Barcelona will have Robert Lewandowski fit for tonight’s Champions League showdown with Benfica.
The Blaugrana’s top scorer started last week’s opening clash away in Lisbon which Barca beat Benfica 1-0 despite the dismissal of teenage defender Pau Cubarsi midway through the first half, with Raphinha netting the only goal of the game shortly past the hour mark.
They did not end up playing in LaLiga as scheduled on Saturday evening as their Barca’s home game with Osasuna was postponed following the death of the club’s first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.
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Lewandowski, who turns 37 in August, had been left out of the squad named for that fixture, with reports that he was being rested due to tiredness ahead of the visit of Benfica.
Addressing the Polish star’s fitness in his pre-match press conference on Monday, Barca boss Flick said: “Lewandowski is available to play tomorrow. On Saturday, he felt something during the activation session, but now he's fine.”
Cubarsi is suspended for the second leg after his red card last week for a last-man foul on Vangelis Pavlidis that led to Ronald Araujo being brought on early for Dani Olmo in a forced reshuffle.
Araujo can be expected to deputise from the start this time alongside Inigo Martinez, with Andreas Christensen having suffered another injury setback late last month that will keep him sidelined for four weeks.
The former Chelsea centre-back made his solitary appearance for Barcelona this season back in August and had been cleared to return for the recent 4-0 win over Real Sociedad, though then hurt his calf in training.
Gavi however is expected to return against Benfica after illness as Flick ponders whether to play him or Spain team-mate Olmo. Teenage midfielder Marc Bernal and long-serving goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen remain long-term absentees.
Predicted Barcelona XI: Szczesny, Kounde, Araujo, Martinez, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Injured: Bernal, Christensen, Ter Stegen
Suspended: Cubarsi
Time and date: 5.45pm GMT today on Tuesday March 11, 2025
Venue: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys
How to watch: TNT Sports
