Barcelona Names 24-Man Squad for Benfica Champions League Match

Barcelona has announced its squad for the upcoming UEFA Champions League first leg against Benfica, set for Wednesday night. Notably, Gavi has been included despite recent illness concerns, while Ansu Fati returns after being left out of previous matchday squads. Manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that changes to the lineup are expected, with Frenkie de Jong and Alejandro Balde likely to start after resting in the last La Liga match. Andreas Christensen remains sidelined with injury, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal also miss out. The match is critical as both teams vie for a spot in the quarter-finals, with a second leg scheduled in a week. Barcelona will aim to build on their recent success, having defeated Real Sociedad with a strong performance.