Puyol and Keita available for Stuttgart match along with youngster Fontás
Carles Puyol makes his return to starting lineup following back injury and both Keita and Fontás are included in 20 man roster.
FC Barcelona will take the pitch on Wednesday night at home with a full squad as they try to knockout Stuttgart in the Champions League. Barcelona holds the away goal advantage going into the match and also have the momentum coming off a strong second half performance on Sunday against Valencia in league play.
For Barcelona they will havePep Guardiola back on the sidelines having missed Sundays match following a controversial red card the previous weekend. Also returning is Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has something to prove at the Camp Nou as the player he replaced, Samuel Eto'o put on a great performance on Tuesday with a late goal. Eto'o's goal sent his Inter Milan side on to the next round of the Champions League knocking out Chelsea at the Bridge.
Captain Carles Puyol makes his return to the backfield on Wednesday following a back injury that resulted in a late scratch by Guardiola before the Valencia match.
Other good news for Barcelona going into their match is the return of Seydou Keita from a leg injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-February. Keita completed full training on Tuesday with the team and has yet to be officially cleared by club physicians but should receive the green light just before kickoff.
The return of Puyol and Keita leaves only Eric Abidal as the only player still sidelined due to injury. Abidal is expected to be out until the beginning of April.
Since defender Chygrynskiy is cup tied and unavailable to play for Barcelona in the Champions League Guardiola has decided to call up the 20 year old defender Andreu Fontás from Barça B.
The complete roster available for Guardiola on Wednesday night include: Valdés, Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Márquez, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Messi, Bojan, Henry, Busquets, Pedro, Milito, Jeffren, Maxwell, Toure, Keita and Fontás.
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Comments
Karo · 4 months ago
Ibra hattrick will be nice :)
will give him the confidence he needs
I'm expecting a great game tomorrow and I'm all nervous looks like we can't underestimate any teams this year, madrid and Sevilla will tell you this
Andrew Lyon · 4 months ago
I am also very nervous here in Atlanta. One has to believe, however, that: (1) Messi will continue to play well, (2) Hleb will have nowhere near the game he played in the first leg, and (3) Ibra is due to break the funk. Any predictions for a starting XI?
Andrew Lyon · 4 months ago
NOOOOOOO!!! I just read the post that Xavi is out!!! Now I am really concerned.
Josh Telleria · 4 months ago
It is concerning, but with keita back (and probably coming off the bench) a midfield of Iniesta (left) Toure (center) and Busquets (right) would make me happy. I just don't want to see Iniesta ever starting on the left wing again, ever. Dani and Messi will wreck the right side and messi will have 2 goals.
Andrew Lyon · 4 months ago
I like your passion for NOT seeing Iniesta on the wing. I agree completely. I hope you are right about Alves and Messi. Chances are the Germans will really try to clamp down on Lionel and the center half will have to give help to their left back, so maybe we see someone else pop up and take advantage of the resultant space in the middle??? This seems like a game where Ibra should do some damage.
Karo · 4 months ago
I'm truly hoping to see some true tikki takka today...about time already!! But what I'm hope for even more is a goal or two within the first 20 mins from our boys...Força Barça!!!
Ibracadabra · 4 months ago
Ibra is not on the starting lineup according to Marca. Although he's been playing pretty poorly as of late this will only make it all that much difficult to regain his confidence.
Erik Sanchez · 4 months ago
I was surprised to see that Ibra was not starting. Lineup is: Messi, Henry, Pedro, Iniesta, Busquets, Toure, Maxwell, Puyol, Pique, Alves, Valdes. Bench of Ibrahimovic, Keita, Jeffren, Bojan, Milito, Marquez, Pinto.
Andrew Lyon · 4 months ago
I am surprised as well. Does this mean that Messi gets to play slightly behind Henry and Pedro, or will we see a legitimate 4-3-3?
Erik Sanchez · 4 months ago
I hope it is a 4-3-3 but Pep goes like to bring Iniesta up and slot Messi in the middle. I am not a fan as it has not worked for us yet. I guess we have to wait and see. Fingers crossed!
Karo · 4 months ago
Good 1st half!!! I hope to see Ibra come in the 2nd half tho!!! WE NEED HIM BELIEVE IN HIMSELF!!! Henry is playing well :)
Josh Telleria · 4 months ago
Messi and Dani combined beautifully and Messi got 2 goals =]
I think we all can see that Barca works beautifully without big Ibra, but with him in form they would be out of this world. I remember at the beginning of the season Barca would look for Ibra much more then they have been since 2010 started. I think if you continue to force opportunities for Ibra, the big man is strong and coordinated enough to either score, or hand a goal to someone else.
Anyways, great game, and the squad s…
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Ibracadabra · 4 months ago
Let's hope Ibra can pull an Eto'o tomorrow.
Visca Barça!
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