Lisbon (AFP)
To densify its midfield, FC Barcelona chose to leave French striker Antoine Griezmann on the substitute bench at the kickoff of the Champions League quarter against Bayern Munich (9:00 p.m.), who for his part preferred to start without tricolor winger Kingsley Coman.
According to the team composition chosen by Barcelona coach Quique Setién, Barça opted for a 4-4-2 with four midfielders: Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie De Jong and Arturo Vidal, former Bayern player.
This quartet being in support of the attacking duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Griezmann found himself sacrificed and forced to start the meeting on the bench. A cruel decision for the world champion, flagship rookie of the summer of 2019 at Barça who has struggled in recent months to integrate into the Barcelona game.
On the Bayern side, the same fate for Coman: coach Hansi Flick preferred Serge Gnabry and Ivan Perisic to occupy the wings, with Thomas Müller in the center in support of striker Robert Lewandowski, top scorer in this Champions League with 13 goals.
Bayern, big favorite of this "Final 8" of the Champions League in Lisbon, and Barça, in bad shape in recent weeks, had an appointment Friday evening at the Estadio da Luz to award a ticket for the semi-finals. finals of the event.
The teams:
FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen - Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba - Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Vidal, De Jong - Messi, Luis Suarez.
Coach: Quique Setién.
Bayern Munich: Neuer - Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba, Davies - Thiago Alcantara, Goretzka - Gnabry, Müller, Perisic - Lewandowski.
Coach: Hansi Flick.
Referee: Damir Skomina (SVN)
© 2020 AFP