FC Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: Team news and predicted lineups

Here is our preview of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg clash between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, including our predicted lineups.

Fresh from a 4-1 away win over Freiburg, Borussia Dortmund travel to Barcelona for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.

The win against Freiburg came without the services of Nico Schlotterbeck, who was suspended, and BVB will be without their key centre-back again on Wednesday – and for the rest of the season – due to a knee injury.

The injury is a big blow for Dortmund, who will also be without Pascal Gross through suspension, Marcel Sabitzer through a knee injury and youngster Filippo Mané due a muscle injury.

Given how well the Freiburg game went, BVB coach Niko Kovac may be tempted to make the one change he is forced to make, namely the taking out the suspended Pascal Gross.

Felix Nmecha could play alongside Julian Brandt if he’s deemed fit enough to start after recovering from injury, with Salih Özcan an alternative.

Their opponents, Barcelona, are top of La Liga and haven’t lost this year after extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 22 games at the weekend. The result was disappointing, however, as Hansi Flick’s men were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Real Betis.

On the injury front, Dani Olmo is a doubt with a groin problem, while Marc Bernal, Marc Casado and Marc-André ter Stegen remain sidelined with knee problems.

The two sides last met in December, when Barcelona won 3-2 away from home in an enthralling encounter after Dortmund came back from behind twice.

Click here to see our predicted FC Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund lineups.