Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Nigeria

How Barcelona could line up against Napoli

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 March 2024, 10:53
Barcelona will start Tuesday's second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie level with Napoli, as the teams conclude their battle for a place in the quarter-finals.

Since a 1-1 draw in Naples last month, the Blaugrana have gone unbeaten - most recently seeing off Mallorca in La Liga - but head coach Xavi is faced by a selection crisis ahead of their clash with the Italian champions at Montjuic.

Raphinha was taken off before half time on Friday, and the Brazilian winger could now join recent injury victims Frenkie De Jong (sprained ankle) and Pedri (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Ferran Torres, Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso are all ruled out, as is Barca's midfield heartbeat Gavi, who continues the long road to recovery from an ACL tear suffered in November.

In the absence of Spanish stars Gavi and Pedri, 20-year-old Fermin Lopez may be asked to join converted centre-back Andreas Christensen and Ilkay Gundogan - both past Champions League winners - in an unfamiliar midfield trio, while Xavi will also turn to youth up front.

With Raphinha's presence in doubt, talented teenager Lamine Yamal is almost certain to start in support of Champions League specialist Robert Lewandowski. January arrival Vitor Roque and Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix could also come in to contention, but 18-year-old Marc Guiu may have to make do with a place on the bench.

In some rare good news for the Catalan club, defensive mainstay Ronald Araujo returns from suspension to bolster the back four.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Cancelo; Gundogan, Christensen, Lopez; Yamal, Lewandowski, Felix

Top News

28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made progress in their bid to sign Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Birmingham City have reportedly joined Sheffield United in the race for Leeds United defender Luke Ayling. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford and Luton Town have reportedly learnt of Blackburn Rovers' asking price for leading marksman Sammie Szmodics. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Thomas Partey has been given the nod for Arsenal in their Premier League North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain have tied one of their teenage sensations down to a new contract amid suggestions that both Manchester clubs are interested in signing him. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged that being denied a last-gasp winning goal against Aston Villa could prove to be "massive". 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly held talks with super agent Jorge Mendes. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was forced off in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Burnley. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has received a triple fitness boost ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has an untimely injury crisis to work around for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having both doused English hopes of Champions League stardom, German giants Bayern Munich and Spanish titans Real Madrid clash in the first leg of a mouthwatering semi-final at Allianz Arena on Tuesday night. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pendikspor vs. Kayserispor (Sunday, 2.00pm) Both Pendikspor and Kayserispor will be looking to boost their survival hopes when they meet at Pendik Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portimonense vs. Moreirense (Sunday, 3.30pm) The action continues in round 31 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Portimonense and Moreirense go head-to-head at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao on Sunday. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nijmegen vs. AZ (Sunday, 11.15am) Off the back of a first defeat in five matches last time out, NEC entertain the challenge of AZ Alkmaar at Stadion de Goffert on Sunday afternoon. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cadiz vs. Mallorca (Sunday, 1.00pm) Nuevo Mirandilla will play host to a huge La Liga clash on Sunday afternoon, with two clubs battling to stay in Spain's top flight, Cadiz and Mallorca, locking horns. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Milan vs. Torino (Sunday, 11.30am) Crowned Serie A champions with five games to spare, Inter Milan will continue their title celebrations on Sunday, when mid-table Torino visit San Siro. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Metz vs. Lille (Sunday, 12.00pm) Looking to extend their winning run in the top flight to three matches, Metz will welcome Champions League-chasing Lille to Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday afternoon in Ligue 1. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Mirren vs. Rangers (Sunday, 12.30pm) The second phase of the Scottish Premiership will kickstart this weekend with St Mirren hosting Rangers. 28 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spurs vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 2.00pm) Looking to take the next step towards their first Premier League title in two decades, Arsenal will make the short trip across the capital to face fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Sunday afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have apparently been handed a significant boost in their hopes of signing Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who would welcome a switch to Old Trafford. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal reportedly hope to bring three or four new statement signings to the club this summer as part of another lavish spending spree. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will be bidding to emulate an achievement last managed by Ian Wright when the Gunners tackle Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's Premier League North London derby. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea saw a last-gasp winner ruled out but nevertheless completed an impressive comeback to hold Aston Villa to a 2-2 Premier League draw at Villa Park. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both Estrela Amadora and SC Farense will be looking to open up some daylight between themselves and the Primeira Liga relegation zone when they face off on Monday night. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth will attempt to equal a club record when they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Vitality Stadium for Sunday's Premier League contest. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 34 of the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig concludes on Monday evening as Fatih Karagumruk host Antalyaspor at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League ever-presents Everton can look forward to another campaign in the big time thanks to a 1-0 win over Brentford at Goodison Park. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have made three changes for Saturday's Premier League fixture at Aston Villa. 27 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has apologised to Sporting Lisbon supporters after admitting that the timing and publicity of his talks in London with West Ham United were "completely wrong".