Only a few days on from our last league game, we’re back in action. This time, we turn our attention back to the UEFA Champions League. Once again from the Estadi Olympic Lluis Companys, live at the earlier time of 6:45 local time. It’s Barcelona up against Olympiakos. Another tricky test for a weakened, and quite frankly struggling Barça side. However, this may be one of the last games we’ll have to play at Montjuic, with our return to the Camp Nou getting ever so closer. It’s an important game, in a very difficult week of games for us, so let’s jump straight into the preview!
Quick Look at our opponents:
When it comes to our rivals for the game tonight, Olympiacos are one of those typical historical, staple European teams. They’re a regular feature in the champions league over the years, and one of the first Greek opponents we’ve had for a while. They’re not one of Europe’s most elite teams, but they will prove a difficult test for us. However, if we’re being honest, any team we face at the moment seems to give us a challenge. Of course it’s difficult to know exactly what kind of team we’ll be facing later on this evening. If you look at their respective league form, it provides a strong reading. Sitting a point behind top spot, with 16 goals to their name and only 5 goals let in the other end. Looking at that you can see that they’re a team who is comfortable in front of goal, but also pretty solid in defence. Something that we haven’t been this season. This is why this evening will be a tricky one for us, purely down to how poor our form has been as of late. Nothing is a given and it’s a game we have to turn up for. No excuses.
Predicted lineup:
As a team, right now, we are struggling. Physically, with the amount of injuries we still have and the number of players who are available, but clearly lacking freshness and sharpness, we really have found it difficult as of late to put in a convincing performance. We’ll be hoping that the late winner from Araujo on Saturday afternoon can be a turning point for us. Everyone knows we weren’t anywhere near our best, but we still managed to grab the win in the final minutes. We just have to start putting in more convincing performances, and that comes from the coach. Tactically, Flick may have to tweak a few things to stop us from being so open on the pitch. The biggest problem is the press. Flick’s philosophy is that high line, but if the team isn’t pressing as a unit, then it’s suicide football. We can’t keep giving teams of a much lower level such easy chances in front of goal. Which is why I do think we’ll see some changes in the lineup. Not only because of the massive game on the weekend against Real Madrid, but there are a number of players who, right now, desperately need a rest. The main one for me is of course Pedri, but you could also chuck Frenkie and Kounde into that list too. Kounde, more so just due to poor form. I also think Yamal and Balde aren’t fully fit just yet, so it’s important not to rush them. Roony has come on in recent games and showed a lot of promise, and I think tonight is a decent opportunity to give players like him the chance in the starting lineup. Will we see any tactical tweaks from Flick, who will he decide to go with in yet another huge game? Here’s what I’d go with, down below.
My starting 11:
Tek
Eric- Cubarsi- Martin- Balde
Frenkie- Casado
Roony- Toni Fernandez- Fermin
Rashford
