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Ferencvaros
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 2, 2020 at 8pm UK
Groupama Aréna
Barcelona logo

Ferencvaros
0 - 3
Barcelona


Siger (28')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Griezmann (14'), Braithwaite (20'), Dembele (28' pen.)
Busquets (30'), Griezmann (53'), Trincao (70')

How Barcelona could line up against Ferencvaros

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up for their Champions League showdown with Ferencvaros on Wednesday evening.

Barcelona will be hoping to cement their position at the top of Champions League Group G when they make the long journey to the Puskas Arena to take on Hungarian giants Ferencvaros.

Ronald Koeman's men boast a 100% record in the group so far and are already assured of a place in the last 16, with the Catalan giants thrashing Ferencvaros 5-1 in the first meeting between the two sides last month.

La Blaugrana head in to this game having overcome Osasuna with ease 4-0 in La Liga at the weekend, although Koeman's extensive injury list welcomed another defender to leave the Barca manager incredibly short of options at the back.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up for their Champions League showdown with Ferencvaros.



POSS BAR XI vs. FRV 2

Out: Gerard Pique (knee), Samuel Umtiti (knee), Ronald Araujo (hamstring), Ansu Fati (knee), Sergi Roberto (thigh)
Doubtful: Clement Lenglet (ankle)

> Click here for Barcelona's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Koeman has elected to rest first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for this encounter, which means that Neto can look forward to a rare outing in the Blaugrana goal.

Koeman was already without a trio of centre-backs in Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and Ronald Araujo for the visit of Osasuna, and the last thing that the Blaugrana boss would have wanted to witness was Clement Lenglet hobbling off with an ankle problem in that victory.

The Frenchman's problem has not kept him out of Koeman's squad but it would be a shock to see Lenglet return to the fold so soon, meaning that the Blaugrana boss is facing a dilemma when it comes to who will partner the young Oscar Mingueza in front of Neto.

The most obvious option would be Sergio Busquets - a player who has only just returned from injury himself - and the Spaniard is likely to fill the void in defence should he be deemed fit enough to start. Frenkie de Jong is another player who could be utilised as a makeshift centre-back by Koeman if doubts arise over Busquets's fitness.

Koeman's hand has also been forced at right-back due to a long-term injury to Sergi Roberto, with Sergino Dest set for another start in Barcelona colours, while Junior Firpo is a candidate to deputise on the left-hand side if Jordi Alba is granted a well-earned rest.

Riqui Puig is yet to feature in one of Koeman's starting lineups this season and that is unlikely to change here, with Miralem Pjanic and Carles Alena - the midfield pairing from Barca's 4-0 thrashing over Dynamo Kiev last week - expected to run the show from the middle of the park.

As well as De Jong, Lionel Messi was also rested by Koeman for last week's win in Ukraine, and the Argentine will have another night off here following an emotional occasion at the weekend; Messi powered home Barcelona's fourth against Osasuna before proceeding to pay homage to Diego Maradona with a trademark celebration in a Newell's Old Boys jersey.

Messi's absence means that fans are likely see Trincao - who provided the assist for the Argentine's goal at the weekend - deputise on the right flank, with Ousmane Dembele set to start on the opposite side of attack.

Barcelona are spoiled for choice when it comes to who will feature in the number 10 role, although Philippe Coutinho is the third regular starter to have been left out of Koeman's squad for Wednesday. As a result, Antoine Griezmann could get the nod despite pressure from 18-year-old Pedri, and Griezmann will likely be feeding Martin Braithwaite up top at the Puskas Arena.

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