Barcelona search to rebound from their first La Liga lack of the season as they kick off their Champions League marketing campaign at house towards Swiss aspect Young Boys on Tuesday.
The Catalan giants fell 2-1 to Monaco of their opening match of the competitors earlier this month, whereas Young Boys suffered a 3-0 defeat at house to Premier League membership Aston Villa.
Barcelona surged out of the gate of their 2024-25 La Liga marketing campaign, profitable seven consecutive matches, however their excellent document got here crashing down on Saturday night time with a 4-2 defeat to Osasuna.
This marked the second lack of the season for Hansi Flick’s squad, following a 2-1 setback towards Monaco of their Champions League opener, the place they performed with 10 males after Eric Garcia’s first-half purple card.
As strain mounts for Barcelona to rebound on Tuesday, a major damage disaster will see them lacking a number of key gamers.
Despite these challenges, Flick deserves commendation for the spectacular begin he has orchestrated beneath such tough circumstances.
The La Liga aspect superior to the quarterfinals of final season’s Champions League, however their European fortunes have been much less favorable, with early exits within the group phases throughout the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Barcelona have not reached a European Cup semifinal for the reason that 2018-19 marketing campaign, and their final triumph within the competitors dates again to the 2014-15 season – far too lengthy for a membership of their stature.
As the Catalan crew prepares for a doubtlessly difficult La Liga match towards Alaves subsequent weekend, they can’t afford to lose sight of their Champions League ambitions.
Young Boys confronted a tricky problem of their competitors opener towards Aston Villa on Sept. 17, struggling a 3-0 defeat, and now should deal with an much more daunting away match towards Barcelona.
The reigning Swiss champions come into this matchup after a 1-0 loss to Grasshoppers on Saturday, leaving them in eleventh place within the home league with simply six factors from eight matches. It’s plain that their season has gotten off to a rocky begin.
Last season, Young Boys additionally competed within the group stage of the Champions League, ending third of their group and subsequently dropping into the Europa League knockout spherical playoffs, the place they had been eradicated by Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon with a 4-2 mixture rating.
The Swiss aspect has but to advance past the group stage of the Champions League, making it a frightening problem for them to go away a major mark on this yr’s competitors – particularly with a tricky upcoming match towards Italian giants Inter Milan.
However, Patrick Rahmen’s squad can draw confidence from Barcelona’s damage woes and their spectacular efficiency this season, having secured two vital victories towards Galatasaray each house and away within the playoff spherical.
Barcelona’s damage woes proceed to mount, with Eric Garcia now becoming a member of the ranks of the absent after receiving a purple card of their final Champions League match towards Monaco.
In complete, seven extra gamers are sidelined because of damage, together with Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Gavi and Marc-André ter Stegen.
Frenkie de Jong, who has but to make an look this season because of an ankle problem, may have a slight likelihood of returning to the squad for this match.
Expect vital adjustments to the lineup that confronted Osasuna, with Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado and Iñigo MartÃnez prone to be included.
For Young Boys, Saidy Janko, Patric Pfeiffer, and Facinet Conte will miss the match, however the Swiss aspect is in any other case in strong form for this European conflict.
Joel Monteiro has been the standout performer this season, netting 5 objectives and offering seven assists in 13 appearances throughout all competitions, making him a assured starter for the guests.
Silvere Ganvoula, who has scored 4 objectives within the 2024-25 season, may as soon as once more lead the assault, whereas Cedric Itten, regardless of contributing 5 objectives this season, could also be held in reserve.
Source: www.dailysabah.com