The onus is on Xavi to pick the best of the 20 players that have been chosen to make the squad list. Unfortunately, Ronald Araujo is not on the list. The Uruguayan picked up an injury vs Espanyol and will miss the first leg.
Memphis Depay, too, misses out, even though Xavi expected him to be back in time for this game. Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto, Clement Lenglet, and Samuel Umtiti are some of the other players sidelined.
Nico Gonzalez will don the #28 jersey, as was confirmed when the official squad for the tournament was announced. His first-team number – #14 – has gone unpicked for the Europa League.
Full list:
Goalkeepers: ter Stegen, Neto, Tenas
Defenders: Dest, Mingueza; Pique, Garcia; Alba
Midfielders: Busquets, Puig, Pedri, de Jong, Nico, Gavi
Forwards: Dembele, Adama, Braithwaite, Luuk, Torres, Aubameyang