Barcelona faces significant challenges as they prepare to meet Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night. The Catalan club will have to adjust their lineup due to injuries to key players. Pedro, a vital midfielder, is set to miss the match as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during El Clásico last month. Training reports indicated that he was absent, reflecting ongoing issues that likely will keep him sidelined until at least next weekend.
In addition to Pedri, Barcelona will be without goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and midfielder Gavi for their trip to London. Despite these setbacks, there is a silver lining for the team, as striker Marcus Rashford is expected to return to the matchday squad after missing the recent victory over Athletic Bilbao due to illness. The England international, who has been impressive since joining Barcelona on loan from Manchester United, resumed training and is anticipated to play a crucial role in the match against Chelsea.
Chelsea, on the other hand, comes into this encounter with a confident mindset, having recently secured a 2-0 win over Burnley. Manager Enzo Maresca expressed his optimism, stating that the team is in good form and ready to face their opponents. In preparation for the match, changes were made in the lineup, including a controlled substitution for Reece James to manage his fitness.
Both teams are aiming for a strong performance to secure automatic qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament. Barcelona, despite their injury woes, will seek to capitalize on the return of Rashford and the recent reintegration of players like Joan Garcia and Raphinha. Chelsea, buoyed by their recent successes, aims to build on their momentum as they host the Spanish side at Stamford Bridge. As anticipation builds for this high-stakes match, both teams will be looking to assert their dominance in European football.