Seventeen objectives scored in simply 4 video games with three clear sheets and two objectives conceded. These are the numbers for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona this season, and it’s protected to say that they’ve began the season very strongly.
4 matchdays into La Liga, the second competitors of the brand new season lastly enters their schedule. Certainly, it’s the UEFA Champions League that returns to the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow as Barcelona tackle Feyenoord in an early kick-off.
The Dutch aspect have gained three and drawn two of their 5 league video games thus far this season and have scored 13 objectives within the course of. They’ve, nonetheless, confronted defensive points and solely registered one clear sheet.
Going up towards Barcelona’s red-hot assault at the Catalans’ fortress, for sure, shall be their hardest problem but,
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Feyenoord.
Is that this the yr?
The UEFA Champions League has grow to be a perennial dream for Barcelona and the membership’s fanbase, however solely heartbreak returns yr after yr because the membership falls brief in some capability.
Whereas they fell painfully brief towards Inter Milan two seasons in the past, horrendous refereeing value them the tie towards Atletico Madrid final season.
Now, they’re set to enter the UCL for the third time below Hansi Flick, and there’s a actual sense of perception that this might be their yr.
After a productive summer time switch window, Barcelona boast a squad that’s firing on all cylinders, and their begin to the brand new season has been wonderful thus far.
For the primary time below Flick, the excessive line of defense doesn’t look to be a legal responsibility whereas the midfield has an actual sense of management and defensive stability. With no pure quantity 9, the assault is flourishing as far as nicely.
There may be nonetheless an extended solution to go within the competitors, however it’s clear that Barcelona face their finest likelihood in years this time round. Beginning the competitors robust, in that sense, is essential.
Tomorrow, they face their first massive European check and can look to hold ahead the identical momentum that has outlined them thus far this season.
Proper-back doubts
Eric Garcia suffered a blow in Barcelona’s recreation towards Valencia on the weekend and was compelled to go away the sector out of precaution.
It has come to gentle that the participant’s setback is just not as main as anticipated, however he shall be unavailable for the crew’s recreation towards Feyenoord tomorrow as he’s suspended carrying ahead final season’s sanction.
With the first-choice right-back absent, the pure thought shall be for Jules Kounde to begin in that place. The Frenchman, nonetheless, has largely seemed like Barcelona’s solely weak hyperlink at any time when known as upon this season and the supervisor thus faces a dilemma.
There isn’t any doubt that Kounde improves Yamal’s output and is an asset within the attacking buildup. His defensive performances, nonetheless, are dictated by slackness and lapses in focus.
Flick, thus, might search for different choices and Joao Cancelo enters as a powerful candidate to play at right-back. With Xavi Espart settling neatly into the left-back position, the Portuguese full-back is a dependable and tempting choice to subject at right-back.
There may be additionally the choice of handing Alejandro Balde his first begin of the season at left-back and fielding both Espart or Kounde at right-back.
What is obvious is that the supervisor has loads of tactical choices, and it stays to be seen how he manages Garcia’s absence tomorrow towards Feyenoord.
A tough draw
The change in format of the UEFA Champions League has been a hit over the previous few years and has altered the entire outlook of the opening stage of the competitors.
With eight totally different opponents and one total leaderboard, golf equipment face a way more degree taking part in subject with opponents of all calibers allotted to each aspect.
Barcelona’s draw within the UCL this time round, nonetheless, is additional tough for even their ‘simple’ clashes are towards difficult opponents who’re greater than able to creating upsets.
Manchester Metropolis and PSG are the 2 massive names Barcelona should face within the league stage and shall be their two most troublesome match-ups.
One step beneath that, nonetheless, are Aston Villa, Como, Sporting CP and Galatasaray – presenting 4 matches which might nicely go both method. Whereas Barcelona are certainly favourites towards all of the aforementioned sides, they’re all tough in their very own sense.
The 2 video games towards Feyenoord and Sabah FK, on that entrance, are Barcelona’s best video games of the draw, and taking all three factors towards them is seen to be important.
With each passing matchday, the scope to drop factors decreases additional. Barcelona shall be aiming for a top-8 end to keep away from the additional spherical, and their battle towards the tough draw begins tomorrow night time.
