Barcelona will host Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou on Tuesday for the final matchday of the Champions League group stage. The Catalans need a win to improve their standing after a 3–0 loss to Chelsea left them 18th in the group table. Frankfurt, with four points, aim to secure a spot in the knockout playoff round, despite recent struggles.
The teams last met in the Europa League quarterfinals, where Frankfurt triumphed 4–3 on aggregate. Currently, Frankfurt sit seventh in the Bundesliga following a heavy 6–0 defeat at RB Leipzig, raising doubts about their defensive resilience. Conversely, Barcelona lead La Liga by four points after extending their domestic winning streak.
Barcelona will welcome back goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who recently recovered from a long-term back injury but will back up Joan García. Captain Ronald Araújo remains sidelined, and Dani Olmo is out for the season due to a shoulder injury. Fermín López is available after a short absence, while Gavi is the only other key absentee.
Predicted Barcelona lineup (4-2-3-1): García; Kounde, Cubarsí, Martín, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, López, Raphinha; Lewandowski. Robert Lewandowski may replace weekend hat-trick hero Ferran Torres. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong will likely control midfield.
Eintracht Frankfurt face attacking injury issues with Jonathan Burkadt sidelined until January due to a calf injury. Michy Batshuayi, his deputy, missed training following a recent injury. Timothy Chandler is doubtful, forcing coach Dino Toppmöller to possibly deploy Ansgar Knauff as a makeshift striker and recall Mario Götze to the starting XI.
Predicted Frankfurt lineup (3-4-2-1): Zetterer; Amenda, Koch, Theate; Kristensen, Larsson, Chaibi, Brown; Doan, Götze; Knauff. Frankfurt’s defensive vulnerabilities will be tested against Barcelona’s dynamic offense, particularly with Pedri and Raphinha expected to pose threats.
Given Barcelona’s improved squad health and home advantage, an emphatic win is anticipated. The pressure mounts on Frankfurt’s Toppmöller to halt their recent decline. Expect Barcelona to dominate, with Sports Illustrated predicting a 4–1 victory for the hosts.
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