FC Barcelona are already in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League as group winners but they still have one game left in the initial phase of the competition away from home at Bayer Leverkusen. The Catalans are into the knock out stages for the 12th successive season with the Bundesliga club looking to make it to the last 16 for the third year in a row. To do that Roger Schmidt’s side will need to beat Barça and hope AS Roma drop points at home to BATE Borisov in Group E other fixture on Wednesday at 8.45pm CET.

Luis Enrique named his squad for the final group game in this season’s Champions League on Monday, immediately following training at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The coach has decided to rest Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Piqué, both players have stayed behind in Barcelona along with the injured Jérémy Mathieu, Sergi Roberto, Douglas and Rafinha.

B team players Sergi Samper, Juan Cámara, Gerard Gumbau and Wilfrid Kaptoum have all been included in a 19 man squad which is as follows: Ter Stegen, Bravo, Masip, Rakitic, Sergio, Suárez, Messi, Neymar Jr, Mascherano, Bartra, Munir, Jordi Alba, Sandro, Adriano, Vermaelen, Samper, Gumbau, Cámara and Kaptoum.

Luis Enrique suffered a setback in training on Tuesday at the BayArena when Neymar picked up a groin injury in the final session before Wednesday’s fixture and now seems unlikely to be involved against the Germans.

Bayer boss Schmidt is without the injured Croatian defender Tin Jedvaj, the 20 year old has been restricted to just one appearance as a substitute this season due to a persistent thigh injury. Also out is midfielder Lars Bender as he recently underwent ankle surgery and will not return until the New Year. Striker Javier Hernández is in the squad and the Mexican who has had spells with Manchester United and Real Madrid is in great form with 11 goals in his last 10 games for Leverkusen.

свернуть