Barcelona returns to action in Europe for the final home game of the UEFA Champions League group stage on Wednesday night when they welcome German champions and Group C leaders Bayern Munich to Camp Nou after a convincing victory over Athletic Bilbao at the weekend to continue their good run in La Liga.
Xavi will want a win to galvanize his squad for the rest of the season, after deflating losses to both Inter and Real Madrid in previous weeks. Bayern, meanwhile, still have top spot in the group to secure, and Julian Nagelsmann will doubtless want to come away from the Camp Nou with a win.
Because of Barça’s loss against Inter Milan two weeks ago, this game has no effect to keep them in the champion league if Inter beat Viktoria Plzen in the other game in Group C and clinch a place in the Round of 16. That match at San Siro kicks off two hours earlier, so Barça will already know their fate in Europe before kickoff against the Germans.
Barça seem destined for a second straight season in the Europa League, a huge disappointment after a summer of great signings and big optimism. Xavi Hernández is yet to pass a big test in continental play, and the two bad nights against Inter have cost the team in the worst way.
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Bayern have some major absentees heading into the game. Three key players from the first leg Manuel Neuer, Lucas Hernandez, and Leroy Sane have not traveled with the team to Spain, so you can be sure that they won’t play.
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But Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman are reportedly fit and back in training. While for Barcelona , Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Sergi Roberto are a doubt for the game while Memphis Depay is out.
