Hansi Flick’s Barcelona will hit the road to square up against French giants AS Monaco to kick-start their Champions League campaign.
The new era of the UEFA Champions League is already off to a flying start thanks to some incredible results on Matchday 1 so far. Things could get even better as high-flying Barcelona get ready to face AS Monaco in their first European fixture of the season.
The Ligue 1 giants have made an impressive start to the new season with three wins and a draw in their first four league outings. They are heading into this fixture against the Blaugrana on the back of a 3-0 win over Auxerre.
While it was a dominant performance from Monaco, they are gearing up to face Hansi Flick’s team, who have been in sensational form in the 2024/25 season. Speaking of, Barcelona have won all five of their league games so far. They have been a force to reckon with, and AS Monaco will feel the full force of Flick’s team who have been scoring goals for fun.
The Blaugrana are heading into this one on the back of a 4-1 win over Girona, and Flick’s side scoring 11 goals in their last two outings, AS Monaco are all set for a massive challenge. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
AS Monaco
Lamine Camara is expected to be back available after having suffered a concussion in their last outing. Meanwhile, Edan Diop and Radoslaw Majecki remain sidelined with injury. Apart from the duo, everyone else is fit and available.
AS Monaco will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Philipp Kohn will start in between the sticks. The highly sought-after Vanderson will feature as the right-back, while Caio Henrique will take charge on the opposite flank.
In the heart of the defence, Thilo Kehrer will pair up with Christian Mawissa Elebi. The back four is going to have a tough day in the office against a team that has been scoring goals for fun.
Lamine Camara will form the double pivot with Denis Zakaria. The duo will look to shield the backline, and they are expected to have a very busy day. Maghnes Akliouche and Eliesse Ben Seghir will feature on the flanks for both teams, while former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino will take charge in the no. 10 role behind Breel Embolo, who will lead the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kohn; Vanderson, Kehrer, Mawissa Elebi, Caio Henrique; Camara, Zakaria; Akliouche, Minamino, Ben Seghir; Embolo
Barcelona
Hansi Flick’s team suffered another major blow as Dani Olmo picked up an injury in their last outing. The former RB Leipzig playmaker is set to be out for a while. The Spanish international has joined Marc Bernal, Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen on the sidelines.
Ronald Araujo, who is also out injured, would have been suspended from this fixture had he been available, having picked up a red in their last UEFA Champions League outing.
The Barcelona manager will most likely shift to a 4-3-3 formation for this outing with Olmo no longer available. With a shortage of options in the centre of the park, Eric Garcia could step into the midfield.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be in goal, with Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, and Inigo Martinez making up the back four. Kounde and Balde will be the full-backs while Cubarsi and Martinez will take charge in the centre of the park.
Marc Casado, Pedri, and Eric Garcia will form the midfield trifecta. Pedri could be seen in a much more advanced role in this fixture with Olmo unavailable. The in-form duo of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will feature on the flanks providing width to their attack, with Robert Lewandowski spearheading the Barcelona attack against AS Monaco.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; Eric Garcia, Pedri, Casado; Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Key Stats
- Barcelona have won each of their first five league games this season.
- AS Monaco are unbeaten in the new season with three wins and a draw to their name.
- Both clubs have only faced each other twice in competitive matches. Barcelona won both those outings in the group stage of the 1993/84 UCL season.
- The Catalan giants have won 20 out of their first 28 league games.
- Hansi Flick’s team have scored 17 goals in five outings this season.
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal
Yamal is already a mainstay at Barcelona at the age of 17, and he has started the 2024/25 season in sensational fashion with three goals and four assists in his five league outings. Given the kind of start he has had, it is quite hard to bet against the teenager being the difference between the two teams.
Prediction
AS Monaco 2-4 Barcelona
It has been an impressive start for AS Monaco in the new season, but they will be going up against a team that has been on fire under Hansi Flick. While Barcelona will be without quite a few first-team stars, they still have enough in their tanks to get things going in the UEFA with a win on Matchday 1. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-2 win for the visitors.
