Barcelona looks to solidify its position in the top eight of the UEFA Champions League league phase at Signal Iduna Park against Borussia Dortmund.
Both teams come in with identical records through five Champions League matches, although Dortmund has struggled out of the gate domestically, sitting sixth in the Bundesliga. It's a battle between the two best goalscoring teams so far in the competition, one where the Catalans will travel to a notoriously hostile and intimidating ground.
Hansi Flick's men have struggled in La Liga over the past month. The well-oiled machine from the early days of his tenure is beginning to show cracks, as fatigue begins to mount for key players that have been overworked. Just one victory in its last five league games has seen Barcelona's lead shrink to just one point over Real Madrid and Los Blancos have a game in hand.
Flick's side has remained strong in Europe, though. A win against Dortmund would all but guarantee the Blaugrana a spot in the round of 16 with two games still to go.
Ronald Araújo will return to Barcelona's squad for the first time since he suffered an injury while playing for Uruguay in last summer's Copa America. It's a much needed boost for a back line that's in need of rest in the coming weeks. Flick will likely stick to a similar lineup that he fielded in Barça's last two games, in hopes of a performance that can restore confidence in his recently slumping side.
Here's how Barcelona could lineup vs. Borussia Dortmund on Dec. 11.
