Possible Barcelona starting line-up to play Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League

Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Frankie de Jong are among the absentees, with El Clásico against Real Madrid also just days away.

Barcelona haven’t qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League since the 2020-21 season but they already look to be on course to do so in the 2023-24 edition. After opening group-stage wins over Antwerp and Porto, another victory against Shakhtar Donetsk at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys would put them on the brink of a place in the round of 16 with three games still to play. But Xavi Hernández and his side, who face Real Madrid on Saturday, will have to do it the hard way.

It is no secret that Barça are walking wounded at the moment (which could be more of an issue in El Clásico than against Shakhtar). In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Xavi revealed none of six men who have been on the sidelines of late “will be 100% fit” to face the Ukrainians, and on Wednesday it was revealed they had all been left out of the squad for the game, which contains eight youth-team players.

There is some hope Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Raphinha will have recovered in time to face Madrid, although whether they will be anywhere near 100% is another matter entirely. Frenkie de Jong, Jules Koundé and Sergi Roberto are also absent and have already been ruled out of the clash against Los Blancos.

To make matters worse for Xavi, one player who is fit, Gavi, is suspended for Wednesday’s game after being sent off in injury-time in Porto.

With three first-choice midfielders (de Jong, Pedri, Gavi) all missing, youngster Fermín López and Oriel Romeu, brought in mainly as cover during the summer, are expected to start.

Much has been made about Barcelona not having another out-and-out striker as back-up