Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will return to the Barcelona starting lineup when they take on FC Copenhagen at Parken on Wednesday.
Barcelona will aim to secure a spot in the top eight of the UEFA Champions League standings when they lock horns with FC Copenhagen at Parken on Wednesday night. Hansi Flick has a new roster issue to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Frenkie de Jong is the latest absentee, as he will serve a suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Additionally, Gavi (knee), Pedri (hamstring), and Andreas Christensen (ACL) remain in the treatment room.
However, Ferran Torres is fit and available to take on FC Copenhagen after recovering from a minor muscular injury. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Flick confirmed Torres’s availability for Wednesday’s game and provided a fitness update on Christensen.
The Barcelona manager said, “He’s fine, he looks good and he’s ready. I’m very happy that he’s recovered so quickly. We have a good team, also on the bench. We play as a team, and we’re eager to play this game, and it’s very important for us. That’s what I want to see.”
“It was a bad time when he [Christensen] got injured because he was playing well. He was playing at a top level and gave us a lot of options. This injury was tough because it happened in training, and it hurt the whole team and the coaching staff. He will be back and I think he’ll be able to finish the season well.”
Joan Garcia is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday. The backline will feature Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, and Alejandro Balde.
As for the midfield unit, Eric Garcia will line up alongside Marc Casado in the double pivot, with Fermin Lopez reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for the away side against FC Copenhagen, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal being the two wide attackers. So, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford will be backup options on the bench for the Blaugrana.
Predicted Barcelona XI: Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; Eric Garcia, Casado; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
