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| Image Courtesy - Sky Sports |
Barcelona will travel to the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday to face Borussia Dortmund in a group F clash in the UEFA Champions League. The Bundesliga side is currently 2nd in the table and has won 3 of their 4 games in the league. Barcelona, on the other hand, sit at 5th in the La Liga table, with a 50% win record from their 4 league games so far. However, the Blaugrana come into the game on the back of a fantastic 5-2 win over Valencia at home, which will boost their confidence.
Last season, Barcelona were well on course for a Champions League triumph, before they gave away a 3-0 lead from the first leg against Liverpool. It turned out to be the turning point of their season, which ended in a whimper, as the La Liga Champions also lost in the final of the Copa Del Rey. Ernesto Valverde, as such, would be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season.
The UEFA Champions League represents the Holy Grail for Barcelona right now. The Spanish giants are desperate to improve their performance in Europe. After faltering so close to the finish line the last term, the game against Dortmund is a chance for the Catalans to start the tournament on a high this year.
The two teams have never faced each other in the UEFA Champions League before. However, they have met twice before in the UEFA Super Cup in 1998, when it was a two-legged tie. The Catalans won the first leg 2-0 at the Camp Nou, while the second leg ended 1-1. Even though the stakes are not so high this time, it still is one of the big games of this week.
Team News
Ousmane Dembele and Samuel Umtiti are still unavailable for Barcelona. The former is nursing a hamstring injury, while the latter is out with a foot injury. Luis Suarez made a goalscoring return from the bench last weekend, so he should be fit for the game. However, the biggest news of the hour is the return of the King.
Lionel Messi had missed all preseason games for Barcelona after picking up a calf injury during preseason training. The injury was so severe that the Argentinean had also missed the first 4 games of the season. However, the latest news indicates that Lionel Messi is available for selection for the game against Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona fans will be delighted to have their Skipper back.
The Catalans have missed the Argentinean this season and his return tilts the tide heavily in the favor of the visitors. Whether he will be fit to start can only be confirmed after the team news is revealed on Tuesday.
Predicted XI
The backline still has some issues, but with Samuel Umtiti yet to recover, Valverde will be tempted to go with the same players in his defense. The midfield worked well last game, however, changes could be due in order to rest some tired legs. However, it is the front line where Valverde will be looking to make a few drastic changes. Teenager Ansu Fati, who was on fire over the weekend, could be a useful addition to the team, but the game might not be severe enough for Valverde to risk Lionel MessiBarcelona Probable Starting XI: Marc Ter Stegen; Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Arturo Vidal, Frenkie de Jong; Ansu Fati, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann.
Players to Watch out For
Ansu Fati
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| Image Courtesy - fcbaracelona.com |
The teenager has been brilliant for Barcelona so far this season. It is hard to believe the Ansu Fati is only 16 years old, such is his poise and precision on the field. The teenager is a bundle of energy and his speed and movement make him extremely difficult to handle. The Bissau-Guinean has already scored 2 goals and picked up 1 assist from 3 games so far. Against Borussia too, the teenager could be an important player for Barcelona, either from the start or from the bench and could even cause Dortmund quite a few problems.
Frenkie de Jong
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| Image Courtesy - Sky Sports |
The Dutchman has played well in patches since making the move to Camp Nou, but of late, Frenkie de Jong has slowly started to find his feet in his new team. The former Ajax midfielder was a revelation in the UEFA Champions League last season and even won the UEFA midfielder of the season in the recently conducted UEFA Awards. After impressing in the weekend’s win over Valencia, it is time for de Jong to show his prowess in the Champions League once again, but this time for his new team. The Dutchman
Luis Suarez
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| Image Courtesy - fcbarcelona.com |
The Uruguayan did not have the best start to the season, picking up a calf injury in the opening game against Athletic Bilbao. He left the field in the 37th minute and Barcelona lost the game 1-0. Suarez missed the next two games but was fit to make the bench last weekend. He came on for the last 30 minutes and scored 2 goals, displaying just why he is so important to this Barcelona side. The Uruguayan will also be looking to start his European campaign on a high and his presence in the team could be crucial for Barcelona against Dortmund
Antoine Griezmann
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| Image Courtesy - The Metro |
The Frenchman completed his dream move to Barcelona in the summer, but all has not been well since. Griezmann was brilliant in the second game of the season, scoring 2 goals and inspiring Barcelona to a 5-2 home win against Real Betis. However, he has struggled for consistency so far and will be desperate to settle down soon. The UEFA Champions League could be a good time for the Frenchman to finally find his footing in his new team and show the world why the Catalans paid big bucks for his services.
Lionel Messi
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| Image Courtesy - Sky Sports |
The Argentinean might not have kicked a ball in the season so far, but he still is the most important player in this Barcelona team. Lionel Messi’s presence in the team, or on the bench, could be the boost of confidence that this team needs right now. The man himself will be desperate to lift the Champions League trophy this season, after finishing as the top scorer last term and also winning the UEFA Forward of the season. If Messi does make it to the field, one can expect sparks to fly.
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