FC Barcelona are set to kick off their much-awaited UEFA Champions League clash against SL Benfica soon. With this game taking place in Portugal, La Blaugrana know that they will be under pressure. Fortunately, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona knows a thing or two about dealing with it.
Having secured a win in this stadium the last time these two sides met this season in the same competition, this is Barça’s chance to do even better. To ensure that they do, however, Hansi Flick knew that he would have to depend on a strong line-up.
Ahead of kick-off, the official starting eleven for Barcelona has now been released.
In goal, unsurprisingly, is Polish veteran Wojciech Szczesny as he retains his starting position. His form has been excellent, especially in terms of collective results with the team itself, and it seems like Flick has no intention of taking him out for any reason.
Ahead of him, Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez will form the centre-back partnership that will defend the Barcelona goal. With their defensive awareness and ball-playing qualities, they should be a good match for the opposition to deal with.
On their flanks, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are the two players starting for Barcelona. The Frenchman and the Spaniard are both well-equipped to play against the best of the best, and they will need to deliver strong performances today as well.
Over in the midfield, the double-pivot will be formed by Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. Both of the two Barcelona stars are technically brilliant and can deliver big performances when needed, so the team will be counting on them to do what needs to be done as well.
Right in front of them, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will be covering the wings and will look to hurt SL Benfica from those wide areas. In between them, Dani Olmo is the starting central attacking midfielder and he will look to be a nuisance himself while also creating chances for the others.
Up top, Robert Lewandowski will be starting as the centre-forward for Barcelona. He knows what it takes to score on the big occasions, and Benfica is an opponent that he has had particularly good luck against when it comes to finding the back of the net. Lewandowski starting also means that Flick is set to rely on his four untouchable players in the UCL yet again.
