Barcelona will play hosts to Inter Milan at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night hoping to continue their 100% winning record in the UEFA Champions League this season. The Catalans are enjoying a good run of form after emerging victorious in two of their last three outings across all competitions.
However, Ernesto Valverde’s side suffered a devastating blow last weekend when Lionel Messi suffered a fracture in his right arm which could rule him out for up to three weeks. It is expected that the Catalans will line up in a 4-3-3 formation for this mega European encounter versus Inter.
4-3-3 Barcelona Predicted Lineup To Face Inter Milan
Defence
Marc Andre ter Stegen will start for Valverde’s team while Jasper Cillessen has to be content with a place on the Catalans’ bench. Samuel Umtiti is suspended for this clash so Clement Lenglet will resume his partnership alongside Gerard Pique at the centre of the Barca backline. Sergi Roberto is expected to feature as the right-back after being rested against Sevilla last weekend while Jordi Alba would look to use his pace and guile down the left flank.
The Catalans will be coming up against one of European football’s most in-form strikers in Mauro Icardi so it will be a tough ask for Valverde’s men to keep a clean sheet on Wednesday night.
Midfield
Barca could line up with the midfield trio of Arthur Melo, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic following their eye-catching performance versus Sevilla which should give them a lot of confidence going into this clash at the Nou Camp.
Rakitic got his name on the scoresheet last weekend and also scored with a sublime volley against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month. We can expect him to be a significant goal-threat from midfield once again in midweek.
Attack
Lionel Messi has been ruled out of this match following a fracture on the radio of his right arm. Hence, Valverde might be forced to call upon the services of Ousmane Dembele to start up top alongside Phillipe Coutinho and Luis Suarez.
There is no doubt that Messi’s injury would be a massive blow for Barca, so the likes of Suarez and Coutinho needs to step up and produce some magic in the attacking third.
