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Barcelona vs Chelsea team news and likely line-ups ahead of last 16 Champions League clash

Stuart Appleby

13:23 13/03/2018

Barcelona and Chelsea will lock horns again in a mouthwatering Champions League clash at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

The Premier League side stifled the La Liga leaders at Stamford Bridge last month, with Blaugrana eventually coming away with a 1-1 draw thanks to a late Lionel Messi equaliser after Willian had put the hosts ahead.

It means it is set up perfectly as both teams look to advance to the quarter-finals. The big news for Barcelona is that Messi is back after missing the weekend win over Malaga due to being present at the birth of his third son.

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Here, we look at the likely line-ups and team news before the two sides face off in Catalonia.

BARCELONA

Club icon Andres Iniesta is set to shake off a troublesome hamstring injury and take his place at the heart of the hosts’ midfield in a welcome boost for Ernesto Valverde’s men. With Philippe Coutinho cup-tied, the experience of Brazilian Paulinho is likely to be preferred to raw talent Ousmane Dembele, who will be trusted to make a telling impact from the bench if necessary.

CHELSEA

The Blues are set to resist the temptation to field either Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud in a chief striking role while the likes of Tiemoue Bakayoko, David Luiz and Ross Barkley are all set to be unavailable. Antonio Conte’s side picks itself but Davide Zappacosta could come in should Chelsea have to contend with any late injury worries.

PREDICTED XIS

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