers less in counterattacks. The rivals are generating little danger and in the balance the team wins despite losing clarity in the creation with the Dane in an advanced position.
The former City captain has played all 40 games and is showing signs of exhaustion but cannot rest because he has no spare parts. At least, not on his level. He is as important on the base as he is between the lines and reaching the area. He sometimes loses influence of everything he should encompass. All five of his goals have been in the League. Last year he scored in the second leg of the round of 16.
Purer interior than Raphinha but less expert than Sergi Roberto (who has not played since January 24). His entry into the team would make sense, although Xavi has used him in 2024 in the second half. He also brings intensity in the pressure and finish.
Compete, invent and decide. He is so different that when he is not there he is already missed. With his enormous talent he is making up for the deficits of his age. At 16 years and almost 8 months, he is within reach of becoming the youngest scorer in the Champions League, surpassing Ansu Fati.
The false left winger suits the Portuguese like a glove but sometimes opportunities fall on deaf ears. He only played 4 minutes in Naples and has two goals in 2024. The alternative is Raphinha, a left-footed player who prefers to play with a changed leg. We’ll have to see how he is after Friday’s blow.
The forward, with 118 Champions League games under his belt, must be the guide of the group. With Barça he has only scored in 4 of the 11 matches in the top competition that he has played. He was inspired in February (5 goals) and rested an hour against Mallorca to arrive fresh.