Barcelona will start Tuesday's second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie level with Napoli, as the teams conclude their battle for a place in the quarter-finals.

Since a 1-1 draw in Naples last month, the Blaugrana have gone unbeaten - most recently seeing off Mallorca in La Liga - but head coach Xavi is faced by a selection crisis ahead of their clash with the Italian champions at Montjuic.

Raphinha was taken off before half time on Friday, but the Brazilian winger still hopes to avoid joining recent injury victims Frenkie De Jong (sprained ankle) and Pedri (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Ferran Torres, Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso are all ruled out, as is Barca's midfield heartbeat Gavi, who continues the long road to recovery from an ACL tear suffered in November.

In the absence of Spanish stars Gavi and Pedri, 20-year-old Fermin Lopez may be asked to join converted centre-back Andreas Christensen and Ilkay Gundogan - both past Champions League winners - in an unfamiliar midfield trio, while Xavi will also turn to youth up front.

Talented teenager Lamine Yamal is almost certain to start in support of Champions League specialist Robert Lewandowski. January arrival Vitor Roque and Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix could also come in to contention, but 18-year-old Marc Guiu may have to make do with a place on the bench.

In some rare good news for the Catalan club, defensive mainstay Ronald Araujo returns from suspension to bolster the back four.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Gundogan, Christensen, Lopez; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea