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After a thumping 6-0 win of their first residence sport of the season in opposition to Valencia, Barcelona return to motion tomorrow night, this time within the UEFA Champions League.

Hansi Flick’s males are kicking off their marketing campaign within the European occasion away from residence, owing to delays within the reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou with all required permissions.

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And the journey to Newcastle, the place they may play at St. James’ Park, shall be an enormous problem for Hansi Flick & co.

To this point this season, the English facet has received solely certainly one of their 4 Premier League video games, with two attracts and a defeat within the different three outings. Their type of soccer, nonetheless, is a significant menace to Barcelona’s dynamics and construction.

Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Newcastle United vs Barcelona.

Again to sq. one, as soon as once more

Barcelona’s kind throughout all competitions final season led many to imagine that the UEFA Champions League was theirs to lose. They had been the favourites to advance to the ultimate in opposition to Inter Milan and all the things appeared set for that to be the case.

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Ultimately, nonetheless, the group’s inexperience value them, and some mismanaged minutes noticed them throw away a win and convert it into an elimination, breaking not solely the hearts of gamers but additionally followers.

, thus, didn’t come true final season, and the main target instantly shifted to the subsequent version – the one which begins tomorrow for the Catalans at St. James’ Park.

Each season, Barcelona and the group devoted imagine that that is the 12 months they may conquer Europe once more, and tomorrow the Blaugrana will once more return to motion within the competitors with precisely that dream in thoughts.

The street forward is lengthy, particularly if the membership needs to go all the best way. Nonetheless, they may look to get off on the appropriate foot tomorrow as they embark on their journey to the last word dream as soon as extra.

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Choice dilemmas

Hansi Flick and Barcelona tackle Newcastle. (Photograph by George Wooden/Getty Photographs)

Barcelona’s efficiency in opposition to Valencia gave followers and the supervisor purpose to cheer after three straight unconvincing performances from the Catalans. Concurrently, nonetheless, it now fingers Hansi Flick forward of his number of Thursday’s XI.

On the evening, the likes of Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, and Frenkie de Jong had been all unavailable by means of damage, and Roony Bardghji, Gerard Martin, and Marc Casado took their locations within the lineup respectively.

The previous two will not be again within the dynamics for tomorrow’s sport as properly, whereas the latter is, and choice questions linger across the supervisor as he prepares his greatest XI for the problem in England.

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For starters, the supervisor should determine if De Jong deserves his place within the XI again instantly, particularly given how Casado did exceedingly properly within the earlier sport and shaped a stable partnership with Pedri.

The midfield choice, evidently, could be determined extra on a tactical foundation than merely a query of advantage.

The second choice query that lingers across the coach is within the ahead line. Bardghji, in any case, within the UCL after only one gam,e and Raphinha could begin on the appropriate wing with Marcus Rashford taking part in on the left.

The centre-forward place, furthermore, is one which leaves Flick in a severe dilemma, for he should select between Ferran Torres’ effectiveness and Robert Lewandowski’s expertise after the latter made a robust case by scoring a brace in his cameo in opposition to Valencia.

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Want for a defensive shake-up?

Will Christensen begin vs Newcastle? (Photograph by George Wooden/Getty Photographs)

Whereas the choice questions in midfield and the ahead line are primarily from a rotation and competitors entrance, the supervisor concurrently has huge choices to make in defence – albeit from a tactical standpoint.

Newcastle United boasts of a potent assault, particularly within the air. Their aerial menace is a well-documented energy, however Barcelona’s aerial defence is thought to be a weak hyperlink in recent times and there’s no doubt that the hosts will look to trigger injury in that route.

Flick’s choice for the sport at St. James’ Park, thus, revolves across the centre-back mixture that may present the most effective aerial cowl whereas minimally interfering with the group’s buildup and offside technique.

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Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia did properly in opposition to Valencia, however the identical mixture is unlikely to begin tomorrow, for they are going to be overwhelmed by the aerial assaults and will not be outfitted to guard in opposition to that hazard.

All indicators thus level to certainly one of, or each of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo, beginning for Barcelona tomorrow evening.

Whether or not the supervisor switches each centre-backs for the Araujo-Christensen mixture or retains Cubarsi and pairs him with one of many two gamers stays to be seen. In case of the latter, his choice of which participant ought to begin can even be key.

Lots, thus, rides on Flick’s defensive choice, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see how the supervisor plans to counter the recognized and documented menace.