CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Barcelona’s possible starting XI against Napoli in the second leg of the Champions League
Xavi Hernández has Araújo back to play with Cubarsí. Lamine Yamal will be the star up front, once again.
Barcelona and Napoli will go up against each other once again on Tuesday 12 March (KO 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.) at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
In the first leg, played at the Diego Armando Maradona, the two teams finished the game with a 1-1 result on the scoreboard on a night in which the blaugrana were the better side, but they lacked efficiency in front of goal.
Who will play for Barcelona against Napoli in the Champions League?
For the match against the Italians, Xavi Hernández has positive team news. Ronald Araújo, who missed the narrow win against Mallorca due to suspension, is back. The Uruguayan will be accompanied in the back line by Pau Cubarsí, absent in the first leg as the coach chose to start Iñigo Martínez.
The youth player was one of the best players on the pitch against Mallorca and there is little doubt that he is prepared to face Oshimen. Cancelo and Koundé will play on either side of the centre-backs.
With the injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, it is most likely that the other midfielder alongside Christensen and Gündogan will be for Fermín. Sergi Roberto could also have a chance to start, but the captain has not played since he returned to a squad just before the first leg against napoli. Against Mallorca, Raphinha played inside but the bet from Xavi didn’t turn out too well.
Up front, all of Barcelona’s hopes are placed on the talent and ability of Lamine Yamal, who got the Catalans out of the sticky situation in their last league match against Mallorca. In the middle of attack, Barça have their fingers crossed that the lethal Lewandowski turns up to play.
The Pole is going through a positive spell of form and is finding the goal more easily in recent months. The left wing of the Barça attack will be given to João Félix, who is expected to step up and be counted, just as he did against Porto in another decisive match for the team in the Champions League.