Absences of Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, and Gavi Pose a Challenge for Barcelona’s Europa League Clash Against Manchester United
Barcelona manager Xavi has revealed his 20-man squad for the upcoming Europa League clash against Manchester United, with several key players missing due to injury and suspension. Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, and Gavi are the most notable absentees, with Dembele expected to be out of action for at least a month due to a hamstring problem. Pedri picked up a hamstring injury in the first leg, which ended in a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou. Meanwhile, Gavi is suspended and will not feature in the game.
Despite the absentees, Barcelona can take heart from the return of Sergio Busquets, who has recovered from an ankle injury and is expected to feature at Old Trafford. Furthermore, the absence of Pedri and Gavi has opened the door for Marc Casado to make the trip to Manchester. Additionally, Ronald Araujo is set to return after missing out on the Cadiz game due to a La Liga suspension.
Manager Xavi faces some difficult decisions when it comes to selecting his starting lineup for the game, with Marcos Alonso featuring as a central defender in the first leg. Franck Kessie is likely to join Frenkie de Jong in central midfield, with Busquets also in contention depending on his fitness. Sergi Roberto is another option alongside Kessie and De Jong, should Busquets start on the bench.
Further forward, Ansu Fati could make a start alongside Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the final third of the field. In the game against Cadiz, Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde were handed starts at the back, while Ferran Torres featured in the final third of the field. However, Kessie, Jordi Alba, and Alonso could return to the side at Old Trafford.
Lewandowski is Barcelona’s leading goalscorer this season with 24 in all competitions, followed by Dembele with 8 goals. Raphinha and Pedri are joint-third with seven goals each. Despite the injuries and suspensions, Barcelona will be looking to put in a strong performance against Manchester United and progress to the next round of the Europa League.
