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First stop Lisbon
As of Tuesday night, the final of the Champions League in Paris is just four matches away. The first challenge is against Benfica in the new Da Luz stadium in Lisbon.
The Barca players are already in Lisbon preparing for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Benfica. The team managed by former Barca favourite Ronald Koeman can point to an excellent European campaign so far, which has seen them knock out Manchester United and current holders Liverpool, while Barca are seen by the majority of pundits as one of the firm favourites to lift the title in May. However, manager Frank Rijkaard is determined to cut out any complacency on the part of his players.
Players unavailable: Barca have a large number of players unavailable with no less than four of Frank Rijkaards regulars staying behind in Barcelona: Messi, who is nearing fitness again after picking up an injury against Chelsea, Márquez and Edmilson, who suffered muscle injuries against Real Sociedad, and club captain Carles Puyol, who is serving out a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards. In addition, Xavi Hernández is still out with a long-term knee injury.
Benfica, however, also have their team selection problems. Ronald Koeman will be without top scorer Nuno Gomes (suspension), Nuno Assis, (suspended pending a drug inquiry) Manduca and Marco Ferreira (not registered for the CL).
Changes in defence: The enforced absences of Puyol, Márquez and Edmilson have left Rijkaard with few options to partner Oleguer in the centre of the Barca defence. He's has tried a number of permutations in the last two league games and has also made changes in the central defensive midfield area.
Reserve squad youngster Rodri is one possibility. He played the full 90 minutes against Malaga with Motta in front of the back four. Rijkaard also used Motta in central defence against Getafe, with Iniesta and Gio in midfield.
Friends on the benches: This is a special match, not only because of the prize at stake but also because it represents a duel between two old friends. Rijkaard and Koeman played together at Ajax before Koeman moved to PSV Eindhoven. Later on, their career paths coincided with both of them starting out as assistant to Guus Hiddink in the Dutch national squad.
Memories from the past: Tonight's match will also be an opportunity for Barca fans to get reacquainted with some familiar faces from the Club's recent past. Ronald Koeman, the player who scored the goal that gave Barca the European Cup in 1992 and has since had a special place in the hearts of all Barca fans, will now face his old club as manager of Benfica. Meanwhile, two of Benfica's most important players, Simao and Geovanni, are formerly of FC Barcelona.
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/noticias/noticias/n06032801.shtml
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