Barcelona missing some key players for Royal Antwerp clash

The Catalan outfit are already through to the last-16 stage of the competition and will top Group H unless there are an extraordinary set of results on the final matchday.

Indeed, Barcelona would need to lose in Antwerp, with Shakhtar Donetsk beating Porto and then a seven-goal swing in goal difference to occur in order to drop to second in the section.

As a result, Xavi has taken the chance to rest a number of his important players following Sunday's 4-2 home defeat to Girona in Spain's top flight, which left the reigning champions down in fourth position in the table, seven points behind the leaders Girona.

Ilkay Gundogan, Robert Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo are among the players rested for the contest, with the four key individuals not making the trip to Belgium.

There are also four players on the treatment table for the Catalan side, with Marcos Alonso, Inigo Martinez, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen unavailable for selection.

Inaki Pena will continue between the sticks in Ter Stegen's absence, while Xavi will still be able to name an experienced side despite the team missing some key players.

Ander Astralaga, Diego Kochen, Marc Casado, Angel Alarcon, Pau Cubarsi, Aleix Garrido, Marc Guiu and Hector Fort are all in the squad and will be hoping for chances to impress.

Meanwhile, players in the shape of Sergi Roberto, Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres will be hoping to be given chances to make their mark, having struggled for starts of late.

There were again questions raised surrounding Xavi's position as head coach following the home defeat to Girona on Sunday night.

However, the head coach said after the match that he was still confident of being given the chance to navigate the team through a difficult period of the campaign.

"I don't think this loss will raise doubts. We met with the president and the football analysts. It's a heavy defeat, but something else could have happened here," he said.

Barcelona had been eliminated in their two previous Champions League group-stage campaigns under Xavi, but the head coach has been able to lead the team into the knockout round on this occasion.

Barcelona squad vs. Antwerp:

Pena, Astralaga, Kochen; Cancelo, Kounde, Cubrasi, Fort, Christensen, Balde; Pedri, Romeu, Roberto, Garrido, Casado, F Lopez; F Torres, Raphinha, Felix, Yamal, Alarcon, Guiu