Barcelona team news vs Lyon: Predicted line up – Suarez returns | Football | Sport

Barcelona arrived in France last night and trained ahead of this crunch tie.

And the good news for Valverde is he effectively has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Barcelona beat Valladolid 1-0 at the weekend, with the manager resting a number of his top stars.

But Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Clement Lenglet and Nelson Semedo could all be recalled back into the first team.

Suarez played 30 minutes off the bench against Valladolid, while his strike partner Lionel Messi scored the goal in the 1-0 win.

Messi’s goal came from the penalty spot but he also missed another spot kick.

And Valverde insists the Argentine remains his main man for penalties.

“Leo is always a safe option on penalties,” he said.

“I was not nervous when he took either penalty (against Valladolid), and I was convinced that he would score both.”

have a number of absentees for the clash, with Thomas Vermaelen joining Arthur (hamstring), Rafinha (knee) and Jasper Cillessen (calf) on the sidelines.

Samuel Umtiti could get a game but will most likely not be risked.

It means Lenglet will likely play alongside Gerard Pique in the heart of defence.

Sergio Busquets will have Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic ahead of him in midfield.

And with Suarez back in the side, Philippe Coutinho is expected to drop to the bench, with Messi and Ousmane Dembele completing the forward three.

On Umtiti, Valverde last week: “Look, the Lyon game is after tomorrow’s game so we have some margin to decide and to see what he can do,” Valverde told reporters.

“He hasn’t played for a long time but he is a very important member of the squad and we need him for future games.

“I don’t know [if his return will be] tomorrow or the next game, we will be analysing his performances, so let’s wait and see.”

Barcelona predicted line-up vs Lyon – Champions League

(4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal; Dembele, Messi, Suarez

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