Chelsea lineup today vs. Barcelona: Starting XI, team news, injury list with captain ready for La Liga giants

Chelsea lineup today vs. Barcelona: Starting XI, team news, injury list with captain ready for La Liga giants originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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• Chelsea confirmed lineup vs. Barcelona

• Chelsea injury list

• Chelsea vs. Barcelona match details

Chelsea moved up to second in the Premier League over the weekend and will look to take their impressive domestic form onto the European stage when Barcelona visit Stamford Bridge.

A 2-0 win at Burnley made it five Premier League victories out of six for Enzo Maresca's side, who are six points behind Arsenal and face the leaders next.

It makes for a delicious week of fixtures, with Barcelona up next.

The two clubs have shared several memorable Champions League encounters over the years, most notably their semifinal meeting in 2012 when the Blues went on to lift the trophy for the first time.

Chelsea have beaten Ajax and Benfica in their two league phase home games this term. They're level on seven points with Barca, who shared a chaotic 3-3 draw with Club Brugge last time out.

MORE: How Chelsea beat a Tottenham side so bad they were booed off the pitch

Chelsea lineup vs. Barcelona: Confirmed starting XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Sanchez (GK)

Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella

James, Caicedo

Estevao, Fernandez, Garnacho

Neto

Chelsea team news

Reece James was substituted at halftime against Burnley, but Maresca confirmed this change was pre-planned and not a return of the captain's injury woes. James starts in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, with Malo Gusto at right-back.

Wesley Fofana returns to the matchday squad after being omitted as a precaution, and is re-inserted into the XI despite Tosin Adarabiyo impressing at the weekend. Cole Palmer is back in training despite suffering a fractured toe in an accident at home, but is not yet ready to return.

Maresca has an enviable array of options in attack and decides to stick with the in-form Estevao to deliver a mouthwatering face-off with Barcelona's teenage superstar Lamine Yamal​​​​​​.

MORE:Breaking down the prize money on offer in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League

Chelsea injury list

Below is the latest injury picture for Chelsea, including estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.

Romeo Lavia

• Injury: Thigh muscle injury

• Expected return date: December 2025

Lavia has a muscle issue that will almost certainly see him out of action until some time after the November international break. Maresca hopes the injury is not serious, but a return in December at the earliest is the optimistic view.

Cole Palmer

• Injury: Groin/toe

• Expected return date: December 2025

Maresca was forced to admit his mistake over talisman Palmer's return after he missed out on England duty earlier this month. Initial estimates over his groin problem were increased to "at least six weeks" and he will not come back into the squad until December.

Palmer's absence has been compounded and lengthened by him suffering a broken toe stubbing it on a doorframe at home, but he has already returned to training with a specially modified boot to help in his recovery.

Dario Essugo

• Injury: Thigh injury

• Expected return date: December 2025

Essugo arrived at Chelsea carrying a thigh injury following his loan return to Sporting CP from Las Palmas.

While there has been little confirmed reporting on his return, there has been recent speculation that he might be out until December or even into early 2026.

Levi Colwill

• Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear

• Expected return date: June 2026

Colwill suffered an ACL tear in preseason and will miss the full campaign. The England international is still in the early stages of his rehabilitation.

Mykhailo Mudryk

• Suspension: Doping

• Expected return date: Unknown

Ukraine international Mudryk has not been available for selection since December 2024 after failing a doping test.

Chelsea vs. Barcelona match details

• Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2025

• Kickoff time: 8 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 6 a.m. AEDT (Nov. 9)

• Location: Stamford Bridge (London, UK)

• Competition: Champions League (league phase, matchweek 5)

• Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)

• VAR: Christian Dingert (Germany)

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