Araujo, Lewandowski start in a 4-2-3-1 – How Barcelona can line up against Benfica | OneFootball

FC Barcelona will be looking to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals when they take on SL Benfica tomorrow evening.

The Blaugrana secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the first leg of the Round-of-16 encounter in Portugal last week despite being down a man for most of the game, thanks to a Raphinha goal.

Now it is up to the team to finish the job tomorrow in front of their fans at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys and progress in the competition.

It will be easier said than done, for Benfica will pose a difficult challenge and the dressing room is going through a tough time emotionally after the passing of Dr Carles Minarro this past weekend which led to the postponement of the Osasuna match.

Barcelona will be boosted by the availability of star striker Robert Lewandowski, who is back after having been left out of the squad vs Osasuna due to fatigue and discomfort.

Pau Cubarsi, though, misses out due to suspension. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Andreas Christensen are ruled out because of injuries.

Here’s how Barcelona could line up to take on Benfica, aiming to qualify for the final eight of the Champions League, where they could face one of Lille or Borussia Dortmund.

Defence

Wojciech Szczesny was the star of the show for Barcelona against Benfica last week, pulling off a brilliant display to help his team return with a narrow advantage. His place in the lineup is certain tomorrow.

Cubarsi’s absence through suspension opens up a spot in defence which will very likely be taken up by captain Ronald Araujo, who has yet to lose a single game this season and did well after coming on to plug the gap in defence in the first leg.

Araujo to replace Cubarsi. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Uruguayan international will be partnered by Inigo Martinez, who will need to be careful as he is only one yellow card away from being suspended for the potential quarter-final.

Alejandro Balde, who has recovered from the knock he sustained in the first leg, will come in at left-back, replacing Gerard Martin who was set to start against Osasuna before the game was suspended.

Midfield

There will be changes aplenty in the middle of the park from the lineup for the Osasuna game where Flick had made major rotations.

Pedri, who was the Man of the Match in the first leg, will return to the lineup and will have a huge role to play once again, given his form and influence.

The 22-year-old will have Frenkie de Jong as his partner in the centre of the park, with Gavi and Marc Casado dropping to the bench.

Dani Olmo, who was sacrificed by Flick after Cubarsi’s red card in the first leg, should feature as the No. 10 ahead of Gavi and Fermin Lopez.

Attack

As mentioned earlier, Robert Lewandowski is fit and ready to go after he had been left out of the squad for the game vs. Osasuna and will start as the centre-forward.

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal will be the two wide players as usual and will hold the key as Barcelona go out in search of an early goal to kill the tie.