|
|
TEAM NEWS: Iniesta & Fabregas return for Barcelona at Leverkusen in the Champions League, but Xavi & Pique miss out
Pep Guardiola recalls the two midfielders, but is without both Xavi and Pique for the last-16 clash in Germany. Sergi Roberto, Isaac Cuenca and Marc Bartra are all on the bench
14 Feb 2012 19:24:00
By Ben Hayward
Andres Iniesta - Barcelona
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola welcomes back Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas to his starting XI for Tuesday night's Champions League last-16 first-leg match at Bayer Leverkusen, but there is no place in the side for Xavi.
All three midfielders were left on the bench as a weakened Barca team lost 3-2 to Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, but Xavi is still feeling the effects of an injury and misses out altogether.
Gerard Pique is also out as Javier Mascherano starts in defence, but Sergio Busquets is back in midfield.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, start with no recognised striker as Andre Schurrle leads the line for the Bundesliga outfit.
On-loan Tottenham full-back Vedran Corluka also features for the home side.
Leverkusen (4-3-2-1): Leno; Corluka, Schwaab, Friedrich, Kadlec; Rolfes, Reinartz, Bender; Renato Augusto, Castro; Schurrle
Subs: Yelldell, Oczipka, Da Costa, Omer Toprak, Ortega, Bellarabi, Kiessling
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal; Fabregas, Iniesta, Busquets; Adriano, Messi, Alexis
Subs: Pinto, Bartra, Thiago, Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto, Pedro, Cuenca
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
All three midfielders were left on the bench as a weakened Barca team lost 3-2 to Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, but Xavi is still feeling the effects of an injury and misses out altogether.
Gerard Pique is also out as Javier Mascherano starts in defence, but Sergio Busquets is back in midfield.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, start with no recognised striker as Andre Schurrle leads the line for the Bundesliga outfit.
On-loan Tottenham full-back Vedran Corluka also features for the home side.
Leverkusen (4-3-2-1): Leno; Corluka, Schwaab, Friedrich, Kadlec; Rolfes, Reinartz, Bender; Renato Augusto, Castro; Schurrle
Subs: Yelldell, Oczipka, Da Costa, Omer Toprak, Ortega, Bellarabi, Kiessling
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal; Fabregas, Iniesta, Busquets; Adriano, Messi, Alexis
Subs: Pinto, Bartra, Thiago, Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto, Pedro, Cuenca
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
In Pictures: The best and worst kits at Euro 2012
The European Championship is just around the corner and Goal.com distinguishes between the trendy and the passe at the prestigious tournament
-
The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday
-
Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms
The Northern Irishman inevitably expressed his delight at landing the Reds job but evidenced plenty of the steely resolve which could see him become a success at Anfield
