Barcelona will look to pick up their first Champions League points on Tuesday night when they entertain Swiss champions Young Boys.
The Catalan team fell to their second defeat of the season on Saturday they were defeated 4-2 and they were also beaten by Monaco on their first European outing. However, they still lead the League by three points and have plenty of reasons for optimism in the second day of the continent.
Manager Hansi Flick he still has a lot of injuries to contend with and there’s suspension thrown into the mix as well.
Here’s what’s planned Barça line-up to face Young Boys on Tuesday.
GK: Paint ink – Picked up a clean sheet in his first outing after being confirmed as a custodian Marc-Andre ter Stegen will miss the rest of the season but then conceded four to Osasuna. Wojciech Szczesny could arrive soon, so Pena could return to the bench very soon.
RB: Jules Kounde – He battled an intense Bryan Zaragoza last time out and will look to dominate more of his duels this time around.
CB: Pau Cubarsi – The young Spaniard has plenty of playing time at the start of the 2024/25 season with Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen both out through injury.
CB: Inigo Martinez – It was youngster Sergi DomÃnguez who partnered Cubarsi at the weekend, but he came off with a late knock and Inigo’s experience may be more useful against the Young Boys.
LB: Alexandre Balde – With Gerard Martin deployed on Saturday, Balde should be fit and firing for the return of the Champions League.
CM: Marc Casado – It is in the middle of the field where Barça are struggling a lot with injuries. Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are close to returning, but Dani Olmo, FermÃn López and Marc Bernal remain unavailable and Eric Garcia is suspended, meaning Casado will get more first-team minutes.
CM: Peter – Pedri has struggled many times to be fit but has looked solid at the start of the 2024/25 season. The Euro 2024 winner takes on an extra responsibility with other experienced midfielders sidelined.
RW: Lamine Yamal – He probably needed a rest at the weekend given his exploits over the last year at just 17 years old. He still came in and scored and will want more rewards on Tuesday.
AM: Pablo Torre – The 21-year-old has started Barça’s last three La Liga games, but has been withdrawn around the hour mark on each occasion.
LW: Raphinha – The Brazilian goes after Robert Lewandowski for The League goals this season with five, behind the Pole’s two.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – A Champions League runner-up first at Borussia Dortmund and then a winner with Bayern Munich, Lewandowski will be keen to go on a good run this season after reaching the quarter-finals at best in his time in Catalonia until now
