The path for Barcelona begins in the Champions League. Xavi’s team hosts the Belgian Royal House of Antwerp (Antwerp) this Tuesday at the Montjuic Stadium with the intention of taking the first three points.
With this commitment, the Catalan coach cannot continue to count on players like Pedri and Araujo. The Canarian continues to recover from his physical ailments while the Uruguayan has overcome them, but is left out of the squad.
Xavi announced the list of 21 players available for his first test in the Champions League. Among the new arrivals is Fermín López, who was not selected for the duel against Betis (5-0) because he had asked to be allowed to play for Barça B.
“It’s a blessing that there are a lot of people who are in top shape and doing well. The other day we had four of the strikers score points. “It’s difficult to get into the eleven, but I always say that whoever is in the starting eleven is just as important as whoever has minutes later,” said the coach, explaining the state of his squad before the European premiere.
To finalize the details of the match against the Belgian team, the Blaugrana team trained this morning at Joan Gamper. It was a training session with only those called up, although Araujo was in the group, but Xavi doesn’t want to risk it.
“We could have forced it tomorrow, but it’s not worth it. He will be there on Saturday,” the coach explained about the Uruguayan central defender.
BARCELONA CALL
Ter Stegen, Cancelo, Balde, Inigo Martinez, Gavi, Ferran, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Iñaki Peña, Joao Felix, Christensen, Alonso, Romeu, S. Roberto, De Jong, Gundoğan, Koundé, Astralaga, Lamine Yamal, Casado and Fermin Lopez . . . .
