Possible Barcelona line-up for the Champions League quarter-final against PSG
The moment of truth has arrived for FC Barcelona. The Barça team will play on Tuesday, April 16, at the Louis Company Stadium in the Champions League semi-final qualifying against PSG. Javi Hernandez’s men arrive with a narrow lead after a 2-3 win at the Parc des Princes, but everything will be decided in Montjuic, taking into account the large equality that existed in the first leg.
Facing Luis Enrique’s team is all or nothing, so Javi Hernandez will take to the field with his best team. He has already rotated in La Liga against Cadiz and will have players with fresh legs to face a very difficult duel. PSG is a team that plays very intensely and puts suffocating pressure on the opponent’s pitch. Barcelona suffers significant losses due to disqualification. Neither Sergi Roberto nor Christensen, who scored the winning goal in Paris, will be able to play.
Thus, there are minimal figures in the center of the field. In this regard, the Barca coach will trust his best players: Frenkie de Jong, Gundogan and Pedri, who played a decisive role in the first leg, providing the assist for Raphinha’s second goal.. It will be interesting to find out who occupies the base of the field: the Canarian or the German, and which of the two plays further forward. There could be an opportunity for Fermin to start if Pedri’s feelings worsen at the last minute, although that seems unlikely.
There is no doubt about the remaining lines. In defense, Kounde will continue to play on the right flank, with Araújo and Cubarsi as the focal point, while Cancelo will operate on the left flank. As in Paris, the key will be to help Mbappe and Dembele. Up top, Lewandowski will play as a centre-forward, accompanied by Lamin Yamal on the right and Rafinha, the great protagonist with his backup at the Parc des Princes, on the left. With this squad, Barça will seek to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2019.
Possible FC Barcelona layout: Ter Stegen Cancelo, Kubarsi, Araujo, Kunde; Gundogan, Pedri, De Jong; Rafinha, Lewandowski and Lamin Yamal