Cricket Live
Football Live
As anticipation reaches its peak, football enthusiasts are gearing up for a riveting Champions League clash as Barcelona prepare to host Porto at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. This Tuesday evening encounter is poised to be a spectacle, with both teams locked in a fierce battle for supremacy at the summit of Group H.
Barcelona currently holds the reins at the top, sharing a nine-point tally with Porto, who closely trail in second place. The competition in this group is further intensified by the presence of Shakhtar Donetsk, just three points adrift, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown.
Adding an element of uncertainty to Barcelona's lineup, the absence of their primary shot-stopper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, looms large. The German goalkeeper, nursing a back issue, sat out the recent clash against Rayo, and his participation remains questionable, potentially paving the way for Inaki Pena to retain his place in goal.
Injury woes continue to haunt Barcelona, with young talent Gavi ruled out for the rest of the campaign due to a severe knee injury. However, there's a glimmer of hope as experienced campaigner Sergi Roberto eyes a return to the squad after overcoming a calf issue. Manager Xavi is expected to shuffle his deck from the side that faced Rayo, with Joao Felix, Ilkay Gundogan, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, and Raphinha all in contention for starting roles.
The return of Frenkie de Jong, who completed the full 90 minutes against Rayo following an ankle problem, is a boost for Barcelona's midfield stability. The Dutch international is poised to retain his starting berth for the upcoming clash.
On the other side of the pitch, Porto faces their own set of challenges, missing key players such as Samuel Portugal, Ivan Marcano, Gabriel Veron, and Ivan Jaime due to injuries. Despite these setbacks, the Portuguese side, led by a resilient lineup, is set to give Barcelona a run for their money.
Potential starting lineups paint a picture of tactical battles, with Barcelona looking at Pena, Cancelo, Araujo, Kounde, Balde, Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri, Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Felix to lead the charge. Meanwhile, Porto counters with Costa, Mario, Pepe, Carmo, Sanusi, Galeno, Varela, Eustaquio, Aquino, Evanilson, and Taremi forming their formidable lineup.