Barcelona play host to Olympiacos, the Greek footballing giants, on Tuesday night time at Montjuic as a part of Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League’s league stage.
, former Actual Valladolid, Osasuna, Sevilla and Deportivo Alaves supervisor, is now the coach of the Greek giants and has good expertise in going through Barcelona from his time in La Liga. His , nonetheless, is woeful.
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Thus far this season, Olympiacos haven’t but gained a recreation within the Champions League however are in second place within the Tremendous League and only a level behind leaders and home rivals PAOK.
As they head to Barcelona to lock horns with Hansi Flick’s facet tomorrow, they boast of three wins and two defeats of their final 5 video games.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Olympiacos.
On a tightrope
Had Barcelona held on within the remaining minutes of their recreation towards PSG on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League, they might have not less than taken a draw and seen the defending champions drop factors as nicely.
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Having dropped all three factors, nonetheless, Barcelona now haven’t any a lot cushion in the event that they want to qualify straight into the top-8. In any case, the brand new format of the competitors’s league part continues to be comparatively unknown.
Barcelona do certainly have comparatively straightforward opponents to face within the coming match days, however on condition that they’re but to face Chelsea away from house as nicely, it’s best that they preserve a cushion by profitable all their remaining video games.
The conflict towards Olympiacos tomorrow , evidently, falls into the class of ‘simpler video games’ within the hierarchy of the Blaugranas’ UCL schedule and taking all three factors regardless of the harm scenario, thus, can be important.
A brand new look assault?
A beginning spot for Roony Bardghji? (Picture by Judit Cartiel/Getty Pictures)
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Hansi Flick’s plans for the midweek recreation took an enormous blow when it got here to gentle that each Raphinha and Ferran Torres won’t make it again in time to hitch the squad and are thus dominated out.
On condition that Robert Lewandowski is unavailable for the sport too, the supervisor stares at a scenario the place he has solely Lamine Yamal as a daily starter in assault that’s accessible.
Pressed for choices within the division, Flick with different attacking setups forward of the midweek recreation, and will probably be fascinating to see which setup he finally opts for on the night time.
The large information, evidently, is that Flick tried out a Roony Bardghji-Marcus Rashford-Lamine trident in coaching. In any case, the Swedish teen did nicely coming off the bench within the final recreation and is an possibility to start out.
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Additionally on the supervisor’s thoughts is the potential of utilizing Fermin Lopez as a left-winger on the night time with both a Marc Casado-Frenkie de Jong-Pedri midfield or a Casado-Pedri-Bardghji midfield.
With so many choices on his platter and different names from the academy standing out as potential candidates as nicely, Flick should rigorously weigh the professionals and cons of all of the choices and guarantee he chooses essentially the most apt lineup doable.
Momentum wanted
Barcelona’s win over Girona on the weekend left gamers, followers and spectators with a rush of adrenaline, one which many say may nicely be a binding issue for the dressing room to push onerous and carry out higher.
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What the sport didn’t present, nonetheless, was momentum because it as soon as once more highlighted the lacunae in defence, disconnect in vitality and lack of synergy within the staff.
Barcelona meet Actual Madrid in lower than per week, and Los Blancos are at the moment flying with an in-form Kylian Mbappe, a assured younger core and even Vinicius Jr. returning to full swing.
What Flick and Co. will search for tomorrow, thus, is not only three factors however a end result that brings momentum again on their facet, not solely by way of assault but additionally defensively.
One recreation with a reassured plan on the again, regular build-up play and well-executed assaults cannot solely present a high-scoring win as was the norm final season but additionally momentum.
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There could also be only one recreation earlier than the Clasico, however the end result on Tuesday night time will account for lots of what occurs on the weekend. A assured Barcelona, in any case, can nonetheless take Actual Madrid aside so long as they consider in themselves.