After 40 games this season, Barcelona will play for their future in the Champions League with an unthinkable line-up when it was planned in the summer. Tomorrow’s visit of Napoli to Montjuïc is opposed to the most important game of the year and Xavi could use an unprecedented line-up. Without Balde, nor Gavi, nor Pedri and without De Jong, it will also be difficult to have Ferran Torres, out since January 31. It will be an eleven of circumstances with two teenagers, with few pure midfielders and several starters out of their natural position.
TER The goalkeeper is the only one to have started in a Champions League final with Barcelona. Only he and Sergi Roberto remain from the squad that touched the sky in Berlin in 2015. The German completed 400 matches against Mallorca and against Naples he reached 100 matches in European competitions. He hasn’t conceded a goal in three games… since the first leg.
KOUNDÉ Very irregular season, he has lived in a slide. In fact, he started as a centre-back and has returned to right-back after making some fatal mistakes that have not cost him as he has 33 caps, only behind Gündogan (34). He will have to stop a streaking Kvaratskhelia.
CUBARSÍ The youth player has not yet made his debut in the Champions League and can do so in the round of 16. In Naples they wanted to protect him, but now it wouldn’t be understood if he wasn’t there because of the firmness and judgment he has shown with just 17 years of age. He has more than proven that he defends big forwards well.
The Uruguayan ARAÚJOL has to fight with Osimhen in a very physical marking. He was attentive to Naples and is an insurance in terms of correctness. In the Champions League he reached 34.5 km/h and with Cubarsí next to him he plays less long.
CANCEL The transfer ends and he has been playing on the left side for days, despite the fact that he barely uses the left. He has alternated games with a very good offensive contribution with other days in which he adds little to wanting to do too many things and very quickly. On important nights (Oporto) he appeared.
CHRISTENSEN will play the eighth game as a defensive pivot, a tactical tweak that has given Barça a net, which suffers less in counter-attacks. The rivals create little danger and on balance the team wins despite losing sharpness in creation.
GÜNDOGAN The former City captain has played all 40 games and is showing signs of exhaustion, but he cannot rest because he has no spares. At least, not on his level. It is as important at the base as between the lines and reaching the area. Sometimes it loses the influence of everything it should include. All five of his goals have been in the League. Last year he scored in the second leg of the round of 16.
FERMÍN Interior cleaner than Raphinha, but less expert than Sergi Roberto (who hasn’t played since January 24). His entry into the team would be logical despite the fact that Xavi has used him in 2024 in the second parts. It also brings intensity in the pressure and arrival.
LAMINE YAMAL. Compete, invent and decide. It’s so different that when it’s not there you already miss it. With enormous talent, he makes up for the deficits of his age. At 16 years and almost 8 months, he is within reach of becoming the youngest goalscorer in the Champions League, surpassing Ansu Fati.
JOÃO The false left wing suits the Portuguese like a ring on his finger, but sometimes the opportunities fall into the sack. He only played four minutes in Naples and scored two goals in 2024. The alternative is Raphinha, a left-footer who prefers to play with a different leg. It will be necessary to see how it is from the hit on Friday.
LEWANDOWSKIWith 118 Champions League games behind him, he must be the guide. With Barça, he has only scored in 4 of the 11 games he has played in the top flight. He was inspired in February (five goals) and rested for an hour against Mallorca to arrive fresh.
