Barcelona name squad for Galatasaray trip, still with key absentees
Hansi Flick has named a 22-man squad for Barcelona’s Champions League trip to Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday. Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong, Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji are still out injured, but Eric García returns after serving his suspension.
Barcelona travel to Galatasaray for their first away game of this season’s Champions League league phase, with their perfect record on the line. Flick’s side have won all eight of their La Liga matches and opened their European campaign with a 5-1 thrashing of Feyenoord, most recently beating Getafe 3-0 at home.
Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong are again missing, as are Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji, all due to injury. The good news is the return of Eric García, who can make his first Champions League appearance of the season after serving his suspension. The defender captained the side in the win over Getafe.
Barcelona squad: Joan García, Szczęsny, Livaković – Cancelo, Balde, Cubarsí, Espart, Gerard Martín, Koundé, Eric García, Fariñas – Gavi, Fermín, Pedri, Rodri, Olmo, Bernal – Gabriel Jesus, Lamine Yamal, Adeyemi, Gordon, Abdelkarim.
The game in Istanbul opens a demanding run for the Catalans, who also face away trips to Betis and PSG before hosting Real Madrid in El Clásico on 25 October. History favours Barcelona: in ten meetings with Galatasaray, they have won six times and lost only once.
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