OFFICIAL: Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona and Bruno Lage’s Benfica starting line-ups have now been confirmed for the 2024/25 Champions League matchday 7.
Hansi Flick has sprung a big surprise in his starting eleven. The Blaugrana team will take to the pitch at the Estádio da Luz with the same line-up that faced Getafe in LaLigawith the exception of the goalkeeper, where the Barça coach has decided to opt for Wojciech Szczesny instead of Iñaki Peña. In addition, Ansu Fati has returned to the bench after four consecutive absences due to Dani Olmo’s injury.
FC Barcelona lineup
- Starting XI: Wojciech Szczesny (P); Koundé, Pau Cubarsi, Araujo, Bucket; Married, Gavi, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Wing, Lewandowski.
- Bench: Iñaki Peña (P); Ferran Torres; Ansu Fati Pablo Torre; Andreas Christensen; Fermin Lopez; Pau Victor; Frenkie de Jong Eric Garcia; Kochen; Hector Fort; Gerard Martin.
- Injured: Ter Stegen; Marc Bernal; Iñigo Martinez; Dani Olmo.
- Sanctioned: None.
Barça are returning to the Champions League in brutal form. Despite the setback suffered against Getafe in LaLiga last weekend, the four consecutive victories before the visit to the Coliseum invite hope for a key victory in a stadium and against an always difficult rival such as Estádio da Luz and Benficawith the aim of adding three points that will allow them to virtually secure direct qualification to the round of 16.
-To do so, Flick has decided to put the best he has on the field, although with a big change. Wojciech Szczesny has given Iñaki Peña the ‘sorpasso’ between the posts, while Gavi continues to be the chosen one to accompany Pedri and Married in midfield. The Araujo-Cubarsi duo will continue to consolidate and the offensive trident remains ‘untouchable’. Ter Stegen, Iñigo Martínez and Marc Bernal are out due to injury.
Benfica lineup
- Starting XI: Trubin; Tomás Araújo, António Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Florentino, Orkun Shadow; Akturkoğlu, Pavlidis y Schjelderup.
- Bench: (soon).
Senegal
