Barcelona hopes to exact revenge on Bayern Munich for last year’s 7-0 aggregate drubbing in the Champions League as the two clash in a semifinal first leg from Spain at 2:45 p.m. ET.
This year, things are a bit reversed. It’s the Germans who are struggling with mass injuries, as Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, and David Alaba all miss out. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski gets the start and will play with a mask to cover a broken nose and jaw he suffered against Borussia Dortmund.
That won’t be an excuse though, as Pep Guardiola returns to the Nou Camp where he brought Barcelona to new heights.
LIVE - Follow Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
Barcelona, meanwhile, have just one injury miss in Jeremy Mathieu and otherwise come into the first leg completely healthy. Lionel Messi will make his 100th European appearance for Barcelona alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar.
LINEUPS:
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitić; Suárez, Messi, Neymar.
Bench: Bravo, Xavi, Pedro, Bartra, Adriano, Vermaelen, Thiago Alcantara.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Benatia, Rafinha, Boateng, Bernat; Lahm, Alonso, Thiago, Schweinsteiger; Lewandowski, Müller.
Bench: Dante, Javi Martinez, Pizarro, Gaudino, Gotze, Reina, Weiser.