No Barcelona first crew gamers will attend their UEFA Champions League press convention on March 10.
La Blaugrana welcome Benfica to Catalonia for a final 16 second leg on March 11 with Hansi Flick’s hosts carrying a 1-0 first leg lead.
Nonetheless, the final 48 hours have seen a significant change within the Barcelona camp, following the postponement of their weekend La Liga house conflict with Osasuna.
The choice was taken by La Blaugrana lower than half-hour earlier than kickoff following the tragic replace that membership physician Carles Minarro Garcia had handed away.
The shock felt by all the Barcelona squad was confirmed by membership president Joan Laporta who paid tribute to a ‘beloved member of the Barcelona household’.
That has impacted Barcelona’s preparations for the Benfica recreation with coaching structured to permit gamers further time to soak up the information.
As per stories from Mundo Deportivo, UEFA have accepted a request from Barcelona concerning their pre-match press duties.
Following a remaining coaching session held behind closed doorways solely Flick will communicate to the media earlier than the match.
No participant is anticipated to overlook the sport – apart from these already sidelined – however black armbands can be worn and a silence noticed earlier than kick off on the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Flick is anticipated to echo Laporta’s message as a part of his match associated updates forward of going through Bruno Lage’s crew.
With the bracket now set for the quarter finals onwards, Barcelona know they may face both Borussia Dortmund or Lille within the subsequent section, in the event that they progress previous Benfica into the final eight.
That second leg takes place the day after, with the tie stage after a 1-1 attract Dortmund final week – trying past that, Barcelona are almost certainly to face both Bayern Munich or Inter Milan in a doable semi remaining on the finish of April.