Andreas Christensen and Raphinha will return to the Barcelona starting lineup against Shakhtar Donetsk at Volksparkstadion on Tuesday.
Barcelona will have the chance to seal a spot in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 when they lock horns with Shakhtar Donetsk at Volksparkstadion on Tuesday night. And Xavi Hernandez has an unchanged squad ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto remain unavailable due to their respective fitness issues. Otherwise, Xavi has named a full-strength travelling squad to take on Shakhtar Donetsk, with a few youth prospects also part of the group.
Xavi spoke about the players who have recovered from injury in the last few weeks during his pre-match press conference, insisting they are all “vital” for his team. In addition, he discussed Pedri’s progress.
The Barcelona boss said, “Surely we will notice it for the better. Pedri, Robert, Jules, and Rapha are vital for the team beyond the football level. We have been playing the games as best we could.”
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On Pedri, Xavi said, “I enjoy watching him. Yes, when I see him playing, everything improves when he touches the ball and everything becomes clear. Pedri has enjoyed a lot with us, he has scored many goals but with the injuries, he has not been able to do it always.”
Pedri might still not be fit enough to start a game, with Xavi easing him into the thick of the action. So, he will find himself on the bench again, with Ilkay Gundogan and Gavi pairing up in the midfield unit.
Xavi will again line Barcelona in a 3-4-3 formation, which will morph into a 4-3-3, with Joao Cancelo playing as an auxiliary midfielder. Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araujo should be the three centre-backs, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen taking his usual spot between the sticks.
As for Cancelo, he will be a right wing-back on paper, with Alejandro Balde featuring on the left flank. Finally, Robert Lewandowski will spearhead the attack against Sheffield United, with Joao Felix and Raphinha accompanying him in the offensive unit. So, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres will be backup options on the bench.
Predicted Barcelona XI: ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Christensen; Cancelo, Gavi, Gundogan, Balde; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix
