Barcelona will bring a still heavily depleted squad into a Champions League crunch match against Benfica on Tuesday night.

Under new head coach Xavi, Barca know that a win will guarantee them a path into the knockout stages, but equally a loss will likely consign them to the Europa League.

Xavi earned a win in his first match in charge against Espanyol and will need to back it up, despite having a number of absentees in his new squad, with the issues almost exclusively in attack.

Sergio Aguero, Martin Braithwaite, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are all ruled out of the game, as is Pedri in midfield.

But Barca could welcome back Sergi Roberto at right-back, who has spent a month on the sidelines after suffering injury against Rayo Vallecano.

Gerard Pique should line up at centre-back alongside Ronald Araujo, with Jordi Alba assuming his usual place at left-back ahead of Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal.

Sergio Busquets came off in the Espanyol game but is tipped to be fit to go again, with Gavi and Frenkie de Jong expected to complete the midfield trio.

For as long as the injury issues have been present in the Barca side, Philippe Coutinho has been consistently touted as having the chance to start, only to still be used off the bench.

But the Brazilian could take up a place on the left wing for this one, with Sergino Dest coming in on the right to flank Memphis Depay at centre forward.

Barcelona starting XI versus Benfica