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How Barcelona could line up against Porto

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 October 2023, 08:57
Barcelona head coach Xavi will be forced to work around the absence of Raphinha for Wednesday's Champions League Group H contest with Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.

The former Leeds United attacker picked up a hamstring injury in the first half of Friday's 1-0 win over Sevilla in La Liga and could now face up to a month on the sidelines recovering from the issue.

Raphinha joins Pedri (muscle) and Frenkie de Jong (ankle) in the Barcelona medical bay, and the Brazilian's affliction could see Lamine Yamal hold his place on the right for what would be the 16-year-old's maiden Champions League start.

The 2007-born sensation made his European bow off the bench against Royal Antwerp two weeks ago, becoming the second-youngest player in the history of the Champions League behind Youssoufa Moukoko.

Ferran Torres is an alternate option, but having provided the cross for Sergio Ramos to deflect into his own net on Friday, Yamal has warranted a place alongside Robert Lewandowski and Joao Felix, who netted twice and provided an assist in the 5-0 thumping of Antwerp.

Raphinha occupied a deeper midfield role against Sevilla, but with the South American now in the care of the physios, Oriol Romeu could return alongside Ilkay Gundogan and Gavi.

Xavi may also see no need to drop Andreas Christensen for Ronald Araujo following successive clean sheets versus Antwerp and Sevilla, as the Dane joins Alejandro Balde, Joao Cancelo, Jules Kounde and Marc-Andre ter Stegen in a familiar rearguard.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Gavi, Romeu, Gundogan; Yamal, Lewandowski, Felix

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