Ernesto Valverde has just one player on the sidelines as Barcelona prepare to face AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday for a place in the semi-finals.
Barcelona will look to confirm their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals when they travel to Stadio Olimpico to take on AS Roma in the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday. And Ernesto Valverde has taken a near-full strength squad to the Italian capital to get the desired result in the second leg.
The only two players missing out from the matchday squad are Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho. While Digne is recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained last month, the latter is ineligible to feature for Barcelona in the Champions League this season after representing Liverpool in the group stage.
With just a couple of players unable to make the trip to Rome, Valverde appeared to be pleased by the fitness levels of his squad, iterating in his pre-match press conference, that everyone is in good condition despite the immense workload in recent weeks.
“The team is well physically but we’ve played a lot of matches. We must have balance in both attack and defence.”
With Digne the only defender unavailable, the back-four that started at Camp Nou last week should be deployed once again, with Samuel Umtiti returning to the starting lineup after being rested for the league win over Leganes over the weekend.
Behind them, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the obvious choice in goal. Sergi Roberto is unlikely to be risked on Tuesday, either in defence or midfield as he is just one booking away from incurring a suspension.
In the middle of the park, only Ivan Rakitic is expected to hold on to his place from the weekend, with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Paulinho and Andres Iniesta likely to start in the quartet, with Valverde having chosen to rest the trio last Saturday, with Ousmane Dembele likely to be an impact substitute, if need be.
Upfront, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are automatic selections, and the duo will be looking to continue their fine run of form to get Barcelona over the line on Tuesday. Suarez, in particular, will be keen on adding more goals to his tally in Europe after ending his drought last week at Camp Nou.
