FC Barcelona host Benfica on Tuesday in the 5th round of the Champions League. The Catalans are second with six points and if they beat the Portuguese they will already be classified for the eighth in the absence of a game to finish the group stage.
This is the possible eleven that Xavi Hernández will draw in his second game on the Barcelona bench, the first in European competition.
The German goalkeeper is fixed under the sticks. Xavi has a difficult challenge ahead of him, to make Ter Stegen go back to being the one from previous seasons since he is not at his best level.
The right back is one of the positions where there are more doubts. Mingueza is the one with the best chances of starting from the beginning, but Sergi Roberto, who has already joined the group, should not be ruled out. The one that would be completely ruled out is Dest who, according to Cadena SER, has not recovered from her low back pain.
Gerard Piqué is a fixture in the center of the rear and it would really be that Xavi did not bet on him in his second game on the bench. In a final like this, Piqué’s experience is a degree.
Along with Piqué could be Ronald Araújo. The Uruguayan was being one of the best defenders of Barcelo until the injury and against Espanyol he had minutes on the field. We will see if Xavi gives him the opportunity to regain his position in the center of the rear.
Where there are no doubts in the left-handed lane. Jordi Alba has no replacement and will be the one who will occupy that position. Their internados on the wing will be very important during the 90 minutes to open the Portuguese defense.
Sergio Busquets will be the helm of the team. The midfielder has been a key piece for all his coaches and Xavi will continue to trust him to take the reins of this Barça.
One of the players that Xavi will have to recover is Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch has to be an important piece. Against Espanyol he was already a starter and tomorrow he will repeat.
Nico González is being one of the best news of Barcelona this season. The youth squad has made a place for himself in the first team and with the great performances he is doing, it seems difficult to be taken out of the eleven.
Ilias Akhomach was the great revelation in the first eleven of Barcelona, but the youth squad will not be able to play since he is sanctioned in the Youth League and that also disables him to play with the first team. In his place could play another of the youngsters, Yusuf Demir, or also Philippe Coutinho.
Another squad player who has definitely knocked the door and has settled not only in the first team, but in the eleven is Gavi. And with Xavi on the bench he can take an even greater leap and show the good version he offers us when he plays with the national team.
The eleven will be completed by Memphis Depay. The Dutchman is the goal man for this team and the top scorer so far this season. IN the league it has 7 goals but in the Champions League it has not yet been released.
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