Barca chief Joan Laporta asked Xavi to change his squad list for Antwerp clash

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez made two squad lists for the Champions League match against Antwerp. In the first, he rested Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Ronald Araujo, but shortly after Barcelona confirmed it, he changed his mind and included them. At a press conference, he explained that the reason was that, as the team had to sleep tonight in Belgium, it was best to stick together.

According to a report by Joan Maria Pou on 'RAC1', this is not entirely true. The journalist, on the programme 'Tu Diras', assured that it is Joan Laporta who contacted the coach to ask him to modify his initial choices. The reasons for this are unknown and may be in line with the coach's explanations, who also mentioned Deco as part of the decision.

In any case, it is quite likely that neither the Pole, the German nor the Uruguayan will start in a game in which the 'Cules' are almost assured of a place in the last 16 as group winners. For the top spot to change, it would take a dramatic points draw with Shakhtar Donetsk pulling off a shock win over Porto while the 'culés' were beaten in Antwerp.

Xavi said that he will rest the players who have played the most minutes this season. This opens the way for Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres or Lamine Yamal to start. Despite the presence of the second string players, expectations will remain high, as the squad is coming off the back of a defeat against Girona and needs to get back to winning ways.

 

December 13, 2023