Fermin Lopez will return to the Barcelona starting lineup when they face off with Olympiacos at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Barcelona will aim to return to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League when they welcome Olympiacos to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday evening. Hansi Flick has no new injury crisis to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Joan Garcia, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Robert Lewandowski remain in the treatment room. However, Raphinha and Torres are closing in on returning to action, and during his pre-match press conference, Flick discussed the possibility of the duo being back for this weekend’s El Clasico.
The German tactician said, “We hope Ferran and Raphinha can be available for El Clásico, but we’ll have to take it slowly. We need to minimise risks, and playing Ferran tomorrow would be too much of a risk. On Thursday we’ll do more tests and see how he [Torres] progresses. The situation is about looking after the players, it’s difficult, but later on everyone will be back and we’ll have a new situation.”
Flick also discussed the general injury crisis that has plagued his squad. The Barcelona manager said, “We’re at a difficult moment, with a lot of injured players and others who have returned but are still not at 100%. Nevertheless, our goal is always the same: to fight until the end, give everything, win, and take all three points.”
“Right now it’s a complicated situation, and that’s why the three points against Girona were so important. But the team is doing well, in great spirits, and I like the atmosphere. We have a young team and we needed that. We’ve analysed the match and we know we need to position ourselves better, run more, and press better.”
Wojciech Szczesny will continue to deputise for Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Joan Garcia between the sticks, with Barcelona lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against OIympiacos on Tuesday. The backline will feature Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, and Gerard Martin.
As for the midfield unit, Eric Garcia will reprise the holding midfield role, with Frenkie de Jong and Marc Casado lining up alongside him in the middle of the park. So, Pedri will get some rest ahead of El Clasico. Finally, Fermin Lopez will lead the line for the home side against Olympiacos, with Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal being the two wide attackers.
Barcelona vs Olympiacos Predicted XI
Predicted Barcelona XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Martin; de Jong, Garcia, Casado; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford