Dani Olmo is the matchday squad for the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.
Barcelona will aim to qualify for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals when they lock horns with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park for the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday. Hansi Flick has endured a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Dani Olmo’s return is the good news, with the Spanish international in the travelling squad to take on Borussia Dortmund this midweek. However, Alejandro Balde is unavailable after picking up a hamstring injury this past weekend against CD Leganes.
The Spanish international has joined Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Casado, and Marc Bernal on the sidelines, with the trio unavailable due to knee injuries. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Flick provided a fitness update on Olmo.
The Barcelona manager said, “We’ll see if he can play tomorrow or not and if he can recover for the weekend. He has great quality, but it’s true that we haven’t always been able to count on him because of injuries. Even so, we are very happy to have him back.”
“It’s one thing I’ve already said. We want everyone to be available and I never tire of repeating that these players are fantastic and always want to be there. I want to give them the opportunity to play in a final.”
Olmo will likely start on the bench, with Fermin Lopez reprising the no. 10 role. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for Barcelona against former club Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha being the two wide attackers. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Frenkie de Jong and Pedri in the double pivot.
The backline will see a forced change, with Gerard Martin starting as the left-back, replacing the injured Balde. The youngster will join Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, and Pau Cubarsi in the defensive quartet. Finally, Wojciech Szczesny will retain his spot between the sticks.
Predicted Barcelona XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
