Barcelona v Mönchengladbach: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Monday, December 5, 2016
Article summary
"Winning is always the best medicine for all your troubles," said Luis Enrique, hoping an experimental Barcelona side can vent their frustration on Gladbach.
Article top media content
Article body
- Barcelona coach says a win is a must for "the players' morale"
- Luis Enrique's side on a run of four successive domestic draws
- Barça denied victory by a late Real Madrid equaliser in Saturday's Clásico
- Barcelona have won Group C while Mönchengladbach will finish third
- Azulgrana came from behind to beat Gladbach 2-1 on matchday two
Possible line-ups
Barcelona: Cillessen; Roberto, Mascherano, Umtiti, Alba; Denis Suárez, Gomes, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Alcácer.
Out: Neymar (suspended), Rakitić (suspended), Mathieu (calf), Ter Stegen (rested)
Doubtful: Piqué (hamstring)
Mönchengladbach: Sommer; Elvedi, Christensen, Strobl; Korb, Wendt; Kramer, Dahoud, Johnson; Hazard, Raffael.
Out: Stindl (suspended), Herrmann (ankle), Traoré (groin), Domínguez (back), Schulz (hip), Doucouré (fitness), Drmić (fitness)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Luis Enrique, Barcelona coach
Winning is always the best medicine for all your troubles. We've had a great Champions League campaign – almost a perfect campaign – so while this game is not going to determine how the group finishes, it's still a Champions League game at the Camp Nou and that makes it important.
I may use a different system, try out different players, rest some who have been playing a lot and give minutes to some who haven't played that much. It's important for us to win tomorrow for the players' morale after our recent results, although that won't make me change my plans for the game or risk players.
André Schubert, Mönchengladbach coach
We spent a lot of money last year to earn the right to play in the Champions League. That is why we will be doing everything we can. It is extraordinary to be able to play at the Camp Nou. This is a great honour.
We will be up against one of the best teams in the world but we can compete with them. We have to think about how we curb their attacking prowess. We have a lot to think about – we did okay in the first meeting, but home games are different to away ones.
Weekend results
Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid (Suárez 53; Ramos 90)
The hosts looked set to halve Madrid's lead at the Liga summit to three points, but ultimately had to settle for a fourth domestic draw in a row.
Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Mönchengladbach (Aubameyang 7 68, Piszczek 15, Dembélé 64; Raffael 6)
Gladbach had a brief early advantage but are now without a win in seven in all competitions.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Barcelona: DDDWDW
Mönchengladbach: LDDLLD
Reporter's view: Graham Hunter (@BumperGraham)
Nobody should be fooled into thinking that because Barcelona have won this group, there will be any less demand on them to win this match. Not only does the UEFA Champions League anthem bring out the best in this group of players, the Spanish champions have drawn four consecutive matches domestically. Hardly a crisis but not what's expected of them.
So long as he's not feeling any negative impact after his return against Real Madrid following five weeks out injured, Andrés Iniesta should get a good chunk of playing time. Paco Alcácer should replace the suspended Neymar and how he'd love to score his debut goal for Barcelona nearly six months after signing.
Did you know?
Marc-André ter Stegen was born in Monchengladbach and made 108 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia's first team between 2011 and 2014. Read more in our extensive match background.