Yahoo News FC Barcelona XI vs Benfica: Confirmed lineup, team news and injury latest for Champions League today
Ousmane Dembele does not feature in the starting XI for Barcelona against Benfica in the Champions League tonight.
A win will book the Catalans’ place in the last-16, a situation which should encourage head coach Xavi to play a full-strength side as he gets to grips with his new job.
Barcelona’s struggles in attack this season have been evident with only Malmo firing off fewer shots in target during the group stage. Memphis Depay was the only senior forward picked to start in Xavi’s debut against Espanyol on the weekend, which ended 1-0.
Finally getting Dembele back would have represented a huge boost after he suffered a hamstring injury following his return from a knee problem, allowing him to so far make only one appearance all season. But he must make do with a spot on the bench.
Xavi confirmed on Monday that he will check on the Frenchman’s status after a short session on Tuesday morning. Oscar Mingueza, Sergio Busquets and Nico Gonzalez all shake off knocks in time.
Sergino Dest is back in training too following a short lay-off but Ansu Fati and Pedri (both thigh) miss out, along with Sergio Aguero (heart) and Martin Braithwaite (knee). Ilias Akhomach and Ez Abde both played versus Espanyol but are suspended and unregistered for this game, respectively.
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Nico, Busquets, F. De Jong; Demir, Depay, Gavi.
Subs: Neto, Dest, Puiq, Dembele, L. De Jong, Coutinho, Umtiti, Mingueza, Garcia, Pena, Balde.
Benfica XI: Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo; Weigl, Joao Mario; Almeida, Rafa Silva, Everton; Yaremchuk.
Subs: Svilar, Helton Leite, Valentino, Ferro, Morato, Meïte, Gedson, Taarabt, Pizzi, Darwin, Seferovic, Gonçalo Ramos.
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