Hans Flick, the German tactician commanding Barcelona, has officially revealed the squad selected for the upcoming clash against Newcastle United, scheduled for Tuesday in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, according to a report by our news portal. This announcement arrives amidst notable absences due to injury, impacting key players.
Injuries and Squad Composition
Among the unavailable figures, Frenkie de Jong, Alex Balde, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Koundé are sidelined, unable to participate in this critical European encounter. Despite these setbacks, Flick’s roster intriguingly includes the young prodigy Gavi, who has yet to receive medical clearance following his recent injury. The midfield talent will accompany the team to England but will be restricted to training sessions, refraining from match involvement at this stage.
The comprehensive list of players summoned for this pivotal fixture is as follows: Juan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Kouassi, Cancelo, Araujo, Cubarasi, Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia, Curtis, Xavi Espart, Gavi, Pedri, Fermin, Casado, Olmo, Bernal, Tomi, Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Rafinha, Rashford, and Roni Bardji.
It is worth noting that Barcelona secured direct qualification to the round of 16 in the Champions League, whereas Newcastle United advanced after overcoming Karabakh in the playoff aggregate. This contrast sets the stage for a compelling duel between two clubs with differing routes to this phase.