Barcelona will look to secure their first points in the Champions League on Tuesday night when they entertain Swiss champions Young Boys.
The Catalan side slipped to their second defeat of the season on Saturday when they were beaten 4-2 and were also downed by Monaco in their first European excursion. However, they still top La Liga by three points and have plenty of reasons for optimism on Matchday 2 on the continent.
Manager Hansi Flick still has a lot of injuries to contend with and there’s a suspension thrown into the mix, too.
Here’s the predicted Barca lineup to take on Young Boys on Tuesday.
GK: Inaki Pena – Bagged a clean sheet on his first start after it was confirmed custodian Marc-Andre ter Stegen will miss the rest of the season but then conceded four at Osasuna. Wojciech Szczesny may soon arrive, so Pena may go back to the bench pretty soon.
RB: Jules Kounde – Struggled with 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 is getting plenty of game time at the start of 2024/25 with Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen both sidelined by injury.
CB: Inigo Martinez – It was youngster Sergi Dominguez who partnered Cubarsi at the weekend, but he came off with a knock late on and Inigo’s experience may be of better use against Young Boys.
LB: Alejandro Balde – With Gerard Martin deployed on Saturday, Balde should be fit and firing for the return of the Champions League.
CM: Marc Casado – It’s in midfield where Barca are really struggling with injuries. Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are close to returning, but Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Marc Bernal remain unavailable and Eric Garcia is suspended, meaning Casado will get more important first-team minutes.
CM: Pedri – Pedri has so often struggled for fitness but he’s looked solid at the start of 2024/25. The Euro 2024 winner takes on extra responsibility with other experienced midfielders sidelined.
RW: Lamine Yamal – Probably did need a rest at the weekend given his exploits over the last year at only 17 years of age. He still came on and scored and will want more rewards on Tuesday.
AM: Pablo Torre – The 21-year-old has started Barca’s last three La Liga matches but has been brought off around the hour-mark on each occasion.
LW: Raphinha – The Brazilian is on Robert Lewandowski’s tail for La Liga goals this season with five, trailing the Pole by two.
ST: Robert Lewandowski – A Champions League runner-up first at Borussia Dortmund and a winner later with Bayern Munich, Lewandowski will be keen for a strong run this season having only reached the quarter-finals at best in his time in Catalonia so far.
