FC Barcelona Versus Porto Champions League Preview: Xavi Goes All Out With Big Changes For First ‘Final’

FC Barcelona caput coach Xavi will make a number of changes from nan weekend's 1-1 tie against Rayo Vallecano erstwhile his squad big Porto successful nan Champions League connected Tuesday.

Mundo Deportivo called nan fixture Barca's "first final" of nan season, pinch much connected nan statement that conscionable nan correct to triumph Group H.

Granted whoever comes retired connected apical will look what should beryllium easier guidance than a chap group leader successful nan knockout phases, and Barca request conscionable a constituent to suffice for nan past 16 for nan first clip since 2021.

But while Xavi said astatine his pre-match property convention connected Monday that he feels 100% supported by president Joan Laporta and sporting head Deco, nan newspaper reports that a nonaccomplishment against nan Portuguese that matches caller defeats to Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk could "muddy nan atmosphere".

"It's a basal game, we person a batch astatine stake," Xavi admitted.

"The fans must cognize this and cheer them [the players] connected arsenic they person ever done. It's very important that they're pinch nan team."

Complimenting Sergio Conceicao's side, Xavi said that Porto are "hard-working" and a "high-level" team.

"We already suffered successful Porto," nan head noted, of a 1-0 triumph past month.

"We were good for an hour, [but] a batch of things happened to us. Lamine had to spell to nan dressing room, Gavi was sent off... They're a very beardown opponent, a very important trial for us."

Xavi confirmed that his goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will return to action for nan captious clash, aft a backmost wounded picked up connected world work pinch Germany saw him replaced by Inaki Pena astatine Rayo.

In nan starting statement up that will look Porto, location is nary abstraction for Alejandro Balde who will spot correct backmost Joao Cancelo return his spot astatine near back.

In cardinal defense, Inigo Martinez and Jules Kounde will partner up while Ronald Araujo takes Cancelo's berth.

A reigning champion successful this competition, Ilkay Gundogan was rested against Rayo but comes backmost into nan fold to shape an attacking midfield duo pinch Pedri.

There is nary abstraction for nan struggling Oriol Romeu successful nan halfway of nan parkland contempt a Frenkie de Jong who brings retired nan champion successful him now being lucifer fit.

It is nan Dutchman who assumes nan ex-Girona man's spot astatine pivot, while location is still nary move to nan 4 man midfield that sees personification operating arsenic a mendacious near winger.

The leader astatine nan Estadio do Dragao by scoring nan only extremity of nan crippled there, Ferran Torres is trim successful favour of Joao Felix while Raphinha is preferred complete Lamine Yamal connected nan different broadside of striker Robert Lewandowski.

FC Barcelona First XI versus Porto: Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Martinez, Kounde, Araujo; De Jong, Gundogan, Pedri; Felix, Lewandowski, Raphinha