Iniesta set to start for Barcelona in Champions League
0 Comments
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta looks set to return to his side's starting 11 as Barcelona entertains Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Barcelona has won all five of its Primera Liga matches this season and kicked off the defense of its European crown with a valuable 0-0 draw away to Inter Milan two weeks ago.
Now the side coached by Pep Guardiola will be looking for all three points against a weaker rival, which travels without star striker Andrei Shevchenko.
Barcelona will also be missing players in the Camp Nou. Thierry Henry strained his groin in Saturday night's bruising clash in Malaga, while defender Dymitro Chygrynski will be out for three weeks after damaging a knee ligament.
The absence of Henry opens the door for Iniesta to make his first start since damaging his thigh at the end of last season.
The attacking midfielder has been accumulating minutes as a substitute and Guardiola considers he is now in shape to play for 90 minutes.
Meanwhile Carles Puyol will start in central defense, while either Maxwell or Eric Abidal will fit in at left back.
Sevilla also has a Champions League game on Tuesday night. Manolo Jimenez's team will look to build on its opening game triumph against Glasgow Rangers in the always difficult Ibrox Park.
Sevilla won 4-0 in Bilbao at the weekend and Jimenez will probably opt to rest striker Alvaro Negredo in Scotland.
