Confirmed lineups: Borussia Dortmund vs. Barcelona
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With just over an hour to go until kick-off, Borussia Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin has announced his starting eleven to take on Spanish giants Barcalona. The Catalan club currently sit comfortably in first place after 17 games with rivals Real Madrid hot on their tails in La Liga.
The club from North Rhine-Westphalia have struggled for form on the road this season, but they have been pretty consistent in Europe's premier competition. A 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid aside, BVB have notched 12 points from their 1-0 win over Sturm Graz, a 7-1 hammering of Celtic, while two 3-0 triumphs against Club Brugge and Dinamo Zagreb have further boosted confidence.
Tonight, Dortmund make three changes to their line-up which could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening. Emre Can comes into defence and captains the side with Julian Ryerson, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Rami Bensebaini in defence. Gregor Kobel resumes normal goalkeeper duties.
In midfield, Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha are joined by Julian Duranville who replaces Pascal Groß in midfield. The third and final alternation sees Gio Reyna afforded a rare start on the right. Serhou Guirassy leads the line with Jamie Gittens looking to maintain his hot form on the left flank. UEFA lineups suggest a 4-3-3 formation, but Şahin may deploy a 4-2-3-1 with Duranville shifting onto the wing and Reyna more central.
As for the visitors, they come into tonight having endured a disappointing 2-2 draw with eleventh-place Real Betis on the weekend. Head coach Hansi Flick, formerly of Bayern Munich fame, starts with a 4-2-3-1 formation including promising talents such as Pau Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, and ex-Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo. Another familiar former Bundesliga face is that of Robert Lewandowski who leads the line and once donned the black and yellow of BVB.
Official lineups below:
Borussia Dortmund (4-3-3): Kobel - Ryerson, Can (c), Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Sabitzer, Nmecha, Duranville - Reyna, Guirassy, Gittens
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Pena - Kounde, Cubarsí, Martinez, Balde - Casado, Pedri - Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha (c) - Lewandowski
