FC Barcelona, who have been in sensational form this year in all competitions, will take on Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona. They beat Benfica 4-1 in aggregate across both legs to qualify for the quarterfinal. The Catalan club are also in the final of the Copa Del Rey and will face Real Madrid. They are also top of the La Liga points table and have a four-points advantage over Real Madrid in the league.
There is still doubt over Inigo Martinez’s injury status. So, his inclusion in this game is up in the air. Marc Andre-Ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, and Dani Olmo will continue to be sidelined for Barca in the first game. In this article, let us take a look at the predicted playing XI of Barcelona against Dortmund.
4-2-3-1 Barcelona Predicted Lineup Against Borussia Dortmund:
Defence:
Wojciech Szczęsny will continue to start in goal as he is the first choice goalkeeper in the absence of Stegen and has been in superb form. Barcelona will bank on him yet again. Jules Kounde, who has been a consistent figure for the Catalan side, will take the right-back spot yet again. In the absence of Inigo, Ronald Araujo is set to start as the right centre-back, and Barca will count on him to show his physicality against the Dortmund attackers.
Pau Cubarsi, the young centre-back, who has been a revelation this season for Barca will start as the left centre-back, and the team will depend on his ball-playing skills as well. Alejandro Balde will take up the usual left-back spot and will be bombing up and down the wings.
Midfield:
Frenkie De Jong and Pedri are expected to start as the pivot midfielders. De Jong has been superb since his return from injury, and he will be expected to carry the ball forward with his darting runs. Pedri will again master the tempo of the midfield as the Spaniard has been one of the best in the business in the world currently.
Lamine Yamal will play as the right midfielder and will provide width to the team. He will stay wide, dribble, and take on his full-back and will constantly be engaged to create goals with his audacious passes. In the absence of Olmo, Femin Lopez will start as the central aggressive midfielder. The Spaniard has taken the role very seriously, and he has scored some crucial goals for the club this season. Raphinha, who has been sensational on big nights this season, will be expected to play as the left midfielder and trouble the Dortmund defence with his runs behind the defence.
Attack:
Robert Lewandowski will be the lone striker in this game. The club will depend on the Polish striker to finish off chances and score the important goals in this decisive game. His overall impact in the game while he isn’t scoring has looked bleak sometimes, but he has still scored plenty of goals this season for Barca.
