Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has been handed a new defensive injury concern ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg with Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park.
The Blaugrana hold a seemingly unassailable 4-0 lead from the first leg and also edged out Leganes 1-0 in La Liga action on Saturday, but regular left-back Alejandro Balde picked up a hamstring injury in the latter game.
Balde’s issue is not majorly severe, but the Spaniard is still expected to be out for a couple of weeks, joining Dani Olmo (adductor), Marc Bernal (knee), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (knee) and Marc Casado (knee)
Balde’s blow opens the door for Gerard Martin to start out wide, and Flick may also side with Ronald Araujo over Inigo Martinez, who will miss the first leg of any potential semi-final with Bayern Munich or Inter Milan if he is booked on Tuesday.
Araujo did have to come off at half time on Saturday with a small groin problem, but his change was more precautionary than anything else, and he should therefore be fine to join Martin, Pau Cubarsi, Jules Kounde and Wojciech Szczesny in defence.
Eric Garcia enjoyed a rare start on Saturday, but Frenkie de Jong can now expect a recall to the midfield alongside Pedri, while Fermin Lopez is currently keeping Gavi at arm’s length further forward.
As ever, the terrifying trident of Lamine Yamal, ex-Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha will feature up front, and if the latter registers a goal or assist on Tuesday, he will break the record for the most goal contributions in a single Champions League campaign for Barcelona; he matched Lionel Messi‘s 19 in the first leg.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Raphinha; Lewandowski
> Click here to see how Dortmund could line up for this game
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