Barcelona lineup vs. Benfica: Predicted XI for Champions League clash as Gavi decision made

Barcelona's quest for Champions League stardom resumes with the first leg of their last-16 battle with Benfica at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night, where head coach Hansi Flick should only be missing three players.

Andreas Christensen has suffered a new calf injury and is expected to be out until early April, while Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are still on the long road to recovery from knee problems.

Gavi was also a late withdrawal from the weekend's 4-0 thrashing of Real Sociedad owing to an illness, but the Spain international has travelled and is likely to have recovered in time to take to the field on Wednesday.

As a result, Dani Olmo's spot in the side might come under threat, as Flick confirmed in his post-game press conference that Gavi would have started the Real Sociedad fixture if fit enough.

The former Golden Boy winner could therefore comprise part of the attacking quartet with Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, who has already had a direct hand in 12 UCL goals this season.

Only two Brazilian players have ever registered more in a single Champions League campaign, as Kaka managed 13 for AC Milan in 2006-07, while Roberto Firmino registered 17 for Liverpool in 2017-18.

Further back, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong could also earn recalls over Gerard Martin and Marc Casado, but Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi and Pedri should all reprise their roles.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski