Fermin, Olmo start in a 4-3-3: How Barcelona can line up against FC Copenhagen | OneFootball

FC Barcelona will be hoping to secure a top-eight finish in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League when they face FC Copenhagen at home tonight.

The Blaugrana are currently ninth in the table and need a big win tonight against the Danish outfit while hoping for other results to go their way in order to stand a chance of making it into the top eight, which would secure a direct path into the Round of 16.

Barça go into the match on the back of positive results, winning their previous two matches against Slavia Prague (UCL) and Real Oviedo (La Liga).

Hansi Flick, however, will have to make do without two very important players for tonight’s clash at the Spotify Camp Nou as Pedri misses out through injury, and Frenkie de Jong is out due to suspension from an accumulation of cards.

In addition, Gavi and Andreas Christensen also remain unavailable, while January signing Joao Cancelo is ineligible to feature. Ferran Torres is expected to be back after training with the team on Tuesday, which will be a welcome boost for the hosts.

With that being said, here’s how Barcelona could line up against Copenhagen, hoping to seal a top-eight spot in the Champions League.

Defence

Hansi Flick opted to make some rotations in the backline against Real Oviedo, but will revert to his usual options in defence.

It should see Jules Kounde return to the lineup on the right side, while Alejandro Balde should reclaim his spot on the left flank.

Meanwhile, Pau Cubarsi is a permanent fixture at the heart of the Barcelona defensive unit. The big question Flick has to answer is who will partner the young Spaniard with Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, and Gerard Martin vying for the spot.

With Garcia’s services likely to be required in midfield, Gerard Martin could end up securing the starting berth as the left-sided centre-back.

Midfield

Eric Garcia to play in midfield? (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

With no Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, Flick has a major conundrum with regard to selecting his midfield personnel against Copenhagen tonight.

Marc Casado’s inconsistent performances this season and Marc Bernal’s limited minutes suggest that the manager will likely deploy Eric Garcia as the single pivot midfielder for Barcelona tonight.

Meanwhile, in-form attacking midfield duo of Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo are likely to operate as the two No. 8s, aiming to provide fluidity and goal threat from the centre of the park.

Attack

Lamine Yamal is a guaranteed starter on the right flank for Barcelona and will carry the biggest attacking threat for Barcelona, even though Copenhagen insist they have come up with a plan to keep him quiet.

Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski will be the centre-forward once again, with Ferran Torres only recently recovering from his injury problem. The veteran, who scored his first UCL goal of the season vs Slavia Praha last week, will be gunning to boost his tally further.

On the left flank, key winger and leader Raphinha will get the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford, who will hope to get some minutes off the bench. Roony Bardghji will also hope to come on as a substitute later in the game against his former club.