Sitting second in the UEFA Champions League table, Barcelona hope to secure not only a Round of 16 bye but a top-four position as they meet Serie A side Atalanta in their league-phase finale.
The Blaugrana survived a wild match against Benfica last time out to set themselves up for a triumphant finish to this first stage of the competition. They’re now targeting not just a last-16 spot by finishing in the top eight but also a top-four finish, which would see them given the highest possible seed in the eventual draw.
They have a significant test to pass in that search, however, as opponents Atalanta are themselves desperate for Round of 16 passage, entering this match in seventh.
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The defending Europa League champs have been impressive this season in Europe’s top competition, winning four of their seven games to date and even battling Real Madrid to the end in a narrow 3-2 defeat. They are also in the Serie A title hunt, sitting third behind only Napoli and Inter Milan.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides.
Barcelona vs. Atalanta lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Barcelona are hoping to have Dani Olmo back from his hamstring injury, but the league-phase finale may be just a bit too soon, as the playmaker has not yet returned to training. The same is likely true for Inigo Martinez, who is dealing with his own thigh injury.
Pedri missed the weekend win over Valencia with illness and will be questionable to return midweek, but Robert Lewandowski and Gavi should return to the lineup. Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are both done for the season with ACL tears.
Hansi Flick has a decision to make in goal, as Wojciech Szczesny‘s awful mistakes nearly cost them the match against Benfica last time out in Europe, but they stuck with him over the weekend, so he may have supplanted Inaki Pena as the long-term starter.
Barcelona predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Szczesny (GK) — Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde — Casado, De Jong — Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha — Lewandowski
Injured: Olmo (hamstring), I. Martinez (hamstring), Bernal (ACL), Ter Stegen (ACL), Pedri (illness, doubt)
Suspended: None
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The two recurring injuries for Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to deal with are to defender Odilon Kossounou and striker Gianluca Scamacca. Kossounou went down two weeks ago with an adductor injury and is expected to miss significant time, while Scamacca is not yet ready to return from his ACL injury for another few months.
More significantly, Ademola Lookman suffered a knee injury during a training session on Monday and is set to miss out.
Atalanta also picked up a new issue as Marten de Roon was withdrawn at halftime of their weekend win over Como. His potential absence would be a big blow, as Frosinone loanee Marco Brescianini would have to fill in.
Charles De Ketelaere started on the bench against Como hoping for some rest but was needed in the second half. He should return to the XI here.
Atalanta predicted lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Carnesecchi (GK) — Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac — Cuadrado, Brescianini, Samardzic, Ederson, Ruggeri — Retegui, De Ketelaere
Injured: Kossounou (hamstring), Scamacca (ACL), Lookman (knee)
Suspended: None
Barcelona vs. Atalanta live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
