Barcelona release matchday squad for PSV clash
The 18 players called up for Barcelona’s opening Champions League matchday squad have been announced.
Barcelona were drawn in a tough group considering they were in pot one because they have Tottenham Hotspur and Internazionale to contend with, but PSV are their opponents for the opening match at the Camp Nou. This should be an easy start to their quest for European silverware, although they will have to be wary of talented wingers Hirving Lozano and Steven Bergwijn.
The Dutch champions come into this fixture on the back of a 7-0 win against Den Haag as well as a perfect start to the season, so they will be full of confidence. However, the Eredivisie is significantly below La Liga in terms of quality, and Barcelona are yet to drop points after coming back from 1-0 down against Real Sociedad at the Anoeta in what is traditionally a tough fixture for the Catalans.
In regards to the matchday squad, Ernesto Valverde is still without Sergi Samper and Malcom due to injury, although the Brazilian has started training with the rest of the group so he must be far along in his recovery. Denis Suarez has returned from injury, but he doesn’t make the cut for this squad. Expect the 24-year-old to be involved in the upcoming games against Girona and Leganes because Valverde is likely to take more risks with rotation in these games due to the calibre of opposition.
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Thomas Vermaelen and Carles Alena both miss out as well, although the youngster is still making his way back to full fitness with the B team before he appears for the first team. Arthur takes the Belgian’s place in the squad after he wasn’t picked against Real Sociedad due to the travelling he had done in the international break. There’s a chance that he could make his first appearance in the competition in this match, especially if Barcelona are leading comfortably in the second half.
The Brazilian already has a Copa Libertadores to his name, so he will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of his national teammate Neymar by achieving the rare accomplishment of winning both competitions.
The other players called up are: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, Rafinha, Jasper Cillessen, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Munir El Haddadi, Sergi Roberto, Arturo Vidal, Samuel Umtiti.
Ousmane Dembélé is scoring, but is he contributing?. dark. Next
Valverde has his strongest XI available for this match, and that’s how he’s likely to set up. There can’t afford to be any slip-ups in this match because of the tough nature of the group.