Barcelona announces 22-man squad for Champions League trip to Galatasaray without captain Raphinha

Barcelona will face Galatasaray in their next Champions League match without captain Raphinha, who missed the trip due to a minor muscle injury. Manager Hansi Flick announced a 22-man squad for Tuesday’s game, confirming that Raphinha remains sidelined alongside Andreas Christensen and Roony Bargdhji, both out with injuries as well.

The squad includes goalkeepers Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, and Dominik Livakovic, while the defensive line features João Cancelo, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsí, Xavi Espart, Gerard Martín, Jules Kounde, and Eric Garcia. The midfield consists of Brian Farinãs, Gavi, Fermín López, Pedri, Rodri, Dani Olmo, and Marc Bernal. Up front, Gabriel Jesus, Lamine Yamal, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon, and Hamza Abdelkarim have been called upon.

Frenkie de Jong has returned to training but has yet to receive medical clearance to rejoin the squad. Christensen is sidelined with a quadriceps problem and Bargdhji with a knee injury.

Flick’s likely starting eleven, set up in a 4-3-3 formation, includes Joan Garcia in goal; Kounde, Cubarsí, Eric Garcia, and Cancelo in defence; Fermín López, Rodri, and Pedri in midfield; and the front three of Yamal, Gabriel Jesus, and Anthony Gordon.

The match kicks off at 9 pm CET (Barcelona), 8 pm BST/WAT (UK and Nigeria), 3 pm ET, and 12 pm PT (USA). Fans around the world will follow the game live, with commentary available for those eager to track every moment of the fixture.

Barcelona’s absence of Raphinha, who is both captain and leading scorer, adds an extra challenge as they travel to face a tough Galatasaray side in the group stage of the competition. The manager’s decision to exclude him from the trip confirms the player’s muscle issue remains a concern.

The squad call-up shows a blend of experience and youth, with players like Pedri and Gavi anchoring the midfield and younger forwards such as Lamine Yamal and Hamza Abdelkarim providing options in attack. The inclusion of Wojciech Szczesny and Dominik Livakovic as backup goalkeepers offers depth behind Joan Garcia.

Barcelona’s preparations continue amid these injury setbacks, with the club aiming to secure valuable points on the road in Turkey. The latest squad list and line-up prediction give a clear picture of the resources Flick will rely on to navigate this Champions League challenge.

According to Yahoo Sports.